Pomegranates for good gut health

Autumn not only provides us with stunning sunrises and sunsets, but also that most spectacular of fruits the rosy pomegranate! Let’s see what this delicious fruit offers us, other than its unique taste and the crunch factor to salads.

Potent phytochemicals within the humble pomegranate have been shown to favourably reshape the gut micro bacteria in overweight individuals and decrease metabolic endotoxaemia (bacteria).

In a double-blind, randomised, cross-over trial, 49 overweight or obese subjects received either 450mg or 1,800mg of pomegranate extract daily, or placebo, for three weeks.

Faecal analysis revealed the higher dose of pomegranate led to an increase in microbial diversity and gut-barrier function, whilst decreasing pro-inflammatory micro-organisms.

Impressively, a statistically significant reduction in the toxic gut bacteria marker correlated with favourable shifts in microbial composition.

So, the delightful pomegranate is not just a pretty face! This delicious and versatile fruit plays a winning hand in increasing pre and probiotic gut bacteria and antimicrobial factors for better gut health.