Pomegranates

Technically a berry, the pomegranate makes its way into Canadian supermarkets before Christmas, and remains available until early March. A native of Persian, pomegranates are among the oldest fruits known to man. Believed to ensure a safe passage into the next life, the ancient Egyptians buried their dead with pomegranates. (The dried out rinds of several pomegranates were found in the tomb of King Tutankhamen.) The ancient Romans not only feasted on the fruit, they also tanned and used the rinds as leather.

Today, pomegranates are recognized for their healthful properties. The fruits are rich in substances known as polyphenols (which are also present in red wine and green tea). Pomegranate polyphenols, particularly punicalagin, have been shown to have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action, and may help the body fight various degenerative diseases associated with aging. (These include cardiovascular disease, prostate conditions and osteoarthritis.) The healthful effects are intensified by other substances found in pomegranate juice, including ellagic acid.

Studies into the beneficial effects of pomegranate are ongoing and include its possible role in the prevention of heart disease, cancers of the breast and prostate, and various inflammatory conditions.

Noni Fruit

The noni is an evergreen shrub that thrives in the volcanic soils of Polynesia. Noni fruit has been used for thousands of years as a healer for various maladies. The ancient Kahuna peoples of the Hawaiian Islands regarded noni as a sacred plant.

Noni fruit is a source of antioxidants including Vitamin C, and an alkaloid called proxeronine which may support healthy cell function. According to a study detailed at the American Heart Association's 46th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention (March 2006), after one month's use, noni juice significantly reduced cholesterol and triglycerides in current smokers with elevated cholesterol levels.

Mian-Ying Wang, M.D., M.S., lead author of the study and assistant research professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Rockford stated that smokers were chosen as they tend to have higher total cholesterol levels and are at higher risk for heart disease than non-smokers. Previous studies have found that noni juice possesses strong antioxidant, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory and tumour-suppressing properties. Studies into these effects are ongoing.

Acai Berries

Acai berries (pronounced ah-sci-ee), grow in the Brazilian rain forest and are one of Nature's richest sources of antioxidant vitamins and minerals. For centuries, Brazilian natives regarded the berries as magical, due to their perceived remarkable healing powers. Due to their high content of anthocyanin (an antioxidant compound), acai berries may help delay various aspects of the aging process including atherosclerosis (plaque build-up in the arteries) and waning mental alertness.

The International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition reported on the 'excellent' antioxidant effects of acai berries in its February 2005 edition.

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