In this week's magazine, Dr. Weil looks at the power of the pomegranate. Have questions about health, diets or fruit? Submit them below and be sure to check back later this week for selected answers.

Submit your questions below

Have you heard of an asian fruit called the Mangosteen? How does it's antioxident properties compare with pomegranate juice?
Julie Spotts
Brentwood, CA

DR. WEIL: The fruit is delicious — I wish it would become more available here. The juice that is much hyped as a super health food is pressed from the purple rind, which has a lot of antioxidant pigments. I see no advantage over cheaper, more readily available berries and pomegranate juice.

There has been a lot of press about the high antioxidant levels in dark chocolate and their potential protective benefits against cancer and CVD. I love chocolate but I'm concerned about the high fat levels, although I have read that the fat in chocolate is considered 'cholesterol neutral'. What does this mean and is it so?
Wladimir Budnik
Melbourne, Australia

DR. WEIL: The main fatty acid in cocoa butter, the fat you refer to, is stearic acid. The body processes it like oleic acid, the main fatty acid in olive oil. It does not raise LDL cholesterol or have adverse effects on cardiovascular health. Moderate intake (say 1-2 ounces a day) of high-quality dark chocolate is good for you, in my opinion.

Concerning antioxidents, wouldn't taking 400 I.U. of Vitamin E daily (which is an antioxident) be very effective?
Leonard R. Weisberg
East Falmouth, MA

DR. WEIL: I do that myself (natural Vitamin E containing mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols) but that's not a substitute for eating fruits and vegetables containing Vitamin C, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and so many other beneficial phytonutrients.

I have been told that Muscadine Grapes are an even better source of antioxidants than pomegranates, any thoughts?
Nancy Hartzog
Lexington, NC

DR. WEIL: There's a great deal of competition among fruit producers to claim more antioxidants and more health benefits for particular species. Muscadine grapes are delicious and rich in antioxidants. So are pomegranates.

Pomegranate seeds give me migraines. Does pomegranate juice exclude seeds? Would it be safe for me to drink?
K. Gotz
Point Harbor, NC

DR. WEIL: Give it a cautious try. It may or may not cause the problem.

I would like to know about the benefits of açai juice. It seems to be the "next big thing."
Kathy Gates
Lawrence, KS

DR. WEIL: The açai berry from brazil is high in antioxidants, but i'm always wary of "next big things." Familiar berries are just as good — and cheaper.

Is white tea really better than green tea for antioxidants?
Robert Ridge
Franktown, CO

DR. WEIL: Yes — because the leaves are less oxidized in processing. But white tea is less available and more expensive than green tea and often not as flavorful.

In the picture of "Power Fruits" isn't that a picture of a Blackberry and not a black Raspberry? I picked many black raspberries in my childhood growing up in Western PA and they never looked like this picture.
Jim Rusak
Charlotte, NC

DR. WEIL: You're right.

I've seen the words lycopene and lycopenes used synonymously, but can't find an explanation for the plural. Is there more than one type of lycopene? And is lycopene also a polyphenol as the other antioxidants that are described in your article?
Fred Shatsky
San Diego, CA

DR. WEIL: Lycopene is a carotenoid pigment (not a polyphenol) that accounts for the red color in tomatoes and watermelon. It is fat-soluble, not water-soluble like anthocyanins in pomegranates and berries and has a specific protective effect against prostate cancer.

Hello, Dr. Weil,
Regarding this week's TIME, I have two queries.
1. Which is the truly rich antioxidant berry, the blackberry (very tart and amorphous in shape, as shown) or the raspberry (sweet and circular in shape)?
2. The wild blueberry is shown. What is the nutritional difference between the wild and the cultivated varities?
Thanks so much. Kindest regards,
Guy Graybill
Middleburg, PA

DR. WEIL: Blackberries are higher in antioxidant pigments than raspberries. Black raspberries (also known as black caps) are highest of all.

Wild and cultivated blueberries are about the same nutritionally. The european bilberry, a close relative, is higher in antioxidants, because the flesh is pigmented throughout, not just the skin.

How does the dried Goji berry compare to the black raspberry, pomegranate and blueberry for antioxidant value? Does it have any other ingredients that have beneficial health effects? Have there been any studies on it?
Carolyn Lew-Karon
Los Angeles, CA

DR. WEIL: Goji berries from the Himalayas are another "next big thing." They are rich in antioxidants but offer no special benefits that pomegranates and more familiar berries do not.

How do freeze-dried blueberries compare to fresh blueberries as an antioxidant source?
What do you think about spirulina? Is there a brand you would recommend?
Carol Lacko
Heathsville, Va

DR. WEIL: They are just fine. I'm a big fan of including seaweeds (macroalgae) in the diet but am cautious about blue-green microalgae. Blue-green algae, of which spirulina is one, may contain neurotoxins; I don't recommend it.

Your article on pomegranates did not include a warning for people taking statins, calcium channel blockers, etc., but, like grapefruit, they should be avoided, shouldn't they? It is difficult to be told you should avoid healthy foods, especially without knowing exactly which ones. So far I have found grapefruit, pomegranates, pomelos, Seville oranges (marmalade), lemons and limes, tangelos, and maybe parsley, parsnips, and celery. Millions of people take these drugs and, I'm sure, they would appreciate an article with a comprehensive listing of foods to avoid. P.S. I really enjoyed your book.
Patricia Davis
Baltimore, MD

DR. WEIL:Grapefruit contains a compound that can affect how certain drugs are metabolized. If you love grapefruit, you can adjust the dose of the drug to compensate for the effect — or switch to another type of citrus fruit. That compound is specific to grapefruit, not pomegranate.

Dr. Weil,
In your article about the power fruits, I noted that you specified the "wild" blueberry. We have always preferred the wild huckleberry because it has much more flavor. Even if they are more expensive, they are a better buy, because you get at least twice as many berries in a box. When available, I enjoy a handful of blueberries and half a banana on my organic cereal for breakfast, with organic soy milk and a topping of Erivan yogurt. I enjoy your Self Healing.
Floyd L. Cranmer Jr.
Cherry Hill, NJ

DR. WEIL: What people call "huckleberries" are really wild blueberries, and, I agree, they are great — often more flavorful than cultivated ones.

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