Nutritionists are giving the pomegranate some well-deserved respect. For centuries the fruit has held a place of honor in the worlds of literature and religion, but it’s only been recently that evidence of its health benefits have begun to emerge in clinical studies.

In writing for LifeScript, a leading source of free, up-to-date health information, Jill Weisenberger, a registered dietician and author of several articles on nutrition, explores the many health-related attributes of this overlooked fruit. Five chief benefits stand out.

1. Pomegranates pack a lot of nutrition, but relatively few calories. According to Weisenberger, pomegranates and their juice have an abundance of antioxidants and phytochemicals. These include compounds which are anti-inflammatory and cancer fighting.
2. Studies suggest that the fruit promotes heart health by improving blood flow and possibly reducing the risk of atherosclerosis.
3. Other disease-fighting properties are being uncovered relating to Alzheimer’s disease and its prevention.
4. Osteoarthritis sufferers will be happy to hear that pomegranates may also offer relief for joint pain based on recent trials.
5. Those fighting prostate cancer have good news in the form of renewed research efforts following an initial study. “The results were so promising that a larger study is now underway,” says Weisenberger.

The news only gets better! You can enjoy the health benefits of this nutrient-laden fruit even if you don’t care for the complications of its ‘natural packaging’ (pomegranates can be tricky to eat and easily stain). Bigelow Tea now offers Bigelow Green Tea with Pomegranate and Arizona Green Tea with Pomegranate and Acai (Acai is an all-natural fruit from Amazon palmberries.).

Check out these pomegranate products on the Bigelow web site and, for more details on the benefits and history of the pomegranate, view the full LifeScript article here.

A recent article in TODAY  provides more evidence about the benefits of green tea.  A new study, conducted at the University of Arizona, looked at the antioxidant properties of green tea.  Researchers studied 42 healthy individuals who were given four capsules of green tea extract every morning for a month.  The results were very favorable. 

Participants who began the study with the lowest levels of the detoxification enzymes known as glutathione S-transferase or GST saw the greatest results.  For these individuals, GST levels increased by 80%.  This is important because GST helps the body defend itself against toxic and cancer-causing compounds found in both a person’s genetic makeup and in the environment.

Green tea contains catechins that also contain antioxidant properties, according to dietitian Charles Lew from Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s Department of Nutrition and Dietetics.  Catechins may help the free radical damage often associated with certain cancers and cardiovascular disease.

The article goes on to cite green tea as a healthy beverage choice because it contains six times less caffeine than coffee and is virtually calorie free.  More good about the green?  Additional recent studies have also shown green tea catechins to have anti-inflammatory properties, which in turn, may help people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis by reducing inflammation and slowing cartilage breakdown.

Go for the green…green tea! 

Are you getting all the nutrition you need? The beginning of a new year is a good time to re-evaluate your dietary needs and to learn how green tea can add supplementary nutrition.

Start by re-acquainting yourself with the USDA’s food pyramid or by developing a customized plan at the MyPyramid Web site. Additional dietary guidance is also available on the site, such as detailed nutrient information. This Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) information (now called RDIs) contains recommendations for optimum consumption of vitamins, minerals and micronutrients.

Next, rediscover how tea can provide an extra boost to a healthy diet with health-promoting phytonutrients “that are very similar to those that you find in fruits and vegetables.”

Your last step is a quick visit to the Afternoon Tea Party blog for a breakdown of 18 healthy compounds found in tea, including antioxidants and Vitamin D. The information is formatted for easy comparison to RDA or RDI guidelines and even includes provides an estimate of nutrients received in subsequent steepings of a single tea bag!

Now, when planning healthful pyramid-based meals, don’t forget to include the nutritional benefits of tea, because this seemingly simple beverage really does go a long way in helping you meet your RDAs!