MRSA, or Staphylococcus Aureus, are Pomegranates the answer?

MRSA, or Staphylococcus Aureus, is a type of staph or bacterial infection that is resistant to many antibiotics. MRSA bacteria is more likely to develop when antibiotics are used too often or not used correctly thereby allowing MRSA to become a superbug which is resistant to most courses of antibiotics.

Scientists at the University of Kingston, Surrey in the United Kingdom has just released a study which finds promise in fighting MRSA infections with the use of Pomegranates. Long known for their antibacterial and therapeutic health benefits, the study shows that the fruit’s rind combined with metal salts and vitamin C inhibits drug-resistant microbes from growing. Professor Naughton, a biomolecular scientist at the University stated, “…the mix [] fantastically increased the activity-there was synergy, where the combined effects were much greater than those exhibited by individual components.” He cautions however, that it will be a long time before any pomegranate derived lotions are available on the market.

Pomegranates have long been known for their health benefits. The list of potential benefits is long, they include:

Reduction in heart disease risk factors including LDL oxidation

Reduction in hypertension

Reduction in dental plaque

Inhibition of the proliferation of human breast cancer (see link to study)

In 2009, 20 clinical trials were registered with the National Institutes of Health to examine the effects of pomegranate extracts of juice consumption on diseases shown below:

• Prostate cancer
• Prostatic hyperplasia
• Diabetes
• Lymphoma
• Rhinovirus infection (completed, July 2008)
• Common cold (completed, June, 2007)
• Oxidative stress in diabetic hemodialysis
• Atherosclerosis
• Coronary artery disease
• Infant brain injury
• Hemodialysis for kidney disease

It seems to me that adding pomegranates and/or pomegranate juice to my diet makes a lot of sense.