Pomegranates are being hailed as a super-food which can protect the heart, turbo-boost antioxidative action and assist in athlete well being.   There exist a multitude of health benefits to be gained with the introduction of pomegranates to your diet. The active ingredients in the fruit are positively implicated in cancer deterrence with most studies to date focused on prostate cancer application. Pomegranate extracts and pomegranate juice have some potential benefits in treating prostate cancer. Researchers have been able to demonstrate that they may stop prostate cancer cell growth, induce cancer cell death and inhibit angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels that supply tumors with nutrients and oxygen). Also, tests(2) have shown that PSA (prostate specific antigen, an indicator of inflammation or cancer of the prostate) levels may be lowered by
pomegranates. In addition, further studies indicate that pomegranates might not only help treat but may also help prevent prostate cancer(3).

In addition, studies have reported anti-inflammatory properties, and to boot, pomegranate oil has antimicrobial and antiviral compounds.

The major active compounds in pomegranates are antioxidative polyphenols. Similar to berries with the most efficacious antioxidative activities  performed by  hydrolyzable tannins, which are polyphenols (1). The tannin, punicalgin, accounts for more than 50% of the antioxidative strength alone(2) of pomegrenates.

Pomegranates may also have a major role to play in improving heart health due to their positive effect on the cardiovascular system(4,5). Studies have revealed that pomegranate juice may lower blood pressure and improve blood flow. Also, low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and macrophage foam cell development may be reduced. Both processes are seen as a precursor for atherosclerosis.

Scientists in Israel have shown that drinking a daily glass of the fruit’s juice can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
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Parkour is the art of moving through your environment using only your body and the surroundings to propel yourself. It can include running, jumping, climbing, even crawling, if that is the most suitable movement for the situation. Parkour could be grasped by imagining a race through an obstacle course, the goal is to overcome obstacles quickly and efficiently, without using extraneous movement. Apply this line of thought to an urban environment, or even a run through the woods, and you’re on the right path. Because individual movements could vary so greatly by the situation, it is better to consider Parkour as defined by the intention instead of the movements themselves. If the intention is to get somewhere
using the most effective movements with the least loss of momentum, then it could probably be considered Parkour.

( ref:American Parkour)

These activities which are one minute art, the next minute the latest in extreme sports depending upon who you are talking to and whether or not they have a vested commercial interest in the past time; are certainly an option for the thrill seeking element amongst adventure racers and multi-sport athletes. There is certainly cross training merit to be had if you judiciously inject some vaulting, balance work and rolls. For those of you with a solid martial arts background, many of the basic body positions and mental preparations are of use in parkour.

Now, this stuff is not for the faint of heart. Intrinsic to correct execution of core movement is strength, flexibility and agility. Most if not all drills focus heavily on these attributes. Cross training in indoor rock climbing, basic gymnastics, even trampolining can all help.

Certainly, conditioning requires a balance across endurance and resilience; any strength work should be focused on being able to shift your own weight. This routine from D.Edwardes of Urban Freeflow network fame gives you an indication of the rigour and concentration needed:

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