Pomegranate may boost heart health

Heart failure is a long term condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. It does not mean that the heart completely stops working. Instead the heart becomes weaker and cannot work as efficiently as it did before.

There is currently no complete cure for heart failure, but medicines and lifestyle changes can help manage the condition and slow its progression.

A new study suggests that compounds found in pomegranates may help support heart function in people with heart failure.

How can pomegranate help?

The research published in the journal Science Advances found that pomegranates contain compounds that may help improve the way the heart works.

One group of compounds found in pomegranates is called ellagitannins, which are a type of polyphenol. Researchers believe these compounds may have beneficial effects on heart function.

What did the study find?

Researchers tested different compounds using animal models and human heart tissue created from stem cells. The study found that compounds found in foods such as pomegranates walnuts and berries may help improve heart function.

However researchers said more studies are needed to understand whether these findings can provide the same benefits in people with heart failure.

They also suggested that medicines or supplements based on these compounds could potentially be explored in the future.

Can pomegranate treat heart failure?

The researchers stressed that there is not enough evidence to say that eating pomegranate can treat or cure heart failure.

However the findings suggest that eating pomegranate may increase the level of certain beneficial compounds in the body, which could potentially support heart health.

More research involving people with heart failure is needed to determine how effective these compounds are and whether they could become part of future treatments.