Nutrition II - Superfoods - Pomegranate

Question 1

Pomegranate:
Description description

Answer 1

AKA: Punica granatum
A large fruit originating from the Middle East and and now grown throughout the world. Has a tough inedible skin containing around 600 edible seeds, each of which is surrounded by a red, juicy covering called aril.

Question 2

Pomegranate:
Energetics

Answer 2

Neutral, tonifies, Yin

Question 3

Pomegranate:
Composition

Answer 3

• Vitamin A, C, K and folate
• Iron, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc
• Phytonutrients: include ellagitannins (antioxidant/ anti-inflammatory), punicic acid (a form of conjugated linoleic acid – antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering), anthocyanidins (antioxidant)

Question 4

Pomegranate:
Benefits and clinical applications

Answer 4

• Digestive health
• Anti-inflammatory
• Insulin sensitivity
• Improves cardiovascular health
• Anti-carcinogenic

Question 5

Pomegranate:
Digestive health

Answer 5

• Ellagitannins inhibits growth of certain pathogenic bacteria most increasing growth of other beneficial if the day bacterium. Punicic acid (concentrated in the seed oil) is known to activate PPARs (transcription factors), reducing intestinal inflammation such as that seen with inflammatory bowel diseases
  PPARs = ‘peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors’. A family of transcription factors

Question 6

Pomegranate:
Anti-inflammatory

Answer 6

• pomegranate block activation of inflammatory pathways including the NF-kB pathway

Question 7

Pomegranate:
Insulin sensitivity

Answer 7

Associated with an improvement in insulin resistance – thought to be through PPAR activation. Can be used in Type II diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome etc

Question 8

Pomegranate:
Improves cardiovascular health

Answer 8

• Can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients (150 mL juice/daily either as a single dose or daily dose over two weeks)
• The hypotensive effects of pomegranate are considered to relate in part to the antioxidant capacity of phytochemicals in the juice, as well as the nitric oxide forming properties of pomegranate
• The high anti-oxidant contents of pomegranate protectS the endothelium, and also decreases LDL oxidation

Question 9

Pomegranate:
Anti-carcinogenic

Answer 9

• Several constituents including ellagatannins, anthocyanins and phenols decrease expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) leading to reduced proliferation of cancer cells as well as decreased inflammation
• Shown to inhibit cancer cell growth and induce apoptosis
• Effects are far greater using pomegranate juice versus isolated constituents, highlighting synergistic effects of other plant compounds including anthocyanins and flavonols
• Benefits have been observed in a range of cancers including colon, prostate and breast cancer

Question 10

Pomegranate:
Practical use

Answer 10

• Eat the seeds and arils fresh. Scoop out of the skin and add to salads, healthy breakfast cereals and savoury dishes. Roll the pomegranate around before cutting open to loosen the seeds
• Can be juiced or added to smoothies.
• There are no defined doses for pomegranate – 50-250 mL daily
• Caution: care with regular intake, particularly in larger amounts in those taking warfarin or antihypertensive medications (may decrease medication requirements – monitor BP and consult doctor if necessary). Particular care with ACE-inhibitor drugs as pomegranate may intensify the effects