Juice with a twist Horny goatweed isn't the only thing with some new tricks up its sleeve lately. There's also a new twist pomegranate juice, which has come to be widely known as a great -- and tasty -- way to improve your cardiovascular health thanks to its powerful antioxidant properties. Researchers think that these same antioxidant powers might be the basis for pomegranate juice's new use, as a remedy for erectile dysfunction (ED). This study examined the effects of pomegranate juice on 53 men suffering from mild to moderate ED. First the men were given 8 ounces of pomegranate juice per day for four weeks. Then they went through a two-week "wash out" period before starting the final phase of the study, which involved drinking 8 ounces of a placebo drink each day. At the end of the study, the researchers found that while the men reported improvements in their ED symptoms during both the pomegranate juice and the placebo phases, they reported better results while taking the actual juice: 47 percent of the subjects experienced improvement from the juice vs. just 32 percent from the placebo. That's still a relatively high placebo effect, and the researchers admit that the difference between the two beverages wasn't statistically significant. But if you're struggling with ED, trying pomegranate juice certainly isn't going to hurt you. In fact, even if it doesn't help your ED it will improve your overall health just by fighting the free radicals you're exposed to every day. Pomegranate juice is available in almost every supermarket these days. Just make sure you're getting one that's all juice and no added ingredients like sugar, fructose, or corn syrup. If you can't find a brand that's 100-percent juice in your grocery store, your local natural food store will surely carry one. Source:
"Pomegranate juice may ease erectile dysfunction," NutraIngredients (www.nutraingredients.com), 7/3/07 | 
