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Celebrity Health Secrets - Pomegranate Juice |
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by Michelle Harris
What do Oprah Winfrey, model
Heidi Klum and actor
Laurence Fishburne have in
common? Pomegranate juice! These
celebrities, along with Kim Catrall and
Calista Flockhart, are part of the latest
healthy trend to take Hollywood by
storm. Why is this ancient fruit all
the rage in tinsel town? Because health
conscious stars are always searching
for foods and supplements that
will keep them looking amazing and
help them maintain a healthy weight.
Pomegranates can help to do both. It’s
even rumored that Laurence Fishburne
used nutrient-rich pomegranate juice to
help get into shape to film the Matrix
movies.
One of nature’s richest sources of antioxidants, pomegranates contain more polyphenol antioxidants than green tea, blueberries, cranberries and red wine. This makes them a powerful tool to combat heart disease, premature aging, Alzheimer’s disease and even cancer.
 Studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that pomegranate juice lowered blood pressure in people with hypertension. The study
found that blood pressure was reduced
up to five percent after two weeks
of consuming pomegranate juice.
Additional research on the thickness of
the carotid artery found that subjects
drinking 8 ounces of pomegranate juice
a day for one year found the thickness
of the artery did not worsen, and in
some cases decreased by up to 30 percent,
showing the correlation between
consumption of the juice and a reduction
in the risk for heart disease. This
remarkable food is also thought to protect
against cancers of the skin and
breast.
The design of this vibrant fruit itself
helps to control calorie intake. With red,
thick skin, pomegranates can take
some time to eat, and they are incredibly
satisfying. At only 120 calories per
serving this is a definite plus for
anyone watching his or her
weight.
So with all these nutritional benefits, what’s the best way to incorporate pomegranates into your diet? The fruit is in season in October and is available at most natural food retailers and supermarkets. It’s excellent by itself or in salads or smoothies.
Pomegranate juice is flying
off the shelves. It’s an easy way to
get the antioxidant benefits pomegranates
have to offer. With a slightly tart
taste, you can find pomegranate juice
mixed with other juices or plain. Juice
manufacturer, Pom Wonderful, offers
pomegranate juice in several combinations
such as pomegranate cherry,
mango and blueberry juice.
Pomegranate juice is also available from
R. W. Knudsen with their Just
Pomegranate juice and Lakewood makes
a 100 percent Pure Pomegranate juice.
My favorite way to drink pomegranate
juice is simple and refreshing.
It’s a pomegranate juice spritzer made
by adding one part pomegranate juice
to three parts seltzer. You can also add
the juice recipes to enhance flavor or
make a juice cocktail with your own
favorite juice combination.
But the pomegranate craze doesn’t
end with pomegranate beverages.
Another celebrity favorite is a line of
skin care supplements from Murad.
Created by dermatologist Dr. Howard
Murad, pomegranate extract is an
important ingredient in many Murad
formulas. It’s a valuable weapon to fight
aging because of its high level of antioxidants
that keep skin supple and
smooth.
Whether you choose to eat your
pomegranates whole, enjoy an invigorating
juice or take a supplement, pomegranates
are one celebrity health secret
that can benefit everyone.
 Michelle Harris
is the host of “Alive & Well with Michelle Harris,” a national television series devoted to nutrition, fitness, natural foods and natural beauty. “Alive & Well” airs twice daily on GoodLife TV Network, reaching over 15 million households in over 200 markets nationwide.
Michelle, one of cable television’s most
popular and visible spokespersons on
natural health and nutrition, is a frequent
contributor to healthy lifestyle publications.
Vitamin Retailer magazine recently
named Michelle Harris “one of the key
people who have had the greatest impact
on the supplement industry in the last 10
years.” Health-conscious television
viewers identify with Michelle as their
guide to natural health. For Michelle and
her many fans, “Alive & Well” is a way of
life. For more information, visit
www.AliveandWell.TV
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