7. Pomegranate seeds
The pomegranate has been used as a medicinal cure for centuries but it’s only recently that science is proving that the benefits of the seeds and the oil they contain are more than just an old wive’s tale. Pomegranate seed oil has been dubbed a potent youth elixir, as it’s high in antioxidant Omega 5 punicic acid, which helps it combat free radical damage and ward off the effects of premature ageing.
The seed oil of pomegranates also contains the isoflavonoid equol, known to help guard against skin cancer – one study discovered that equol significantly lowered the risk of skin cancer in mice that were deliberately exposed to known carcinogenic toxins.
Science has found that pomegranates have a positive effect on blood pressure and helps to lower levels of inflammation and neutralise the effects of free radicals in the body. This is important as heart disease risk is linked to high blood pressure, which increases as you get older, while free radical oxidative stress is a contributor to many diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons.
One of the secrets to pomegranate seeds remarkable antioxidant power is mitochondria repairing urolithin A – though they don’t actually contain this super molecule, they contain a precursor to it, which is converted into the active compound by the microbes in your gut. French researchers found that the life expectancy of worms given urolithin A rose by over 45% – but as pomegranate seeds are packed with so much other anti-ageing goodness too, we think this plump pink fruit is a must have anyway!
