Pomegranate seed oil is actually derived from the seeds of the pomegranate fruit, which has the scientific name of Punica granatum. However, you many wonder, what are pomegranate seeds? It comes from within the pomegranate fruit, within white layers of flesh that are divided into chambers. Such chambers are the seed pots and contains sacs of the tiny, crisp edible pomegranate seeds.

The oil of pomegranate seed is derived from the cold compression of these seeds. The seeds themselves contain a lot of nutrients and antioxidants, so the oil undoubtedly is loaded with various vitamins and antioxidants to boost your health! In fact, it is mentioned in the Bible as among the top 10 foods that can heal the body and the mind. Pretty impressive isn’t it? Let us take a closer look at what pomegranate seed oil can offer for the health of your body.

Health Benefits of Pomegranate Seed Oil:

1. Helps Fight Cancer

Because of the abundance of antioxidants, pomegranate seed oil is a cancer-fighting agent as much research has been done to ascertain its antitumoral effects on various types of cancer cells. For example, a 2010 study published in the International Journal of Oncology found that punicic acid, the polyunsaturated fatty acid found in the oil, actually exhibited breast cancer inhibitory attitudes, thus possibly preventing and inhibiting the onset of breast cancer.

Another 2005 study published in Journal of Medicinal Food found that pomegranate extracts demonstrated anticarcinogenic activity, specifically on human breast cancer cells. The extracts inhibited cell proliferation and led to apoptosis (programmed cell death) of the breast cancer cells.

Not just breast cancer, but a 2012 study published in The Oncologist also found that pomegranate extracts can potentially slow down prostate cancer as they managed to significantly decrease the rate at which the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were rising, thereby preventing the onset of prostate cancer.

2. Lowers Inflammation

Likewise, pomegranate seed oil is a potent inflammation lowering agent, since they are a rich source of antioxidants called flavonols. They act as anti-inflammatory agents, capable of combating arthritis and soothing the inflamed and sore joints/muscles.

A 2008 study published in the Journal of Inflammation notes how the severity of arthritis and joint inflammation were significantly reduced when the animal test subjects took pomegranate extracts.

3. Augments Heart Health

Pomegranate seed oil helps to promote the health of the most vital organ in your body - the heart - in a number of ways! Firstly, its different types of antioxidants and bioactive polyphenols have been widely thought to help lower blood pressure to healthy levels, thereby promoting cardiovascular health and preventing the onset of cardiac arrests or stroke.

A 2014 study published in Phytotherapy Research notes how pomegranate juice can be a beneficial cardioprotective supplement for hypertensive subjects and that it helps to lower blood pressure levels naturally.

Secondly, the high content of punicic acid is also great for managing cholesterol levels, which hence decreases the accumulation and buildup of harmful fats in the body. This thus reduces the risk of your important arteries getting blocked, which in turn reduces the risks of incurring cardiac arrests, atherosclerosis and other heart diseases which are associated with a high cholesterol level.

This is backed up by a 2010 research study published in The British Journal of Nutrition. Basically, researchers found that administration of pomegranate seed oil for 4 weeks had favourable effects on lipid profiles, specifically in how the participants had reduced levels of triglycerides and lower rates of cholesterol levels.

4. Fights off Bacterial Infections

Pomegranate seed oil is also known to be an potent antibacterial and antimicrobial agent, as its many natural compounds have been significant in eliminating bacteria and fighting infections. A 2013 study published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that pomegranate extracts can help to stimulate healthy probiotic bacteria that is capable of fighting off bacterial infections.

As such, you can always rely on pomegranate seed oil to promote a much radiant, youthful and healthier skin. When applied topically onto the skin, the presence of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds helps fend off free radicals and combats the damage done by these harmful substances. This helps to slow down skin ageing and provides protection against sun damage.

It also helps to regulate the production of sebum and treat hormonal imbalance, therefore tackling the root causes of acne. It treats blemishes without leaving the resulting and nasty scar behind. As such, pomegranate seed oil also helps to promote a much smoother skin complexion. Not only can it help resolve acne issues, but it can treat a wide range of inflammatory skin conditions too, such as psoriasis, rosacea and eczema.

5. Improves Memory Levels

Besides the abovementioned benefits, pomegranate seed oil is also great for improving memory levels and boosting cognition. A 2014 study published in the Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences found that pomegranate seed extracts significantly improved impairment of memory and motor coordination of the rats test subjects, thus showing enhanced memory and muscular coordination, thanks to the antioxidative and free radical scavenging actions of the pomegranate seed extracts.

Another 2006 study published in Neurobiology of Disease found that pomegranates, with their high levels of antioxidant polyphenolic substances, have been found to be neuroprotective and helped to prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in the mice test subjects. This thus demonstrates pomegranate seed oil to be a potent, natural treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

6. Promotes Hair Health

Besides boosting skin health, pomegranate seed oil is also very useful in boosting hair health. Because of its antibacterial properties, pomegranate seed oil can help eliminate various scalp problems like dandruff, itching, inflammation and flakiness. It moisturizes your hair and scalp as well as stimulates blood flow.

Thus, not only can it help to relieve scalp problems, but it can counter premature hair loss and stimulate hair growth, leaving your hair more radiant!

How to Use Pomegranate Seed Oil?

Now that you have read about the wonderful and therapeutic benefits of pomegranate seed oil, here are a few ways you can incorporate them into your daily lives to reap its benefits and positive health impacts!

• Topically: You can apply pomegranate seed oil directly onto the skin, but be sure to only apply it in small doses first as some people have reported irritation on the skin. Perform a skin patch test first to ensure you do not suffer from any allergic or sensitive reactions. If you have sensitive skin, then consider combining it with coconut oil. For hair health, combine it with coconut oil first and warm the mixture before proceeding to apply it onto the scalp.

• Internally: You can consume pomegranate seed oil internally by adding one drop of the oil into a glass of water. Ensure proper dilution by stirring completely before ingesting it. However, do speak to your doctor or a health expert first before proceeding to take this oil internally, as it is a very potent oil that can lead to unwanted side effects, especially if you are taking prescribed medication at the same time as well.

Avoid using pomegranate seed oil when you are pregnant or breastfeeding because not enough research has been done to ascertain its safety on pregnant or breastfeeding women. When in doubt, speak to your doctor. Always purchase a 100% pure, high-quality and top-grade pomegranate seed oil from a reliable and reputable seller.

References:

Grossmann ME, et al., “Punicic acid is an omega-5 fatty acid capable of inhibiting breast cancer proliferation”, International Journal of Oncology (2010); 36(2)

Jeune MA, Kumi-Diaka J, Brown J, “Anticancer activities of pomegranate extracts and genistein in human breast cancer cells”, Journal of Medicinal Food (2005); 8(4)

Samuel J. Klempner, Glenn Bubley, “Complementary and Alternative Medicines in Prostate Cancer: From Bench to Bedside?” The Oncologist (2012); 17(6)

Meenakshi Shukla, et al., “Bioavailable constituents/metabolites of pomegranate (Punica granatum L) preferentially inhibit COX2 activity ex vivo and IL-1beta-induced PGE2 production in human chondrocytes in vitro”, Journal of Inflammation (2008)

Asgary S, et al., “Clinical evaluation of blood pressure lowering, endothelial function improving, hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects of pomegranate juice in hypertensive subjects”, Phytotherapy Research (2014); 28(2)

Mirmiran P, et al., “Effect of pomegranate seed oil on hyperlipidaemic subjects: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial”, The British Journal of Nutrition (2010); 104(3)

Monica Viladomiu, et al., “Preventive and Prophylactic Mechanisms of Action of Pomegranate Bioactive Constituents”, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2013)

Hajipour S, et al., “Motor and cognitive deficits due to permanent cerebral hypoperfusion/ischemia improve by pomegranate seed extract in rats”, Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences (2014); 17(8)

Hartman RE, et al., “Pomegranate juice decreases amyloid load and improves behavior in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease”, Neurobiology of Disease (2006); 24(3)