Pomegranate is a traditional fruit initially grown in the Middle East region. The fruit is rich in vitamins C, E, K, and other essential minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, and folate. The inner part of the pomegranate comprises hundreds of red edible seeds that have a crunchy texture. The fruit is rich in antioxidants like phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, and anthocyanins. Pom juice has antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, and antihypertensive properties, which provide several health benefits. It is highly acidic, with a pH of about 2.9-3.4.
Composition of Pom Juice
Pom juice comprises fructose, glucose, and sucrose. Pom juice also contains other chemical components like hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids. The amino acids present in pom juice include aspartic acid, proline, glutamic acid, and methionine. Pom juice is also a rich source of several essential minerals for the body, like calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, iron, copper, and manganese.
Is Pom Juice Acidic?
Yes, Pom Juice is acidic. It contains organic acids like ascorbic acid, citric acid, punicic acid, fumaric and malic acid. The pH of pom juice is between 2.9-3.4, suggesting its highly acidic nature. On a pH scale, the value of pH below 7 is considered acidic, whereas a pH value above 7 is alkaline. When we digest the pom juice, its pH increases from 2.9-3.4 to 5.5. However, the pH level of stomach acid is 1.5-3.5. This difference in pH values makes it difficult to digest pomegranate juice. According to a research titled “Composition of Pomegranate Juice,” published in the Journal of AOAC, pomegranate fruit produces a moderately acidic juice that is reddish-blue.
A study on commercial pom juices shows that pomegranate juices available in the market have slightly more acidic content than natural and fresh pomegranate juices. In pom juices available in the market, the acidic content is 1.3g per 100g. The amount of citric acid present in the juices is 1.19g per 100g of juice, and the amount of malic acid is 0.065g per 100g of juice. The content of isocitric acid in commercial pom juices is 63mg per kg of the juice. However, these commercial pom juices do not contain added tartaric acid but do comprise added malic acid. Many pom juices available in the market have added grape juice, which increases the acid level of such juices.
Research on “Assessment of Pomegranate Juice as an Alternative “Substrate” for Probiotic Delivery. Recent Advances and Prospects,” published in the Journal of MDPI, also suggests that fermented pom juice has a higher acidic content than fresh, natural pom juice. Pom juice gets fermented on its own if kept for more than 48 hours because the natural sugars present in the juice start breaking down and produce carbon dioxide as a byproduct. Therefore, consuming fermented pom juice frequently can increase acid levels in the body.
When Should you Drink Pom Juice, and What are its Benefits?
Early morning is considered the best time to drink pom juice as it contains natural sugars that provide energy to the body. However, since pomegranate is acidic, it is better to drink it after having something. Consuming pom juice on an empty stomach can cause acidity, especially if you have a problem with acid reflux. Also, since fermented pom juice is more acidic than fresh pom juice, it is better to have fresh juice early in the morning.
The following are the most significant benefits of drinking pom juice:
- Reduces blood pressure- Pom juice has antihypertensive properties. It means that the juice helps keep blood pressure in check. Therefore, pomegranate is considered a heart-healthy fruit. People with hypertension can take pom juice regularly to regulate their blood pressure. However, since the juice contains high amounts of sugar like fructose, glucose and sucrose, people with diabetes who also have hypertension should take the juice only after consulting a doctor.
- Reduces inflammation- Pom juice has a powerful antioxidant effect. In fact, it is a more potent antioxidant than red wine or green tea. Its antioxidant properties help reduce inflammation in the body. Pomegranate juice is rich in polyphenols, a powerful antioxidant compound that reduces oxidative stress and the number of free radicals in the body, which is beneficial in controlling inflammation. It also helps reduce joint pain, the risk of autoimmune disorders, and neurogenetic conditions.
- Helps in cancer- Pom juice also has anticarcinogenic properties, which means it reduces the risk of cancer and is beneficial in treating cancer. The polyphenols present in the juice inhibit cell growth which slows down the growth of cancerous cells in the body. As per research titled “Potent Health Effects of Pomegranate,” published in Wolters Kluwer Journal on Advanced Biomedical Research, fermented pom juice is highly beneficial in treating prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer.
- Improves cognitive function- Another benefit of pomegranate juice is that it improves the cognitive activity in the brain. Research titled “Pomegranate Juice Augments Memory and fMRI Activity in Middle-Aged and Older Adults with Mild Memory Complaint,” published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Journal, suggests that drinking pom juice regularly for a few weeks shows a significant improvement in brain function, enhances memory, and increases overall brain activity.
- Improves gut health- Pom juice is also beneficial in improving gut health since it is a good source of dietary fiber. Also, polyphenols, the antioxidant compounds present in pom juice get absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and reduce inflammation in the gut, thus improving gut health.
Conclusion
Pomegranate is often called the super fruit due to its several health benefits. It is beneficial in reducing blood pressure, calming down inflammation in the body, reducing the risk of cancer, and enhancing gut health and brain health. Pom juice is moderately acidic due to the presence of ascorbic, citric, and malic acids. Commercial pom juices available in the market are more acidic than natural juices. Also, natural pom juices kept for a long time get fermented. The fermented juice is also more acidic than fresh pom juice.
References:
Achraf, A., Hamdi, C., Turki, M., Abdelkarim, O., Ayadi, F., Hoekelmann, A., Yaich, S., & Souissi, N. (2018). Natural pomegranate juice reduces inflammation, and muscle damage and increases platelet blood levels in active healthy Tunisian-aged men. Alexandria Journal of Medicine, 54(1), 45–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajme.2017.03.005
Asgary, S., Javanmard, S., & Zarfeshany, A. (2014). Potent health effects of pomegranate. Advanced Biomedical Research, 3(1), 100. https://doi.org/10.4103/2277-9175.129371
Bookheimer, S. Y., Renner, B. A., Ekstrom, A., Li, Z., Henning, S. M., Brown, J. A., Jones, M., Moody, T., & Small, G. W. (2013). Pomegranate juice augments memory and FMRI activity in middle-aged and older adults with mild memory complaints. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2013, 946298. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/946298
Giménez-Bastida, J. A., Ávila-Gálvez, M. N., Espín, J. C., & González-Sarrías, A. (2021). Evidence for health properties of pomegranate juices and extracts beyond nutrition: A critical systematic review of human studies. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 114, 410–423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2021.06.014
Grassi, D., Sahebkar, A., & Ferri, S. (2016). [OP.8E.05] POMEGRANATE JUICE AND BLOOD PRESSURE. Journal of Hypertension, 34(Supplement 2), e109. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.hjh.0000491619.75871.64
Kazakos S, Mantzourani I, Plessas S. (2020). Assessment of Pomegranate Juice as an Alternative “Substrate” for Probiotic Delivery. Recent Advances and Prospects. Fermentation, 6(1):24. https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation6010024
Krueger, D. A. (2012). Composition of Pomegranate Juice. Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL, 95(1), 163–168. https://doi.org/10.5740/jaoacint.11-178
Zarfeshany, A., Asgary, S., & Javanmard, S. H. (2014). Potent health effects of pomegranate. Advanced biomedical research, 3, 100. https://doi.org/10.4103/2277-9175.129371
