Considered one of the most powerful antioxidant foods that nature has to offer, the pomegranate is a true superfood. It contains abundant bioactive substances such as polyphenols responsible for its strong antioxidative effect but is also rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and contains all amino acids important for our health.

Thanks to this nutrient abundance, also scientific research is focusing more and more on pomegranate benefits. The amount of studies showing its anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and cardiovascular disease-preventing properties keeps increasing. That is why we include both pomegranate seeds and pomegranate skin (because most of the polyphenols are in the skin) in our products.

Pomegranate skin

Pomegranate skin (also: pomegranate peel) contains more abundant polyphenols than the juice, seed, and leaves. The predominant class of phenolic compounds in pomegranate peel such as ellagic acid and ellagitannins (e. g. punicalagin) have impressive antioxidant properties.

Potent agent in cancer therapy

Polyphenols inhibit the growth of tumor cells and the formation of metastases in some cancers as they regulate the hormone balance, making polyphenols particularly effective in hormone-dependent cancers such as breast and prostate cancer.

Ellagic acid from the skin of the pomegranate fruit is in its own right a very powerful polyphenol and antioxidant. It may bind to chemicals in the body that cause cancer. Multiple studies have shown it may inhibit the growth and proliferation of cancer cells and can help protect against lung cancer, skin cancer, cervical cancer, and esophageal cancer. Researchers have found that ellagic acid activates detoxifying enzymes in the liver, which then cleanse the human blood of carcinogenic chemicals and substances. Other studies have indicated it may also help increase the sensitivity of cancer cells making them more susceptible to radiation and chemotherapy.

The ellagic acid in Synergo products comes directly from the pomegranate skin where the active ingredient is embedded within its natural food matrix. This helps ensure maximum bioavailability in our body.

Improving memory performance

The antioxidants, especially the ellagitannins from pomegranate are also reported to improve age-related memory impairment significantly if taken regularly. Newer studies suggest that the active ingredients in pomegranate even may slow down the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Anti-fungal properties / fights candida albicans

Candida albicans is a yeast that lives in our bodies (on mucous membranes in our intestine, mouth, or throat) and is usually harmless. When our immune system is weakened, however, the candida fungus can spread throughout our body uncontrolled and lead to allergies, digestive problems, cardiovascular problems, migraines, asthma, rheumatism, gout, arthritis, and more inflammation-related problems.

Thanks to pomegranate peel’s high content in punicalagin (an ellagitannin), it can not only support fighting the candida fungus but at the same time strengthen our organism by eliminating free radicals.

Helps keep inflammation at bay

The body’s normal response to infection and injury is inflammation. If the inflammation is short-term, it is an absolutely normal immune reaction. If an inflammation becomes chronic, however, and is left untreated it can contribute to many chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and more.

The anti-inflammatory properties are largely attributed to phenolic compounds in pomegranate peel such as ellagic acid and ellagitannins (e. g. punicalagins).

Urinary health support

Studies have found the antioxidants in pomegranate peel extract to help prevent kidney stones by regulating the concentration calcium, oxalates, and phosphates in our blood, which are common components of kidney stones.

May benefit heart health

The polyphenolic compounds in pomegranate peel have been shown to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the arteries, thereby lowering blood pressure, and help fight atherosclerosis that can lead to strokes and heart attacks if left untreated.

Pomegranate peel is also a good source of potassium, an important electrolyte for healthy heart muscle function. It also helps with healthy nerve function and regulation of heart rate.

Exercise support

The polyphenols in pomegranate skin may increase exercise endurance and performance as they can help increase nitric oxide bioavailability by protecting it from breaking down in the body. Nitric oxide widens the blood vessels increasing blood flow during movement allowing your body to efficiently get the nutrients it needs during exercise.

Pomegranate seeds

The seeds of the pomegranate are also a good source of polyphenols. As described above, polyphenols are classes of bioactive plant compounds with antioxidant properties known to combat free radicals that can cause damage to your cells over time. Pomegranate seeds contain anthocyanins which are a type of flavonoid (flavonoids and phenolic acids are both classes of polyphenols). These anthocyanins may also be associated with lowering blood pressure and slowing cancer growth.

In addition, pomegranate seeds are powerful prebiotics and a rich source of protein, containing all proteinogenic (meaning protein creating) amino acids that our body needs to grow and function.

Prebiotic effect for gut health

Pomegranate seeds are a great source of insoluble fibre, which helps keep our digestive system healthy by keeping things flowing and regular. They can help regulate blood sugar and help you feel nice and full after mealtime which can aid weight loss.

In addition, the ellagitannins in pomegranate exercise a prebiotic effect on the gut microbiome as they support the good gut bacteria with beneficial effects on the entire organism including the immune system.

Essential: threonine, lysine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, methionine, histidine
Semi-essential: arginine, serine, tyrosine, cysteine
Non-essential: alanine, glycine, proline, asparagine, glutamine

Lignin, cellulose, poly-uronic acid, poly-hexoses, poly-pentoses

Potassium, chloride

Zinc, iron, manganese, copper

Omega-6 fatty acids (linoleic acid), omega-3 fatty acids (linolenic acid), oleic acid (octadecenoic acid), palmitoleic acid (hexadecenoic acid)

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin B2 (riboflavin)

Hydrolysable tannins such as ellagitannin consisting of phenolic acids (e.g. ellagic acid, punicalagins), flavonoids (e.g. anthocyanins)

Native to India and Iran, pomegranates have long been valued as an important nutrient source and medicinal plant in the orient. Its fruits, leaves, flowers, and seeds have all been used in traditional herbal medicine for treating various illness.

In ancient times the pomegranate (lat: punica granatum) was considered a holy fruit that offered fertility and abundance. It is even suspected that the forbidden fruit Adam and Eve ate in paradise was not an apple but a pomegranate. To be very exact: Pomegranate is not a fruit but a berry containing several hundred seeds.

Nowadays, the pomegranate tree grows in Western and Central Asia as well as around the Mediterranean. It is extremely drought resistant and can become over 100 years old.

Attention in the Western world

In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the scientific interest in pomegranate benefits, its biology and health-promoting properties. Today, also in the Western world pomegranates are recognised for the many health benefits they provide.

Did you know that its stunning ruby colour stems from the contained anthocyanins which may be associated with lowering blood pressure and slowing cancer growth? In fact, the more ruby-coloured the pomegranate the more rich in these fantastic antioxidants it is.