Although the fruit may be good and healthy to eat, alone it does not greatly impact cancer. It is actually the ellagic acid found in pomegranate that is greatly attracting the attention of researchers.
In laboratory and preliminary clinical studies involving humans, pomegranate juice was found to reduce the risk of heart disease and precursors to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
Tannins, such as punicalagins, are specifically responsible for reductions in oxidative stress. Oxidative stress coincides as a suspected culprit in many diseases. This unusual fruit has also shown the ability of lowering systolic blood pressure.
Ellagitannins, a matabolite of pomegranate, have shown to localize in the prostate and colon. This indicates pomegranate juice is effective for combating prostate and colon cancer. It may further impact diabetes, lymphoma, and prostatic hyperplasia.
The most interesting aspect of pomegranate is the rich resource of "ellagic acid", which is a polyphenol antioxidant. It is one of the top three sources in the world. Yes, even medical researchers are looking very closely at how ellagic acid affects cancer.
Some of the recent research conducted, both cellular and in animal studies, has shown that ellagic acid slows the growth of some cancers. In laboratory studies, alleged acid, consistently appears to have cancer fighting capabilities. It has been found to destroy cancer cells and has produced evidence of breaking down some cancer-causing agents in the liver and removes them from the blood.
One study published in Clinical Nutrition, clearly demonstrated that plaque within the carotid artery cleared after three years of ingestion of pomegranate.
The American Cancer Society published study results in 2008 stating that "ellagic acid has been found to cause cell death in cancer cells". In addition, "it seems to reduce the effect of estrogen that promotes the growth of breast cancer cells in tissue cultures".
The ACS wrote that ellagic acid reduces heart disease, birth defects, liver problems, and promotes wound healing.
The highest levels of ellagic acid are found in red raspberries, strawberries, and pomegranates, especially when they are freeze-dried. Extracts from red raspberry seeds, pomegranates, or other sources are said to contain high levels of ellagic acid available as dietary supplements in capsule, powder, or liquid form.
Are there possible
complications?
Ingesting berries or other natural sources of ellagic as it is generally considered safe. Some reports indicate that Ellagic acid in supplemental form may affect certain enzymes in the liver, which could alter the way in which some drugs are absorbed. For this reason, people taking medications or some dietary supplements should consult with their pharmacist or doctor about all of their medicines and supplements before taking ellagic acid. The one precaution known is the raspberry leaf, or preparations made from it, should be used with caution during pregnancy because it may initiate labor.
Some other benefits of pomegranate and ellagic acid,
among many, are that it is anthelmintic (substance that destroys and expels intestinal worms), most all types of intestinal worms and parasites, including the incredibly long growing tapeworm.
It is the contents of an unusual alkaloid called pelletierine, discovered in 1878, and is said to be the most useful of all natural sources for expelling worms and parasites from the intestinal tract. It has been used to relieve looseness of bowels, control, chronic diarrhea and alleviate amoebic dysentery.
Most supplemental forms of pomegranate contain approximately 40%, ellagic acid, which is a very strong antioxidant, potent anti-carcinogenic, has the ability to inhibit mutations within a cell's DNA, considered by most studies to be a cancer inhibitor, which profoundly has the ability to cause apoptosis, or normal cell death in cancer cells, and has antibacterial and antiviral properties.
Ellagic Acid acts as a scavenger
to "bind" cancer-causing chemicals, making them an active, plus inhibits the ability of other chemicals to cause mutations in bacteria.
Different laboratory studies were conducted with different ellagic acid supplemental form doses. Most range from 1200 mg to 1800 mg daily of ellagic acid in capsule form.
Understanding the complexities of each individual, a treatment dose of this one ingredient would need to be determined by a health professional. The different sources of ellagic acid, and particular formulations also produce variations in results.
In my clinical experience,
I prefer the pomegranate source of ellagic acid from Fruitrients or Nature's Way brands.
Nature's Way has pomegranate in 200 mg capsules, and Fruitrients has pomegranate in 750 mg capsules. Remember to do the math to calculate the proper milligrams of ellagic acid daily, as both brands contain 40% of ellagic acid in the milligrams of pomegranate.
I find that most people prefer to take about six capsules daily of the Fruitrients brand, compared to a bottle of the Nature's Way every three days. Although this is true for me as well, but I've been noticing that those who take the larger amount of capsules are demonstrating contrasting improvements which are even visible in the skin texture and health. I'm not sure at this point what is making the difference, because the milligrams of ellagic acid are the same, but there is a notable difference.
Here is a list of cancer locations,
which ellagic acid has shown effectiveness in either laboratory or actual human test: breast, cervical, colon, esophageal, leukemia, liver, lung, pancreatic, prostate, skin, and tongue cancers.
These are among the most common and widespread cancers devastating humans.
If someone is fighting cancer,
or is at high risk of developing cancer, then I would seriously consult a health professional about how to include ellagic acid in your recovery or preventative protocol. Other common things to consider may be supplemental Turmeric and Fibroboost (containing a specific species of brown seaweed "Ecklonia cava"). Elaborating will be for another time.
Good health and God bless!
