Pomegranate juice is made from the fruit of the pomegranate. It is used in cooking both as a fresh juice and as a concentrated syrup, particularly in Persian cuisine.
Contents |
While preliminary research suggests that the fruit juice may play a role in reducing the risk of cancer, reducing serum cholesterol, and protecting arteries from clogging, more research is needed to validate these findings. Its possible benefits also need to be balanced against its high caloric content derived from its natural sugars.
The cholesterol reduction effect has been observed only in small studies.[1] This, as well as the anti-clogging effect of pomegranate juice, are the result of its concentration of antioxidants, and are similar to the effects shown in studies of red wine, black tea, and purple grape juice. There have been no large clinical trials showing that antioxidants can prevent heart attacks or other major heart-related events.[2]
A peer-reviewed study showed that men who had undergone surgery or radiation therapy for prostate cancer could significantly slow the increase of prostate specific antigen when they consumed a glass of pomegranate juice daily.[3]
A 250 ml (8 oz) glass of pomegranate juice provides approximately 50% of an adult's recommended daily allowance (RDA) of the vitamins A, C and E, 100% RDA of folic acid, and 13% RDA of potassium.
Notwithstanding the possible benefits of the juice, each such glass also tops the maximum daily amount of sugar, as recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization. The organizations jointly recommend that only 10% of calories come directly from sugars. With almost 30 grams of sugar, a glass of pomegranate juice has more sugar than an equal size serving of some soft beverages, such as Coca Cola Classic[4] and roughly equal to two servings of a sweetened breakfast cereal.
The health benefits of pomegranate juice have been successfully promoted by Pom Wonderful, a pomegranate products manufacturer, but as of September 2010 the company and its principals were the subject of a deceptive advertising complaint by the Federal Trade Commission.[5]
Pomegranate molasses is made by boiling down the juice of a tart variety. It forms a thick, dark brown liquid that is used in Turkish rice pilaf and shepherd's salad.[6]
|
|||||||||||