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10. Pomegranate can help cleanse the arteries.
Pomegranate is another fruit rich in antioxidants. It prevents hardening of the arteries and may even reverse arteriosclerosis.
Scientific studies on the pomegranate
In 2000, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition demonstrated that pomegranate juice has potent anti-atherogenic effects. In other words, pomegranate juice can protect against the formation of fatty deposits on artery walls. This was linked to the fruit’s antioxidant properties.
Pomegranates are rich in polyphenols and other antioxidants. These play an important role in preventing atherosclerotic lesions and reducing the oxidation of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol.
In 2004, a group of Israeli scientists examined the effect of pomegranate juice on a group of patients with carotid artery stenosis (narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the head and neck).
Ten patients received pomegranate juice for one year, and five of them continued the treatment for up to three years.
The results showed a reduction in carotid artery stenosis of up to 30%. Patients’ blood pressure also decreased. In the control group, which did not consume pomegranate juice, arterial blockages increased by 9%, reinforcing the cardioprotective potential of pomegranate.
In 2013, the journal Atherosclerosis published a study related to pomegranate. Pomegranate extract was administered to mice genetically predisposed to spontaneous coronary artery blockages.
After two weeks, a reduction in atherosclerotic characteristics was observed. This study also confirmed that pomegranate reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in blood vessel walls, thus protecting them from plaque formation.
Characteristics of pomegranates that help prevent cardiovascular disease