Helpful info about selecting pomegranate juice

This thread is for those who want to participate in value-added conversation about pomegranate juices. There is a steady flow of newcomers to HealingWell, and many are interested in understanding steps that they can take to “stack the odds in their favor” for the best possible outcome in their battle against PC. Pomegranate juices (or extracts) can be one of those “tools.” There are many men here at HW who take pomegranate juice or extract daily to help "stack the odds in their favor."

Let’s get the fine-print details out of the way, first: Pomegranate juice, by itself, will not cure prostate cancer. But, pomegranate juice has been shown, in repeated Phase II human trials, to slow down PC progression as measured (as it is in essentially all medical studies) by PSA changes; this is especially important and valuable for men with recurrent prostate cancer. Pomegranate juice (or extract) should only be considered one of the demonstrated complementary (or integrated) tactics that men with PC should consider, but keep in mind the common-sense saying I’ve previously posted which reads:

Anyone that uses only complementary medicine techniques (and completely foregoes conventional medical approaches such as surgery, radiation, HT, etc) to combat prostate cancer is foolish. At the same time, anyone who uses only conventional aggressive medical techniques (previously listed) without supplementing with integrative medicine techniques such as lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, stress reduction, etc) is also foolish.</i>

Many of the PC expert “big hitters” treating advanced cases of PC (Myers, Scholz/Lam, Vogelzang) include pomegranate recommendations to their patients.

OK, so if it’s now clear that pomegranate has NOT been 100% proven to cure cancer, let’s discuss helpful information about selecting pomegranate juice...for those who are interested.

Be careful of what you select. Look for juices labeled “100% Pomegranate Juice.”

By way of example, Minute Maid (Coca Cola brand) markets a juice with big letters “Pomegranate Blueberry.” (Pomegranate and blueberry are two of the types of juices most heavily laden with helpful and desirable antioxidants.) But the problem is that the Minute Maid product has small print on the label which reads that the juice is actually a “flavored blend of 5 juices.” The product has 0.3% pomegranate juice, and 0.2% blueberry juice. As for the other 99.5% of the juice, all but 0.1% is the much cheaper apple and grape juices (with less antioxidant).

Bottom line, look for 100% pomegranate juices.

Personally, I don’t like pomegranate juice flavor, so I take the extract in pill form.

I don't like pomegratnte juice. Additionally, I am pre-diabetic and the juice has a very high sugar content. I take pomegranate extract capsules daily. I use the "full spectrum" variety that I buy on-line from Life Extension. A one month supply usually costs $8-10. I like red wine much more and will drink it (but not daily). I also take resveratrol capsules daily that I also get from Life Exrension. These are more expensive than the pomagrante.

From expeirence, Pom juice is tart when drinking by itself, therefore I make a vege. & fruit smoothie for my husband and add pom juice to it daily.
It's yummy as well as good for you as you are getting the dark leaves uncooked and then the fruit gives the flavor. I also add ginger, parsley, and anything else I have growing that is dark green leafy herbs.

BOOGEE

I buy the Life Extension brand of pomegranate extract capsuls. But, it pays to check with Amazon as they also sell Life Extension brands and often have better prices.  I also take the curcumin and resveratrol.  I don't know how much these things help but my PSA is still bouncing around the 0.1 mark. 

Carlos

I take the extract as well. Does it matter at what time of day you take it? Just curious because Myers suggests taking other spplements at bedtime, but said nothing on this supplement.

Thanks

Bridgewater — You asked about brands; several were mentioned here, including POMx and Life Extension. One 1,000 mg POMx pill daily is the equivalent of 8 oz. of 100% pomegranage juice.

BOOGEE — Your blend sounds good, and healthy!

Jerry L. — I believe the rule of thumb is to take with food to aid in digestion and dissolution, but I don't think it matters much based on not much in the literature.

montee — I have read that the pomegranate juice can lose potency when exposed to light, and that the chilled brands in dark bottles are better protected from loss.

Just got back from my wellness checkup from my internist for the group insurance company, on the back of the blood work printout they gave me was printout titled "identifying and managing major risk factors. they had 10 different titles how to control each one, under Hypertension and high blood pressure, the last line says "drink 4 oz of Pomegranate juice twice daily"