Pomegranates - the new Super Food?

Released: Monday, March 29, 2010

By Mrs. Devin Muller

Not surprising, and something that I have written about in the past, is the consistent link between what you eat and how it affects your health.  You truly are what you eat and more and more research points to specific foods that can aid in the prevention of many cancers, including breast cancer, most recently: pomegranates.

For the past few years now pomegranates have been gaining strength in the media.   More and more products are popping up on your local supermarkets shelves containing the fruit.  Pomegranates have been dubbed as a "miracle fruit" by some fans as it is strong antioxidant properties are thought to possibly help support the body's natural defenses against Alzheimer's disease, various cancers, coronary and heart diseases, arthritis and more.

A new study conducted by the Division of Tumor Cell Biology & Breast Cancer Research Program at City of Hope in Duarte, California and published in Cancer Prevention Research, found the Phytochemicals in Pomegranates stop growth of breast cancer tumors in laboratory testing. This study found that eating pomegranates or drinking pomegranate juice may help prevent and slow the growth of some types of breast cancer. They say this is the first study to look at their effects on aromatase and breast cancer growth. Experts say further studies will be needed to determine whether eating or drinking pomegranate-derived products will have the same effect in humans, but these results are promising. Until then, researchers say people may consider eating more pomegranates to protect against cancer in the breast and perhaps other tissues and organs.

Pomegranate Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
• 1/2 cup frozen unsweetened berries
• 2 tablespoons plain nonfat yogurt artificial sweetener, to taste (optional)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in blender & blend until smooth! Enjoy!