Grenada, a feminine elixir

Fermented pomegranate for women's health


Pomegranate is a Mediterranean fruit cultivated for over 4000 years. The pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), is native to Iran and northeastern Turkey. Cultivated throughout the Mediterranean basin alongside the olive tree, this generous fruit, with ruby-colored grains, is a symbol linked to blood and fertility. It is reported in some myths that the mother of the goddess Attis (Anatolia) was fertilized by a pomegranate placed on her belly. A sacred fruit in many cultures, the pomegranate embodies sexual potency, fertility and resurrection.

This fruit has many therapeutic properties, and nearly 1000 studies have looked at this fruit to discover its extraordinary abilities. Rich in polyphenols (punicalagin, ellagic acid, anthocyanins, etc.), it is one of the plants with the most concentration in antioxidants. These destroy reactive oxygen species and help protect DNA against various degradations linked to oxidative stress and which are at the origin of many severe pathologies such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

The fruit of the pomegranate tree, with its pericarp, is reminiscent of the structure of a female ovary. But the resemblance to this female gland doesn't end there. This is because pomegranate is rich in estrone, a precursor to estradiol, the major circulating estrogen. Another asset to contribute to women's health.

From the age of 40, estrogen levels begin to drop in women and drop significantly around the time of menopause. The pomegranate, especially since it has been fermented, which releases the active ingredients contained in its juice and pulp, can be of great help to women from mid-life.

Preventive action on breast cancer

The concentration of anthocyanins, flavonoids, and estrone in pomegranate plays an important role in preventing breast cancer in women. Indeed, the antioxidant compounds of this family are excellent protectors, with their anti-cancer action against breast tumors. Estrones, as estrogen precursors, act as a natural adaptogen that can increase estrogen levels when estrogen is deficient or lower when estrogen is excessive. In a 2001 study, pomegranate extract was compared to Tamoxifen and concluded that pomegranate extract may be a good element in the prevention of hormone-dependent estrogen-dependent cancers, including breast cancer.


Action on heart health

With the fall in estrogen, a protective factor, the cardiac risk is multiplied by 2 or 3 times for women after menopause. The pomegranate can then offer good protection to women by different actions:    Decreases the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (circulating), which prevents the development of atherosclerosis

  •     Regulates blood pressure, which tends to increase with age, and stiffening of the arteries. It helps increase nitric oxide, which regulates endothelial function.
  •     Maintains good blood flow and limiting platelet aggregation.
  •     Increases the flow of oxygen to the heart muscle.

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Pomegranate is undoubtedly a miracle fruit for women, the extract of which, especially when fermented, contains nutritional factors that help maintain female balance around menopause.

Sreeja S, Santhosh Kumar TR, Lakshmi BS, Sreeja S. Pomegranate extract demonstrate a selective estrogen receptor modulator profile in human tumor cell lines and in vivo models of estrogen deprivation. J Nutr Biochem. 2012; 23 (7): 725–732.

Journal of Medicinal Food-VOL 12, N ° 2 - Effects of Pomegranate Juice and Extract Polyphenols on Platelet Function- Teresa Mattiello, Elisabetta Trifirò, Gloria Saccani Jotti, and Fabio M. Pulcinelli-Published Online: 21 May 2009

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