| Eating or drinking this tasty, nutrient rich fruit might | | | | registered with the National Institutes of Health to |
| help to slow of stop breast cancer according to a | | | | look at pomegranate consumption on many diseases. |
| new study published in Cancer Prevention Research. | | | | If you're concerned about your cancer risk, or just |
| The work identifies a group of phytochemicals | | | | want to take advantage of the potential health |
| known as ellagitannins, abundant in pomegranates, | | | | benefits, consider making pomegranates a regular |
| that inhibit the growth of estrogen responsive breast | | | | part of your diet - Even at the risk of pink hands, a |
| cancers in the lab. | | | | juice splattered shirt and the effort needed to enjoy |
| The researchers believe the ellagitannins in | | | | the fruit. If you've never tried one, pomegranates |
| pomegranates work by inhibiting a key enzyme | | | | have a unique, very pleasant flavor. You can eat the |
| (known as aromatase) the body uses to make | | | | seeds themselves, or add them to salads, meats, or |
| estrogen, which is suspected of a role in breast | | | | other grain pilaf dishes, even deserts. |
| cancer growth. | | | | If you have the option between the fruit and its |
| "Phytochemicals suppress estrogen production that | | | | juice form, always try to choose the fruit, as it has |
| prevents the proliferation of breast cancer cells and | | | | natural fiber as well as antioxidants, vitamins and |
| the growth of estrogen-responsive tumors," explains | | | | minerals. |
| researcher Shiuan Chen, PhD, director of the Division | | | | You can buy the fruit in juice form, though it can be |
| of Tumor Cell Biology and co-leader of the Breast | | | | expensive and comes with more than its share of |
| Cancer Research Program at City of Hope in Duarte, | | | | calories. |
| California. | | | | Often it's easy to drink a lot more calories than you |
| For this work, the researchers examined the impact | | | | realize, so watch your portion sizes and keep your |
| of 10 ellagitannin-derived compounds from | | | | intake to 1.5 ounces of the juice. |
| pomegranates on hormone activity and breast cancer | | | | If the taste is too strong for you, try mixing it with |
| cell growth. The results showed that of the ten | | | | mineral or seltzer water, or with blueberry or |
| compounds, urolithins B most significantly inhibited the | | | | cranberry juice for a super rich antioxidant drink. |
| growth of the breast cancer cells in the laboratory | | | | It's also a great addition to your favorite smoothie |
| testing. | | | | recipe, or mix it with plain yogurt or cottage cheese. |
| The results are promising, though more work will be | | | | There are even pudding recipes out there that are |
| needed to see if eating or drinking | | | | delicious and healthy too. |
| pomegranate-derived products will have any effect in | | | | There are stores where you can buy pomegranate |
| people. | | | | paste that's made with molasses. This lends itself to |
| Pomegranates have gotten a lot of attention | | | | glazes, dips and salad dressing recipes. |
| recently - becoming one of the most talked about | | | | No matter what form you choose, enjoying delicious, |
| "superfoods" out there because of both the heart | | | | good for you pomegranates might be one of the |
| healthy and anti-cancer benefits. | | | | best, most natural ways to give your body healthy |
| This latest work is the first to look at breast cancer | | | | nutrients and perhaps women might also be able to |
| growth, and we'll likely hear of other studies as the | | | | stop breast cancer from developing. |
| year 2009 saw no fewer than 20 clinical trials | | | | |