The Benefits of Pomegranate as a Health Drink

When it comes to health drinks, among the most popular options are those with extracts of pomegranate fruit. This is because today, there are seemingly countless of studies that show how pomegranate fruit can bring about potential benefits to a person's health.

Pomegranate is considered as one of the "earliest fruits" that have been cultivated by people in ancient civilizations. This came along with fruits as a grapes, figs, and olives which were known to be cultivated somewhere between 4000 B. C. E and 3000 B. C. E. What sets pomegranate fruit apart from others is that it became an emblem of fertility, rebirth, and health.

For the younger civilizations, pomegranate is considered as a "miracle drug for aging" because it is said to cure neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease as well as prevents the development of certain cancers, coronary diseases, and arthritis.


The "miracles" of pomegranate 

If there were on fruit that is at its heights of its popularity nowadays, it would be the pomegranate. This fruit has continued to be popular because of its deep and purple-colored juice that is believed to be loaded with lots of antioxidants. The antioxidants—most people believe—would greatly them help in maintaining a smooth and wrinkle free skin and keep their blood platelets together to avoid development of certain diseases.

Today, because of its so–called anti-aging properties, pomegranate is being used not only in health drinks but also in other products. The following are some of the benefits that one can get when she or he used pomegranate juice as a health drink:

- Reduces risks of coronary and cardiovascular diseases. People who use pomegranate juice as health drinks are expected to have lesser chances of having heart attacks and strokes. This is because experts believed that drinking pomegranate juice everyday could help in the improvement and normal blood flow to the heart. Also, because of its high antioxidant content, pomegranate can help keep bad cholesterol from forming that usually result to blot clots in the arteries.

- Prevents certain cancers. The very high levels of antioxidant called "flavenoids" in pomegranates are believed to be the major reason why it is effective in counteracting various cancer-causing radicals. Today, many experts are recommending pomegranate juice to their patients—especially to those who have breast cancer, skin cancer, and prostate cancer—because the properties in this fruit's juice can help prevent the proliferation of cancer cells.

- Lessens the risks for terminal illnesses. People who are prone to diseases such as atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, and diabetes are advised to use pomegranate juice as a health drink because the medicinal properties found in this fruit can help diminish the possibility of thickening and hardening of arterial walls as well as the damage in cartilage and joints.

- Rich in various vitamins and nutrients especially to pregnant women. Pomegranate juice is recommended as a good health drink for people of all ages are because it is a good and natural source of vitamins A, C and E.  It is also good for pregnant women because it is a natural source of folic acid vital to the brain development of the fetus inside the womb.

Aside from reducing the possibilities of having premature babies, regular consumption of pomegranate juice can also protect the unborn baby from experiencing brain injuries and other neuro-related damages.

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Energy Drinks May Not be Healthy at All

Energy drinks may not be as healthy as we think it is.  Energy drinks are just everywhere.  You can get some in corner stores, gas stations, and bars.  Because these drinks are supposed to provide mental and physical stimulation, people are taking it.  But does this drink provide what is best for our health?

There are studies showing that energy drink consumption provides relative improvement in mental and cognitive performances.  These drinks also increase the alertness of the consumer.  But on the down side, excessive consumption may lead to anxiety, insomnia and irritability.

What are the components of your average energy drink?

Some common ingredients would include:

• Ephedrine - a stimulant that commonly found in weight-loss products and decongestants. There are studies raising concern and issues about its effects on the heart.


• Taurine - a natural amino acid needed by the body to help regulate heart beat and muscle contractions.  Currently, researchers are trying to discover its impact as a energy drink additive.

• Ginseng - a kind of root thought to have several medicinal benefits.  It is said that ginseng relives stress and can increase your level of energy.

• Vitamin B - a group of vitamins that can change sugar to energy

• Carnitine - an amino acid.  Its effects can be mainly on the metabolism of fatty acids in the body.

• Creatine - an organic acid which main contribution is on energizing the muscles for muscle contraction.

• Inositol - a member of the vitamin B complex that helps relay messages within cells in the body.

• Ginkgo biloba – came from the seeds of the ginkgo biloba tree.  There are studies claiming its memory enhancement capabilities. ¬

Caffeine is also present in most energy drinks.  So how does an energy drink work? Caffeine and other minerals blocks certain brain chemicals in sending its messages to the brain.  This brain chemical is called adenosine which mainly involved in sleep.  Thinking that the body is experiencing a problem, the pituitary gland releases adrenaline.

Adrenaline release makes the heart beat faster, eyes to dilate, and the liver to release extra sugar to the mainstream.  This would provide the consumer an extra surge of energy needed for intense physical or mental activity.

Like any other food, drink or drugs, too much is never good for you.  Consuming too much energy drinks can lead to heart palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, irritability and even being jittery.

It is also dangerous to drink water while doing some exercise, since its effects are more leaned into dehydrating your body.  There are also some people who mix energy drinks with alcohol.  Studies showed that mixing alcohol and energy drinks would make you feel alert and sober, making you unaware of how much you actually drank.  This could also lead to excessive drinking and later on to dehydration.

If you drink energy drinks, then be aware of how you consume it.  There are some energy drinks that have instructions, be sure to follow them.  Avid drinking too much of is, make sure to limit consumption to 2 cans a day.  It is for the best to avoid mixing energy drinks to alcohol.  When doing intense physical activity like exercise, then it would be best to just drink water instead.  For pregnant women and young children, drinking energy drinks is best to be avoided.  They also pose problems for those who have high blood pressure and heart disease.

Energy drinks can provide and be a health drink, as long as it consumed moderately.

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Can Coffee be a Health Drink?

A few years ago, there were studies saying that coffee can be associated with cancer.  This prompted people to avoid drinking the caffeinated drink.  A few years after that study, researches have recounted the research quoting that the research is flawed.  Current research have showed that coffee can give the body a lot of benefits.

Harvard researchers are saying that coffee, when drank regularly, can be a cure for diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and colon cancer.  It could even improve your mood and treat daily headache problems.  It could even be drank to lower risk of cavities.

Research shows that regular coffee drinkers are 80 percent less likely to have Parkinson’s disease.  While 2-cups-a-day drinkers can reduce the risk of colon cancer by 25 percent and 80 percent in liver cirrhosis risk.  It can even slash the risk of gallstones by half.  There are even studies showing that people who smoke and drink heavily, have less heart and liver damage because of their coffee intake.


So, what causes these benefits?  It is the anti-oxidants, and surprisingly from the caffeine also.  Currently, drugs for curing Parkinson’s disease are being developed.  These drugs have a derivative of caffeine as their component.  Coffee also has chlorogenic acid and  tocophenols which are antioxidants.  These mineral components can improve insulin sensitivity.  When we talk about insulin sensitivity, it is the body’s response to insulin.

There were studies conducted in Europe citing that the trigonelline, the compound which is why coffee smells good and has bitter taste,  also has benefits.  It can be both antibacterial and anti-adhesive.  These prevent the formation of dental cavities.

But can everybody drink coffee?

Unfortunately, not everybody can drink coffee. People with bladder and kidney problems, existing diabetes, gallstones, heart problems, high cholesterol levels, hypoglycemia and generalized panic and /or anxiety attacks should avoid drinking coffee altogether.  Avoiding drinking coffee is also advised to pregnant women and those with high risk of osteoporosis.

For pregnant women, if coffee cannot be avoided, then it is recommended just to drink one to two cups a day.  Infertility, miscarriages and low birth weight among babies are the primary reason why pregnant women are recommended against drinking coffee.

Excessive caffeine intake can also lead to nervousness, anxiety and rapid heartbeat.  The caffeine overstimulates the nervous system, making the adrenal glands work overboard.  Osteoporosis patients are also advised against coffee.  Coffee reduces the capability of bones to absorb the necessary minerals, making the bones weak and in risk of osteoporosis.  But the effects can be reduced if milk is mixed with coffee.

For some people, coffee can also be addictive.  People who have stopped drinking coffee experience withdrawal symptoms.  They would get headaches, less energy and alertness, difficulty in being focused, get irritated easily and sometimes even get depressed.

Over caffeine consumption can also have an impact on your skin, since it increases the risk of developing stretch marks.  Caffeine may also play a role in weight gain.  Although, it is mentioned that coffee drinkers may lose weight in the short-term, but in a longer period of time, coffee can lead to weight gain.

Coffee both has good and bad effects.  Similar to other beverages and food, once it is taken in big amounts, then it is likely that they may have undesirable effects to your body.  Whether coffee can be considered as a health drink, it is up to you to make the choice.

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