Pomegranate juice may also help diabetics

by Sarah J. Gim, Posted Aug 29th 2006 @ 1:06PM

We already know that pomegranates are antioxidant powerhouses, with the ability to improve cardiovascular health, help arthritis, and fight those darned free radicals that are loitering around your body. However, a new study out of Israel suggests that pomegranate juice, though highly concentrated with sugar, could benefit diabetics.

The findings showed that pomegranate juice had no effect on blood sugar levels (i.e. did not increase it). However, it did reduce levels of other compounds that affect cardiovascular health. Consistently high glucose levels intensify the hardening of blood vessels. This is called atherosclerosis, and leads to cardiovascular disease and stroke. According to lead researcher Professor Michael Aviram, "In most juices, sugars are present in free – and harmful – forms. In pomegranate juice, however, the sugars are attached to unique antioxidants, which actually make these sugars protective against atherosclerosis."