Beverages and foods that contain everything you need for your optimal health are truly a blessing. Green tea and pomegranate make into that list of healthiest foods. The most popular tea, green tea is made from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis. As green tea is least processed, it retains most of its antioxidants, providing all the health benefits. Pomegranate is another delicious fruit packed with all nutrients. Along with various antioxidants, vitamins C and K, copper, potassium, manganese, and fiber make this exotic fruit special. Next time, when you add them to your diet give them due respect, knowing its benefits.
Cancer Prevention
Green tea contains polyphenols, an antioxidant. They play an important role in protecting us from cancer. Green tea consumption could lower the risk of breast cancer.1 The polyphenol, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), in green tea have anticancer properties, which can prevent the growth of skin tumors.
Again, the antioxidants in pomegranates work here. With its antioxidant properties, pomegranates can be used in the prevention and treatment of several types of cancer.2 It is found that pomegranate fruit could be used in the treatment of human prostate cancer because it can inhibit cell growth.
Heart Health
Green tea has positive effects on some heart disease risk factors, including blood pressure and cholesterol. By lowering the blood pressure, green tea reduces the risk of stroke and coronary heart disease. This widely consumed beverage lowers total cholesterol and raises HDL (good) cholesterol. It is estimated that the rate of heart attack decreases by 11% with consumption of 3 cups of tea per day.
The antioxidants in pomegranates fight free radicals, diminishing the risk of heart disease. Fresh pomegranate juice has three polyphenols – tannins, anthocyanins, and ellagic acid, in them. It is found that concentrated pomegranate juice could modify heart disease risk factors in type II diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia. The unique pomegranate antioxidants help in decreasing blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease.
Skin Protection
As we mentioned, green tea is rich in powerful antioxidants. They efficiently neutralize or kill free radicals, which can damage your body. These free radicals, in fact, bring about aging and disease. By cleaning up the free radicals, green tea could prevent the process of aging.
Solar ultraviolet radiation is the primary reason behind photoaging. The pomegranate juice, extract, and oil are beneficial in fighting such radiation-mediated damage.
Weight Loss
Yes, they can burn your calories. The catechins or EGCG – caffeine mixture in green tea will be helpful in weight management. However, more research is needed to prove it.
Animal studies have proved that pomegranate leaf extract can inhibit the development of obesity in a high-fat diet. It is also found that pomegranate juice has potential to address obesity.
Diabetes Management
Green tea is known for its ability to control blood sugar levels. It may help you prevent the development of type 1 diabetes and manage type 2 diabetes. It may also regulate glucose in the body.
The anti-diabetic activity of pomegranate fruit is very well known. The components in pomegranate are responsible for its anti-diabetic actions. However, more research is needed for medically recommending it for diabetic patients.
Other than as a stand-alone beverage, green tea can be added to smoothies, desserts or sauces. As far as a pomegranate is concerned, you can use its seeds or juice. Use them in your salad dressings, yogurt, and stir-fry dishes.
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