The Powerful Health Benefits Of Pomegranates

May Boost Cognitive Function

Both animal and human studies have suggested pomegranates may boost cognitive function. Research on mice found pomegranate juice seems to have a neuroprotective effect on the brain. The mice in the study were given either pomegranate juice or sugar water, and those given the pomegranate juice learned maze tasks more quickly and swam faster than the mice that received sugar water. Over a twelve-month period, the mice that received pomegranate juice had approximately fifty percent less amyloid deposition and soluble Abeta42 accumulation in the hippocampus. Amyloid and Abeta42 are currently believed to be associated with Alzheimer's disease. Several human studies also found pomegranates are helpful in reducing memory deficits. Memory issues frequently develop in patients who have just undergone heart surgery. A 2013 study of these patients found taking two grams of pomegranate extract improved memory retention in the subjects. Additional research on a group of twenty-eight adults who were already experiencing memory problems showed the daily consumption of an eight-ounce serving of pomegranate juice led to a significant improvement in verbal and visual memory.

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May Boost Exercise Performance

Research indicates the high concentration of dietary nitrates in pomegranates may boost exercise performance. In 2014, researchers conducted a small study involving nineteen male and female athletes. During the experiment, each of the athletes consumed pomegranate juice or a placebo before performing three treadmill tests that involved exercising to the point of exhaustion. Arterial flow was measured before and after exercise with an ultrasound of the brachial artery. The results indicated the athletes who consumed pomegranate juice were able to exercise for a significantly longer period before reaching exhaustion as compared to the placebo group. Additionally, the athletes in the pomegranate group also had improved blood flow and an increased blood vessel diameter in comparison to those who received the placebo. A separate study published in 2015 found drinking a five hundred milliliter serving of pomegranate juice daily for fifteen days improved both endurance and aerobic performance in a small group of endurance athletes.