Research into the effects of pomegranate for diabetes has shown that the fruit may help protect the heart in diabetes patients against future atherosclerosis. Diabetic patients are at a higher risk for developing heart disease later in life, mainly due to poor blood glucose control, making preventive steps important. Pomegranate juice, although high in sugar, may contain antioxidants that help protect the inner lining of blood vessels from being damaged by free radicals and free-floating glucose. Used moderately with other approaches like medicine, exercise and a proper diet, pomegranate may show promise in future diabetic treatments.
Studies into the effects of natural ingredients like fruits and vegetables have shown that pomegranate may be promising in future diabetes-prevention treatments. Many diabetic patients are prone to developing atherosclerosis, or heart disease, later in life, often due to poor diabetic and blood glucose control. Uncontrolled blood sugar can often cause wear and tear on arteries and blood vessels, increasing the chance of stroke and future heart problems. Antioxidants, like the powerful ones found in the fruit pomegranate, may protect against these damaging effects, helping reduce the risk of developing serious heart conditions.
In most healthy patients, the pomegranate has been somewhat associated with improved heart health. Researchers studying the effects of pomegranate for diabetes treatment have shown that diabetic patients can improve their good cholesterol levels with pomegranate juice and decrease their bad cholesterol levels. A high cholesterol level in the form of LDL, or low density lipoproteins, is often a common concern for diabetics and is a common risk factor for diabetic heart-related problems later in life. Although these findings applied to diabetic patients, most researchers presume they can apply to most healthy individuals.
With pomegranate related to diabetes, it is often recommended that a person eat the whole fruit rather than consume the juice, which is often high in sugar. Although pomegranate juice does contain a higher concentration of antioxidants and nutrients, the whole fruit contains fiber that can help slow down blood sugar spikes. Most research involving pomegranate for diabetes-related heart conditions usually examines the juice, yet most nutritionists recommend that this may aggravate blood glucose and provide further inflammation and damage to insulin receptors. More research is needed on the effects of pomegranate for diabetes, and future treatments involving certain aspects of the pomegranate may be developed for future diabetes-prevention plans.