Your Health by Dr. Rallie McAllister

If you don't have a jug of pomegranate juice in your fridge, you might be missing out on some important health benefits.

The juice is packed with beneficial plant substances called flavonoids. In the body, flavonoids act as powerful antioxidants that are capable of disarming disease-causing free radicals.

Free radical damage to cells and tissues is known to play a leading role in the development of dozens of age-related ailments, including heart disease, Alzheimer's, arthritis and even cancer. A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that pomegranate juice may be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of these debilitating conditions.

While most plant foods are good sources of antioxidants, pomegranates are especially rich in the disease-fighting compounds. Ounce for ounce, pomegranate juice contains higher levels of antioxidants than green tea, red wine, and many fruits and vegetables.

The results of a new study published in the January issue of Cancer Prevention Research suggest that natural compounds in pomegranate juice, called ellagitannins, may be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer. Scientists at the Breast Cancer Research Program at City of Hope in Duarte, Calif., found that these compounds prevented the proliferation of breast cancer cells and inhibited the growth of estrogen-responsive tumors.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the power of the pomegranate to slow the progression of prostate cancer. In laboratory tests, extracts of the fruit triggered prostate cancer cells to undergo apoptosis, a type of cellular self-destruction.

The results of human trials are equally promising. In a study of men with prostate cancer, researchers at the University of California found that men who drank 8 ounces of the juice daily experienced significantly slower rates of cancer progression compared to men who drank a placebo beverage.

Scientists at the University of Wisconsin in Madison reported that consumption of pomegranate juice could reduce the growth and spread of cancer cells in the lung — or might even prevent the development of lung cancer in the first place. The investigators found that mice treated with pomegranate extracts in their drinking water had smaller and slower-growing lung tumors than untreated rodents.

In similar studies, extracts of the fruit have been found to thwart the growth and spread of cancer cells in the colon and skin.

A daily dose of pomegranate juice might also help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The results of a study conducted at Loma Linda University showed that drinking a glass of the juice each day can reduce the buildup of beta amyloid in the brain by half.

Beta amyloid is a sticky, problematic protein that contributes to Alzheimer's by creating non-functioning areas in the brain called neuritic plaques. Reporting in the medical journal Neurobiology of Disease, the Loma Linda researchers suggested that pomegranate juice may work as well as some prescription drugs to prevent the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

The juice may also have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries. Researchers at the University of Naples in Italy demonstrated that drinking the juice can help prevent cholesterol plaques from forming on artery walls, potentially reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

For folks who want to protect their joints from the ravaging effects of osteoarthritis, a little juice may go a long way. Scientists at Case Western Reserve University proved that pomegranate-derived compounds effectively block the action of destructive enzymes in human cartilage cells, dramatically slowing the progression of the disease.

Researchers in Japan found that extracts of the fruit stimulated bone turnover and increased bone mineral density in laboratory animals. Based on their findings, the scientists concluded that these compounds could help prevent bone loss due to osteoporosis in menopausal women.

The results of a 10-week pilot study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research suggest that consumption of pomegranate juice may be useful in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men. Among men who drank 8 ounces of the juice daily, 47 percent reported significant improvements in symptoms.

Pomegranate juice is tart and tangy, and it may take some time to develop a taste for it. But when you consider all the health benefits it has to offer, you'll undoubtedly find it one of the sweetest anti-aging elixirs available.

Rallie McAllister, M.D. is a family physician, speaker, and co-founder of www.MommyMDGuides.com, a website featuring child-raising tips from trusted doctors who are also moms. To find out more about Rallie McAllister, M.D., and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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