The Pomegranate - A Gift from Heaven
by Christine Klar
The pomegranate makes wonder of life visible to us. With its beauty of colour
and shape the age-old tree stands gracefully in the centre of its red blossoms,
overwhelming are the usefulness and the taste of its red fruit. It symbolizes
the overflowing abundance of nature, its strength and power of resistance, its
diversity within the entity of life and its capacity of constant renewal and
regeneration.
The latest research shows that the pomegranate hasn't been cultivated by mankind
without reason for more than 5.000 years. In former times the skin and juice
were often used as ink as well as dye for oriental carpets. The pomegranate
has many positive effects on our health. A fatty acid appearing almost only
in this fruit, which is demonstrably highly concentrated and has especially
positive effects on our health, is important for all metabolism processes in
the body.
The pomegranate is an excellent water and food supplier: it contains beta-carotine,
vitamins B1, B2 and C, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, albumen
a.o. and above all large quantities of antioxidants, secondary plant substances
like poly-phenolen (flavonoids, tannins). Of special importance to nutrition
experts is the poly-phenol ellag-acid . An optimal anti-oxidative protection,
the anti-oxidative effect of the pomegranate is 3 to 10 times higher than in
well-known plants like bilberry(blueberry), cranberry or green tea.
According to dietetic studies (Dr. Michael Avriam, 2004) the complete anti-oxidative
protection in the blood rises by 130 % after having consumed pomegranate concentrate
(10 ml per day). Furthermore, other controlled studies by Dr. Avriam prove the
optimal effect on the heart circulation system. The oxidation of the cholesterol
LDL could be reduced strongly after the consumption of pomegranates. Oxidized
LDL cholesterol is more easily deposited in sediments and results in the so
called arterio-sclerotic plaque, which is known as the main reason for heart
circulation problems. Even a clear decrease of the sediments in the arteries
could be seen. Regular consumption prevents anti-aging, arteriosclerosis and
heart circulation diseases.
From the fruit, the skin, the blossoms, the leaves of the pomegranate to its
trunk - everything can be used. The fresh juice has a stimulating impact on
the blood in the body, helps for anaemia and improves digestion, especially
the activity of the stomach. The pomegranate has a contracting quality and thus
stops strong bleeding and sweating, heat flushes as well as diarrhoea. It soothes
inflammation, increases the healing of wounds by regeneration of the tissue,
is useful for the healing of the skin and mucous membranes, helps for bronchitis
and tuberculosis, is effective against skin aging, has a proven, strengthening
impact on epidermis, increases the firmness and elasticity of the skin, acts
positively compensating on skin moisture and reduces wrinkles. At the same time
the preventive as well as healing effect on cancer diseases like skin, breast
and prostate cancer is to be stressed. Also today the pomegranate is still used
in natural medicine as worm and tapeworm medicine. Last but not least the microbial
effects on infections of the gums and urinary passages are to be mentioned.
Japanese studies from 2004 prove that because of its enormous quantities of
phyto-estrogens (natural hormone treatment) the pomegranate provides for a noticeable
soothing of frequent troubles of women in menopause like change of mood, osteoporosis
and heat flushes. Also the typical pre-menstruation complaints will be deminished.
The oil of the seeds and leaves shows a high substance of plant hormones. The
fatty acid of the pomegranate contributes to the formation of prostaglandins
in the human body. Prostaglandins are hormones of utmost importance for the
metabolism and immune system, which the body produces itself.
American researchers, the team of Prof. Dr. A. R. Neurath, discovered substances
in the juice of the pomegranate which prevent the entrance of the HI-virus into
cells and thus an infection. The researchers did tests with different HIV stems
and thus revealed the mechanisms how the virus binding takes place and how the
infection is stopped by it.
Another scientific research of the pomegranate by Dr. Lansky, Schubert and
Neemann brought to light different bio-flavonides which can stop infection supporting
enzymes. This is also the reason for the anti-infectious and pain soothing effect.
Because of his intensive research of many years the "re-discovery"
of the pomegranate is especially due to Dr. Ephraim Lansky. He started the research
on the effects of pomegranates on cancerogene cells and developed processing
methods of the pomegranate for the maximization of the anti-cancer effect on
breast and skin cancer, leukaemia a.o. Through many other controlled studies
in the following years he supplied evidence for the many-sided effectiveness
of the pomegranate, such as that the seeds have the highest portion of estrones
amongst all plant components. In all his studies Dr. E. Lansky was keen to produce
a medically effective extract of the whole pomegranate with different extraction
methods.
The newest, world-wide most innovative machines presently on the market are
for hygienic perfect extraction of the arils. Only these newest aril extracing
machines permit the maintaining of the full, 100 % potential of the pomegranate,
which is important and precious for nutrition, as medicine and as cosmetic.
To protect all natural, especially valuable components it must be secured that
the arils are removed from the skin without being crushed. This way all natural
qualities of the fruit are preserved and the fresh arils can be eaten or from
the fresh arils thus the best pomegranate juice world-wide is produced in this
form.
The pomegranate is extremely important in nutrition and in the preventive as
well as curative medicine and can simply be called the "cure-all"
of the year. Already 2.400 years ago Hippocrates said: "May your food
be your medicine and your medicine your food!"
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