It's A (POM) Wonderful Life

I used to eat pomegranates like mad when I was a kid. I loved the texture and tartness of the seeds. As it turns out, pomegranates were also good for me. A recent study shows that they provide some degree of improvement in strength recovery after eccentric exercise.Pomegranates may also help reduce soreness.


Study subjects consumed 250ml of POM Wonderful juice twice daily. After 8 days, eccentric exercises(maximal elbow and knee extension) were performed. The results? The POM juice reduced perceived soreness and "attenuated the reduction in isometric strength of the elbow flexor muscles..." Interestingly, neither perceived soreness or strength changes in the leg extensors was discovered.


This study identifies further areas for examination, but concludes that athletes who perform repeated bouts of strenuous exercise ( such as during tournaments) may benefit from POM juice supplementation. And people embarking on new training programs may also benefit.


The study also reveals that the POM juice reduces weakness and soreness in the 2-168 hour period after intense eccentric training. The ergogenic effect "during periods of chronic training is unknown." The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of POM juice are well- documented, however, so go ahead and drink or eat up regardless.


"You see,George, you've really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to just throw it away?"Clarence Oddbody, AS2