If you have never experienced the deliciousness of pomegranates, make it a goal to taste one soon. These beautiful and tricky-to-eat fruits are loaded with benefits. Perhaps one of the most researched of these benefits is pomegranates’ ability to unclog arteries and boost heart health. How? By keeping your blood vessels free from plaque – the fatty accumulations that can eventually lead to atherosclerosis and heart attacks.

Pomegranates have an astringent effect. The same sort of puckering and drying feeling in your mouth when eating a pomegranate is experienced by your heart. It essentially cools down inflammation.

But this isn’t just something that is felt and assumed by the shape of a fruit; this is something that has been proven in a controlled, scientific environment.

Pomegranate Juice: A Potential Shield Against Atherosclerosis?

In one paper analyzing a couple of studies, researchers studied the effects of pomegranate juice in both healthy men and mice. They found that daily supplementation with the juice had notably positive effects on reducing plaque in the artery walls. Oxidative stress was also reduced.

Key Findings from the Study:

• Antioxidative Effects: Pomegranate juice showcased strong antioxidative properties against lipid peroxidation in both human plasma and isolated lipoproteins.
• Benefits in Humans: Consumption of pomegranate juice reduced the likelihood of LDL (“bad” cholesterol) retention while boosting the activity of an enzyme associated with HDL (“good” cholesterol). All in all, it protects against lipid oxidation.
• Benefits in Mice: For the atherosclerotic mice:
  • Pomegranate juice consumption led to a reduction of up to 90% in LDL oxidation.
  • There was a notable decrease in cellular lipid peroxidation and superoxide release.
  • The uptake of LDL was reduced by 20% after consuming pomegranate juice.
  • A significant reduction of 44% in the size of atherosclerotic lesions was observed.

We know pomegranates are a valuable source of antioxidants including vitamin C, and it’s believed these compounds play a part in delivering all of the benefits.

Pomegranates Reduced Plaque in Arteries by 30%

Other research sheds light on how pomegranate juice can benefit those with carotid artery stenosis (CAS).

A study looked at 10 patients with CAS and measured their arteries at the onset and one year after beginning pomegranate juice supplementation.

In one year, the participants reduced plaque in their carotid arteries by up to 30%.

In the control group (not supplementing with pomegranate), plaque increased by 9%. Additionally, those supplementing with pomegranate reduced their blood pressure by 12%.

Other Key Findings from the Study:

• Boost in Antioxidant Enzyme Activity: The activity of serum paraoxonase 1 (PON 1), an enzyme that plays a role in preventing LDL oxidation, increased by 83% after one year of PJ consumption.
• Decrease in LDL Oxidation: Serum LDL basal oxidative state was reduced by 90%, and its susceptibility to oxidation decreased by 59% after one year of consuming PJ.
• Reduction in Antibodies Against Oxidized LDL: There was a 19% decrease in serum levels of antibodies against oxidized LDL after one year.
• Increase in Total Antioxidant Status: Serum total antioxidant status (TAS) saw a significant increase of 130% after one year of PJ consumption.

The downside? It took a year to see these results! Yikes.

Pomegranate Extract Tackles Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis

In one study published in the journal Atherosclerosis, mice predisposed to coronary artery blockages were given pomegranate extract in their drinking water for 2 weeks.

Oddly, the pomegranate extract resulted in increased cholesterol levels (which isn’t a big deal). But even with the cholesterol increase, the treatment reduced the size of arterial accumulations, essentially scrubbing it from the arterial walls.

You can read some of our previous articles on the cholesterol controversy.

They noted a variety of benefits in the pomegranate group of mice. These included:

• Reduced fat accumulation in the heart itself
• Reduced enlargement of the heart
• Improved ECG results
• Reduced oxidative stress
• Reduced levels of proteins and chemicals found in heart disease and inflammation

The researchers said:

“Pomegranate extract reduced aortic sinus and coronary artery atherosclerosis in SR-BI/apoE dKO mice. The atheroprotective effects of pomegranate extract appear to involve reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in the vessel wall despite unaltered systemic markers of inflammation and increased lipoprotein cholesterol in these mice.”

Pomegranate Compounds Reverse Damage from Junk Food

Lastly, the Daily Mail reported on a study where researchers intentionally fed pigs a diet full of junk food to see if a daily dose of Pomanex, a supplement containing 200 mg of polyphenols, would reverse any damage caused by the junk food.

Though in typical Daily Mail fashion, the study wasn’t linked to and I can’t find it anywhere. Maybe they were actually trying to talk about this one.

Unsurprisingly, the diet damaged the lining of their blood vessels, which paves the path for atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.

Without getting into it – the supplement was able to repair the damage.

Overall – How Much Pomegranate Juice to Unclog Arteries?

1. For the study on older adults with mild memory complaints:
   • The participants consumed 8 ounces of pomegranate juice daily for one month.
2. For the study on atherosclerotic patients with carotid artery stenosis (CAS):
   • The exact amount of pomegranate juice consumed was not specified in the provided text.
3. For the study on the mice model of coronary heart disease:
   • The mice were given pomegranate extract in their drinking water for two weeks. The exact concentration or amount of the extract was not specified in the abstract.

In the treatment and prevention of heart disease alone, pomegranates can reduce inflammation and blood pressure, reduce the occurrence of infections common with hardening of the arteries, and reduce the oxidative stress in the blood.

Pomegranate is in-season in colder months, so get the real thing whenever possible. When it’s not available fresh, look into an organic pomegranate juice to reap the benefits of this underappreciated berry.

I’ll found that Pom Wonderful did have a hand in some of the research. But still: can you pass me a glass of pomegranate juice?