Originally published November 22 2010
Pomegranates provide amazing protection against tissue damage, inflammation
by Jonathan Benson, staff writer
(NaturalNews) The health benefits of eating pomegranates are numerous, and a new study presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 43rd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in Denver, Colo., has discovered yet another. According to the report, the potent antioxidant profile of pomegranates helps to reduce inflammation, prevent damage caused by oxidative stress, and minimize complications associated with kidney disease and its conventional treatment protocols.
For the study, researchers administered either pomegranate juice or a placebo drink to 101 patients undergoing dialysis for kidney disease. Patients consumed the drinks three times a week for an entire year. At the end of the evaluation period, patients in the pomegranate juice group had less infections that required hospitalization, and reduced oxidative damage to cells caused by harmful free radicals.
In addition to specific improvements related to kidney disease, patients also experienced reduced blood pressure and an overall improvement in factors associated with a healthy heart. These improvements are specifically important for kidney disease patients since most end up dying from cardiovascular-related events.
"Considering the expected epidemic of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients in the next decade, further clinical trials using pomegranate juice aimed at reducing the high cardiovascular morbidity of CKD patients and their deterioration to end-stage renal disease should be conducted," said Dr. Batya Kristal, one of the authors of the study.
According to another recent study covered by NaturalNews, pomegranates also help to prevent the artery stiffening that leads to decreased blood flow and circulation (http://www.naturalnews.com/030049_pomegranat...). Published in the journal Clinical Nutrition, that study showed that after three months of taking pomegranate extract, patients reduced arterial wall thickening by 35 percent, and cholesterol oxidation levels by an astounding 90 percent -- both of which improve cardiovascular health.
Sources for this story include:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-...
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