For years, Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients have been told by their Healthcare Teams to avoid certain juices. Top on the list was pomegranate juice due to its high potassium levels which at the time was thought to be dangerous. However, now the story about pomegranate juice and its true impacts on a Dialysis patient's health is being rewritten since findings suggest that the rich natural tasting drink may ward off a number of complications in Chronic Kidney Disease patients conducting Dialysis and may even lower the risk of death.
More specifically, Israeli researchers studied 101 Dialysis patients who received either pomegranate juice or a placebo (fake) drink at the beginning of each Dialysis Treatment session three times a week for one year. The findings were astonishing. Patients who drank pomegranate juice not only had reduced swelling, they also had a 40% reduction in infection-related hospitalizations as well as a 36% decline in the hospitalization rate for cardiovascular events. These findings are very significant for those conducting Dialysis because most Chronic Kidney Disease patients die from either cardiovascular-related causes or infections.
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Lead Researcher, Dr. Batya Kristal (Western Galilee Hospital) said, “We found 12-month consumption of pomegranate juice has a continuous, accumulative beneficial effect. No side effects were reported during the study period." The benefits of pomegranate may stem from the micronutrient, Polyphenol, which is abundant in wine and is showing evidence for having an active role in the prevention of degenerative diseases.
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Although the pomegranate juice appears to offer Chronic Kidney Disease patients who conduct Dialysis a number of encouraging health benefits, those on a potassium and/or fluid restricted diet (most Dialysis patients) should be mindful to monitor the intake of the pomegranate drink and work with their Dietitian to avoid health complications such as potassium and/or fluid overload.
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