Health Benefits of Pomegranates

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Pomegranates are fruit that are slightly larger in size compared to oranges. The outer skin is tough in texture while the inside contains sweet red gelatinous flesh and an abundance of juicy seeds. Pomegranate seeds or fresh juice is delicious, refreshing, and highly nutritious. This fruit can be eaten at any time during the day, either as part of a meal or a healthy snack.

Pomegranates are packed full of rich nutrients. One cup of edible seeds contains:
2.9g protein
7g fiber
17.7mg vitamin C
28.5mg vitamin K
66mg folate
411mg potassium
17mg calcium
21mg magnesium

Here are 10 more reasons you should include pomegranates in your diet.

1. Boost immunity. Pomegranates are rich in anti-inflammatory compounds, making them extremely beneficial for those suffering from immune-related disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and osteroarthrits. They are also rich in vitamin C, which boosts antibody production and development of immunity.

2. Help digestion. To keep your digestive system healthy, you need to include fibre-rich sources in your diet. One pomegranate can fulfil about 45% of your daily recommended intake of fibre, which is about 20 to 35g.

3. Lower blood pressure. Pomegranates contain punicalagins which can help prevent dangerous muscle cell growth in blood vessel walls.

4. Prevent heart disease. Pomegranates are loaded with polyphenols that have powerful antioxidant properties. Antioxidants prevent free radical damage of the walls of arteries, thus preventing heart disease. They also prevent oxidation of cholesterol, which causes plaque formation and development of coronary artery disease.

5. May help prevent and treat several forms of cancer. This fruit contains polyphenol antioxidants in them which have been shows to inhibit the growth of tumor cells and induce natural death in them.

6. Anti-Allergic. The polyphenols contained in pomegranates have been shown to reduce the biochemical processes that are linked to allergies.

7. Improve exercise performance. This is due to the fruit being rich in dietary nitrates.

8. Keep you looking younger. Pomegranates contain powerful antioxidants that can delay the process of aging. Therefore, eating pomegranates can help keep your skin glowing and radiant for a long time.

9. Lowers stress levels. Apart from reducing the body’s internal oxidative stress, pomegranates also help lower psychological stress that you go through your personal and professional life. 

10. Prevent plaque formation. If you would like an alternative to alcohol containing mouth wash pomegranate juice is actually a better option. Pomegranate contain certain compounds which exhibit strong anti-plaque effects.

How to eat a pomegranate:

1. Cut off the crown (you’ll see it) and discard.
2. Score and slice the rind all around, but don’t cut the rind all the way through.
3. Soak the pomegranate face down in cold water for about ten minutes.
4. Break apart the scored rinds, and remove the seeds from the flesh (the seeds will sink to the bottom of your bowl).
5. Remove the rind and membrane from the bowl with a spoon.
6. Drain the seeds with a colander and pat dry with a paper towel.

To get the most out of an organic pomegranate, eat the seeds while they’re at their freshest and juiciest. This is when their therapeutic powers are at their peak!

Do you eat pomegranates? What is your favorite way to eat or drink them?