Pomegranate: Powerful Prostate Protection

Pomegranate: Powerful Prostate Protection

Protect your cells with this festive fruit

by Kelley Herring

Savoring a dessert of Pomegranate Poached Pears will bring joy to your tastebuds and may help protect against prostate cancer, as well.

The first clinical trial of pomegranate juice in patients with recurrent prostate cancer was recently conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles. The researchers found that polyphenols in pomegranate helped to reduce levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), inhibit growth and cause apoptosis or programmed cell death of prostate cancer cells in vitro (in the body).

The patients in the study enjoyed 8 ounces of pomegranate juice daily containing 570 mg polyphenols.

Pantuck AJ, Leppert JT, Zomorodian N, Aronson W, Hong J, Barnard RJ, Seeram N, Liker H, Wang H, Elashoff R, Heber D, Aviram M, Ignarro L, Belldegrun A. Phase II study of pomegranate juice for men with rising prostate-specific antigen following surgery or radiation for prostate cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2006 Jul 1;12(13):4018-26.

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