By Henry J. Fishman, M.D.
ConsumerAffairs.com
September 2, 2005
Read the ads, look at the labels and check out the web site -- pomegranate juice, loaded with more antioxidants than just about anything else, is here to save our sick hearts, reduce our blood pressures and plaque in our arteries and even "cheat death."
But wait a minute. Just like the old time elixirs, reality may not equal hype. There is very little proof that pomegranate juice does what it says or does it better than other drinks like grape juice or wine.
True, there have been a few small company-funded studies, usually in animals,that show it works. Recently Dr. Dean Ornish, the low-fat guru, presented an unpublished study to the American College of Cardiology which showed heart patients may slightly increase blood flow to the heart.
Still, I would not rely on pomegranate juice alone but would use it in moderation as part of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
