Good For Your Heart And More

You've probably heard that pomegranates are good for your heart. Most health food and grocery stores carry a variety of drinks made with pomegranate juice. If you're not already eating pomegranates or drinking some form of its juice, here's yet another reason Scottsdale Personal Trainers suggest you may want to consider doing so. Turns out it could have a positive impact on reducing inflammation and joint pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis (RA). [1] Studies have been conducted in the past to examine the effects of pomegranate juice on arthritis and inflammation. Scottsdale Personal Trainers found a recent pilot study published in The Israeli Medical Association Journal in which researchers recruited participants diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Each participant was given 10ml per day of pomegranate extract for 12 weeks. The researchers also assessed the participants' joint status and serum oxidative status at the beginning of the study and at the end of the 12-week supplementation period. By the end of the study, the pomegranate extract helped alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. On average, participants were able to reduce their tender joint count by 62%. They also significantly reduced their serum oxidative status, which is highly indicative of a reduced inflammatory response. Participants reduced the composite Disease Activity Index (DAS28) of arthritis by 17%, as well. The study's authors added, "Dietary supplementation with pomegranates may be a useful complementary strategy to attenuate clinical symptoms in RA patients." This is exciting news for anyone with chronic joint pain. If you suffer from arthritis or similar pain, there's really nothing to lose by trying pomegranate juice to see if it works for your body. Scottsdale Personal Trainers want you to keep in mind that most juices on the market are quite high in sugar. A little goes a long way, especially if you're trying to get or stay lean and healthy. The best way to ensure you're getting plenty of antioxidants to keep your body healthy and disease-free is to eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables. The more colorful, the better! Read more health and fitness articles by Scottsdale Personal Trainers here. References: 1. Balbir-Gurman A, Fuhrman B, Braun-Moscovici Y, Markovits D, Aviram M., "Consumption of pomegranate decreases serum oxidative stress and reduces disease activity in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot study." Isr Med Assoc J. 2011 Aug;13(8):474-9.