Help for male desire and heart – pomegranate.

Delicious refreshing fruit. A reservoir of vitamins and minerals. But also a food with epigenetic effects, capable of influencing the activity of important genes and thus counteracting many diseases, helping to lose weight or improving performance. Pomegranate is all of these.

Do you know what Eve gave Adam under the tree of knowledge? It may have been an ordinary apple, but in many of the old depictions, the biblical foremothers are holding a pomegranate instead. This version is supported by the fact that in many ancient cultures the pomegranate was an important divine attribute and symbol of fertility. Moreover, many ancient healing systems praised it as an effective aphrodisiac.

The secret of healing action

But whatever the case, pomegranate was (and still is) popularly used by both traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, not only to promote fertility and sexual performance, but also to treat digestive problems, slow down aging, support kidney, heart and nervous system function, kill intestinal parasites or fight inflammation.

The next wave of interest in pomegranate came in the second half of the last century, when scientists discovered that it is an incredibly rich reservoir of vitamins, minerals and substances with strong antioxidant potential, especially in the category of polyphenols. It is particularly popular with people suffering from anaemia because it contains not only relatively high levels of iron, but also other nutrients essential for blood formation – especially vitamin C and copper.

However, with the new millennium, more research has emerged that has put the pomegranate in an even more interesting light. They found a substance called ellagic acid, which triggers chemical reactions in the body that affect the activity of a number of important genes in the body. In particular, processes called gene methylation and histone acetylation can turn off genes that increase the likelihood of a number of serious diseases.

A powerful weapon not only against cancer

In particular, studies on the anti-cancer effects of pomegranate look very promising. Ellagic acid and other substances contained in it promote the protection of cellular DNA, prevent the uncontrolled rapid multiplication of cells, which is typical for cancer cells, and promote the ability of the so-called apoptosis or programmed “cell suicide”, which occurs at the moment of cell disruption. Pomegranate also limits the formation of new blood vessels, which a growing tumour needs for its nutrition, and thus ‘starves’ it.

Polyphenolic compounds and ellagic acid are also distinguished by their anti-inflammatory action. This also makes them very effective in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, as inflammatory processes in the vascular wall are at the very beginning. Pomegranate also lowers LDL cholesterol levels and blood pressure, reduces blood lipid oxidation and its regular consumption even leads to a significant reduction in atherosclerotic plaques – in experiments on mice, inmice, in which the scientists first induced advanced atherosclerosis by an inappropriate diet, there was a very respectable 17% reduction in atherosclerotic plaques after regular administration of pomegranate juice.

Aimed at men

As we mentioned at the beginning, pomegranate has been widely used since ancient times as a means of promoting potency and fertility in both sexes. Modern research has shown that, at least for the stronger sex, there really is something to it. The cause, however, is mainly due to its significant positive effect on the vascular system. In order for an erection to occur, it is necessary for the erectile bodies of the penis to fill with blood. And it takes quite a lot of blood. Therefore, erection problems are often the first signal that tells us that something is wrong in the cardiovascular system.

Although pomegranate does not have a direct effect on erection and sexual desire, its strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects lead to an improvement in the state of the vascular system, which in turn results in improved erections. Two independent studies have confirmed that the substances in pomegranate, when taken over a long period of time, improve blood flow in the pelvic vessels, relax smooth muscles and improve erectile capacity. In addition, there are changes at the molecular level that reduce the susceptibility of erectile tissues to fibrosis, which would further impair their function.

Pomegranate is also one of the foods that can positively influence stress levels, improve emotional health and regulate mood, which can also have a positive effect on sexual health, in both sexes. In addition, men may benefit from its preventive action against prostatic hyperplasia and the development of tumours in the prostate.

Help lose weight and improve performance

However, the list of positive effects of pomegranate is far from over. Its ability to improve blood circulation is not limited to the pelvic area, but extends to all the muscles in the body. These are then better supplied with nutrients during exercise, which results in improved endurance and strength performance for athletes
For overweight people, it can help them lose weight. Ellagic acid limits the absorption of fats from the digestive tract and thus helps to reduce energy intake, promotes the production of fat-breaking enzymes and reduces appetite.

And everyone, without distinction, can benefit from the pomegranate’s ability to improve immunity. The epigenetic processes initiated by ellagic acid promote the proliferation and differentiation of immune cells.

Blanka Gololobova