Pomegranate Enhances Skin Renewal

We have written before about this ancient fruit with many modern health-promoting applications, the pomegranate, which is best known for its strong antioxidant properties. This is due to its high concentration of phenolic compounds, such as ellagic acid. In addition to its applications in supporting cardiovascular health and protecting against cancer pomegranate has now demonstrated multiple benefits as a topical skin treatment. By protecting against photoaging, supporting skin cell regeneration, promoting wound healing, and preventing cancerous changes, pomegranate provides broad-spectrum support for aging skin.

Pomegranate may help reverse visible signs of aging by promoting a moderate thickening of the epidermis, while maintaining healthy epidermal cell differentiation. As the skin ages, its ability to quickly heal cuts, abrasions, and other wounds is dramatically diminished. A study from India discovered that the high content of phenolic compounds in pomegranate greatly improves wound-healing activity, significantly reducing the number of days required for complete healing of skin wounds. The fruit extract also prolonged the life of cells in the dermis known as fibro blasts. Fibroblasts produce the skin's essential structural fibers, including collagen and elastin. Pomegranate thus promotes regeneration of cells in the two most important layers of healthy skin, the epidermis and dermis.

A Japanese study found that ellagic acid potently suppresses lipid per-oxidation in the skin, thus helping to guard against damage from ultraviolet radiation. An Israeli research team noted that pomegranate's antioxidant activity was similar to that of green tea and much greater than that of red wine. The researchers also found that pomegranate demonstrates robust anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting a biochemical pathway that fuels inflammatory changes. Pomegranate may also help to protect against some forms of skin cancer. Numerous studies have found that topically applied pomegranate seed and fruit extracts significantly reduce the incidence and number of skin tumors that form in experimental models of skin cancer.

[tags]Pomegranate, anti wrinkle supplements, cancer fighter[/tags]