You know those infomercial gadgets that do 10 jobs in one? Well, there's a fruit that tops them all.

It's the pomegranate. And it puts on quite a show when it comes to fighting disease. We're talking everything from cancer to high blood pressure.

The All-Purpose Pomegranate

The pomegranate -- a tough, leathery fruit packed with delicious, edible seeds -- has been used medicinally since ancient times. When present-day researchers recently took a closer look, reviewing over 90 pomegranate-related studies, what did they find? Pomegranates have antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and even antimicrobial properties. Whew! Our ancestors were onto something. Here's a short list of what pomegranates may help tackle:

• Cancer: In lab studies, pomegranate extract triggered the death of both prostate and breast cancer cells. (When's the best age for prostate cancer screening to begin? Read this article for answers.)
• Blood pressure: Pomegranate juice dropped systolic numbers in hypertensive patients. (Try these 6 tips for getting the best blood pressure readings.)
• Blood sugar: Pomegranate improved blood sugar levels in animal studies. (Here's another tasty way to get steadier blood sugar.)

Source:  RealAge.com