Fresh juice doesn’t have to be green or full of spinach to be healthy. Pomegranate juice contains more than 100 phytochemicals. The pomegranate fruit has been used for thousands of years as medicine.
Today, pomegranate juice is being studied for its many health benefits. It may help with cancer prevention, immune support, and fertility.
Here are some of the potential benefits of pomegranate.
1. Antioxidants
Pomegranates have been eaten throughout history for their health benefits. Nowadays, the juice of this fruit is a popular part of healthy diets.
Pomegranate seeds get their vibrant red hue from polyphenols. These chemicals are powerful antioxidants.
2. Vitamin C
The juice of a single pomegranate has more than 40 percent of your daily requirement of vitamin C. Vitamin C can be broken down when pasteurized, so opt for homemade or fresh pomegranate juice to get the most of the nutrient.
3. Cancer prevention
Pomegranate juice recently made a splash when researchers found that it may help stop the growth of prostate cancer cells. Despite multiple studies on the effects of the juice on prostate cancer, results are still preliminary.
While there haven’t been long-term studies with humans that prove that pomegranate juice prevents cancer or reduces the risk, adding it to your diet certainly can’t hurt. There have been encouraging results in studies so far, and bigger studies are now being done.
4. Alzheimer’s disease protection
The antioxidants in the juice and their high concentration are believed to stall the progress of Alzheimer disease and protect memory.
5. Digestion
Pomegranate juice can reduce inflammation in the gut and improve digestion. It may be beneficial for people with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other inflammatory bowel diseases.
While there are conflicting beliefs and research on whether pomegranate juice helps or worsens diarrhea, most doctors recommend avoiding it until you are feeling better and your symptoms have subsided.
6. Anti-inflammatory
Pomegranate juice is a powerful anti-inflammatory because of its high concentration of antioxidants. It can help reduce inflammation throughout the body and prevent oxidative stress and damage.
7. Arthritis
Flavonols in pomegranate juice may help block the inflammation that contributes to osteoarthritis and cartilage damage. The juice is currently being studied for its potential effects on osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other types of arthritis and joint inflammation.
8. Heart disease
Pomegranate juice is in the running as the most heart-healthy juice. It appears to protect the heart and arteries.
Small studies have shown that the juice improves blood flow and keeps the arteries from becoming stiff and thick. It may also slow the growth of plaque and buildup of cholesterol in the arteries. But pomegranate may react negatively with blood pressure and cholesterol medications like statins.
Be sure to talk with your doctor before indulging in the juice or taking a pomegranate extract supplement.
9. Blood pressure
Drinking pomegranate juice daily may also help lower systolic blood pressure. A comprehensive review of randomized controlled trials stated that it would be beneficial for heart health to include pomegranate juice daily.
10. Antiviral
Between the vitamin C and other immune-boosting nutrients like vitamin E, pomegranate juice can prevent illness and fight off infection. Pomegranates have also been shown to be antibacterial and antiviral in lab tests. They are being studied for their effects on common infections and viruses.
11. Vitamin-rich
In addition to vitamin C and vitamin E, pomegranate juice is a good source of folate, potassium, and vitamin K.
Whether you decide to add pomegranate to your daily diet or just sip on it every now and then, check the label to ensure that it is 100 percent pure pomegranate juice, without added sugar. Or, juice it fresh.
12. Memory
Drinking 8 ounces of pomegranate juice a daily may improve learning and memory, according to a recent study.
13. Sexual performance and fertility
Pomegranate juice’s concentration of antioxidants and ability to impact oxidative stress make it a potential fertility aid. Oxidative stress has been shown to cause sperm dysfunction and decrease fertility in women.
The juice has also been shown to help reduce oxidative stress in the placenta. But researchers don’t yet know the exact benefits this may provide. Drinking pomegranate juice can also increase testosterone levels in men and women, one of the main hormones behind sex drive.
14. Endurance and sports performance
Move over, tart cherry and beet juice. Pomegranate juice may be the new sport performance enhancer. The juice may help reduce soreness and improve strength recovery. It also decreases oxidative damage caused by exercise.
15. Diabetes
Pomegranate was traditionally used as a remedy for diabetes in the Middle East and India. While much is still unknown about the effects of pomegranate on diabetes, it may help decrease insulin resistance and lower blood sugar.
simple, healthy recipes for everyone
How to Make Pomegranate Juice
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Fresh pomegranate juice is so much tastier than store-bought varieties. Here’s a step-by-step by tutorial and a video on how to cut open pomegranates and how to make pomegranate juice!
How to make Pomegranate Juice - an easy, step-by-step tutorial + video on how to make pomegranate juice.
Mediavine
Around this time of the year, one of the most searched recipes on this site is the one on making pomegranate molasses. I was going through that post earlier last month, and I was quite appalled by how horrible the photos looked in that post. I suppose it’s true that we are our own worst critic. At least I’m glad to say that my photography has improved somewhat over the last two years…
In an effort to give that post a much needed face lift, I reshot some photos on deseeding a pomegranate, and I decided to make a step-by-step video tutorial on how to make pomegranate juice. I nearly forgot how delicious the juice tastes.
If you’ve never tasted fresh pomegranate juice before, you definitely need to give it a try. It tastes much lighter than store-bought versions and the juice gives off a beautiful magenta hue.
Pomegranate juice is great on its own and wonderful in a beet smoothie. I have been playing around with the juice smoothie recipes lately, and hopefully, I’ll be able to share a few of them with all of you soon!
Now, go and buy some pomegranates while they’re in season and enjoy!
COOKING NOTES
How to Pick a Pomegranate: Conventional wisdom has it that the best pomegranates are the ones that have unblemished skin and are bright red on the outside. In my experience, that has not been the case. The best pomegranates, with deep ruby arils, are the ones that are slightly cracked and have some golden brown patches on the exterior (see the photos below). The sweetest pomegranates tend to be ones that I buy from the farmers market and not from the grocery store.
What to do with pomegranate juice: The obvious thing to do is to drink the juice straight from the glass, but there’s many other ways to use the juice, too! You can add it to smoothies, make my pomegranate apple cider spritzer or even make pomegranate molasses!
TOOLS USED
High-speed blender: I used a high-speed blender for this job, but a medium-speed blender works well, too.
Double-mesh strainer: Keeps more pulp out from the juice.
(NOTE: the links above are affiliate links)
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Pomegranate Apple Cider Spritzer
How to Make Pomegranate Molasses
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How to Make Pomegranate Juice
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LOOKING FOR MORE WAYS TO USE POMEGRANATE JUICE?How to Make Pomegranate Juice - an easy, step-by-step tutorial + video on how to make pomegranate juice.
Fresh pomegranate juice is so much tastier than store-bought varieties. Here’s a step-by-step by tutorial and a video on how to cut open pomegranates and how to make pomegranate juice!
5 to 6 large pomegranate
INSTRUCTIONS
Using a paring knife, remove the part of the pomegranate that looks like a crown. I like angling my paring knife downward and making a circle around the crown.
Score the pomegranate into sections. I find scoring the fruit 4 times is enough for me, but feel free to score it a few more times.
Break open the pomegranate into sections.
Fill a large bowl with cool water. Break apart the pomegranate arils underneath the water. It helps prevent pomegranate juice from squirting everywhere. (By the way, don’t wear light colored clothes while you’re doing this.) Drain the water from the pomegranate arils when you’re done separating them from the rind.
Pour the arils into a blender. Blend until all the arils have been crushed but most of the seeds are still in tact. This usually takes no more than 15 to 20 seconds.
Pour the juice through a strainer. You’ll notice that the juice passes through the strainer pretty slowly because the pulp is pretty thick. To speed up the process, use a rubber spatula to press the pulp agains the strainer. The juice should drip through faster.
Pour juice into a glass to serve. 5 to 6 large pomegranates should yield about 4 cups of juice. Leftover juice can be refrigerated in a jar for 5 to 6 days.
Calories 54
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.3 g 0%
Saturated fat 0.1 g 0%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.1 g
Monounsaturated fat 0.1 g
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 9 mg 0%
Potassium 214 mg 6%
Total Carbohydrate 13 g 4%
Dietary fiber 0.1 g 0%
Sugar 13 g
Protein 0.2 g 0%
Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 1% Iron 0%
Vitamin D 0% Vitamin
pomegranate tree
Grow a Pomegranate Tree!
by Grow Organic
Once considered a fruit for royalty, the pomegranate is a delicious addition to your backyard orchard or edible landscaping. Its beautiful, showy, red-orange flowers become decorative fruit in the fall, filled with juicy arils for you to enjoy all year long!
Getting ready to plant
Pomegranates are best grown from cuttings to ensure the quality of the fruit produced. There are many varieties of pomegranate trees to choose from, including the ever-popular Wonderful, yummy pink Sweet, and unique non-staining Eversweet. Select a location with full sun, and allow a 20 ft diameter space for your tree to grow into, unless you plan on keeping it smaller by pruning. If planting as a hedge, you can plant them as close as 10 feet apart. Learn more about shaping your pomegranate tree in this article. Pomegranates are adaptable to many soil types, though they grow best in loamy soil with good drainage. The ideal climate is zone 7 to 12, with short, mild winters and low humidity. They may be grown in containers in colder places, and kept indoors or in a greenhouse over winter. If your tree’s trunk is damaged or killed by frost, it will typically grow new suckers that can be trained into a replacement trunk.Ambrosia pomegranate
Pomegranates have relatively low water requirements, and can survive drought conditions for several years (although during that time, the harvest will be smaller). Too much or uneven amounts of water, either from irregular or over irrigating, heavy summer rains, or high humidity, can result in fruit cracking, decreased fruit production, and other problems. It is not necessary to prune your pomegranate trees, but it can help with ease of harvest, better fruit, and for a shapelier tree. Pomegranates naturally grow in bush-form, and produce lots of suckers. This is ideal for hedges or living walls, but not for most other situations. When your tree is a year old, select one to six trunks to keep; prune the rest at the ground. Most professional orchardists prefer five or six, because they will produce fruit sooner, need less care, and recover quicker if damaged by frost. When doing maintenance pruning as the tree grows, prune lightly, and never trim all the branches in the same year. Pomegranates fruit on short new shoots that come from wood that is more than one year old, so pruning all new growth back at once can result in nothing to harvest the following seasons. You should also prune back any new suckers that you don’t want to grow into trunks. For more on pruning your pomegranate, read this article.
Harvest Time!
Your pomegranates can begin to fruit within a year of planting. However, don’t be worried if the first few years’ fruits mature late, or drop before maturing. It will take 5 to 6 years for the tree to mature and produce large harvests. Fruits can be harvested as soon as they reach their mature skin color, feel heavy, and sound metallic when tapped. If left on the tree too long, they will split open; they may also split if it rains during harvest season. If this happens to your fruit, you can still harvest and enjoy it, but it cannot be stored whole. Fruit should be harvested with pruning snips, and not pulled from the branch. They can be stored whole in a cool place for several weeks, or in refrigeration for 3 months. For longer storage, you can de-seed and freeze the arils whole. You can also extract the juice by running the arils through a food strainer or a blender and straining out the seeds; the juice can be frozen for up to 6 months or made into a variety of canned foods such as syrup (also called grenadine), jelly, and more. For detailed growing information, watch our video, and for lots of great recipes, visit the Pomegranate Council’s website.
how to cut a pomegranate
I love eating pomegranates, but hacking them apart is slow and messy. This easy trick will help you open pomegranates with the greatest of ease, while keeping your hands clean. All you need is a fresh pomegranate, a paring knife, and these instructions!
This technique is perfect for opening a pomegranate to eat out of hand, to create a centerpiece for a fruit or cheese plate, or as prep for super-easy de-seeding (see step 4). I learned this trick from a pomegranate-grower at our local farmers market, and have been amazed by its ease and utility. It's a trick everyone should know!
Thanks to culturespy for the awesome photography.
TipQuestionComment
Step 1: Pop the Top
Use your paring knife to remove the flower from the top of the pomegranate. You want to cut at an angle, removing a cone of pith from below the flower without cutting into the seeds.
Check out the pictures to be sure what I mean.
TipQuestionComment
Step 2: Score Sides
Now look down at your pomegranate. You'll see that it's not perfectly round - there are some flat sides/faces, and some ridges or ribs. The exact number will vary between pomegranates.
We're going to score along these wider rib portions of the pomegranate.
Take your paring knife, start at your previous cut at the flower-end of the pomegranate, and score the skin along the ridge down toward the bottom (stem) end of the fruit. You should cut through the red rind, and most of the way through the white pith. Avoid cutting into the seeds, as that will just create a big juicy mess, exactly what we're trying to avoid.
TipQuestionComment
Step 3: Crack It Open
Now that you've scored all the ribs, it's time to crack this thing wide open.
Place your thumbs inside the cut flower end, with the pads of your thumbs pressing against opposing segments of the pomegranate. Pull apart gently but firmly, and the pomegranate will crack open along the lines you've scored in the skin, and the internal segments will separate along their natural boundaries.
Adjust your grip to separate each segment along the scored lines. The end result is shown below - you'll have as many side segments as you did ribs/flats, plus a central cone-shaped chunk associated with the stem end.
Notice the almost complete lack of messy pomegranate juice! Just one drop on the plate, the result of squeezing a bit too roughly and popping one seed.
Step 4: EAT!
Now eat your pomegranate!
You can tear off each segment along its natural boundary to create a nice hand-sized snack treat, or put the opened pomegranate out whole as the gorgeous centerpiece of a fruit or cheese plate. Everyone will be properly impressed.
De-seeding:
Opening a pomegranate this way also makes it easier to remove the seeds for other purposes. Just take one of the segments, turn it seed-side down down, and whack the rind with a spoon to knock the seeds out - they'll just drop right out.
pomegranate seeds
Pomegranates are a beautiful, red fruit filled with seeds.
In fact, the term “granate” is derived from the Medieval Latin “granatum,” meaning “many-seeded” or “containing grains.”
The seeds comprise around 3% of the weight of a pomegranate. Each seed is encased in a sweet and juicy covering known as an aril.
While the seeds themselves are hard and fibrous, you might be missing out on some health benefits if you discarded them.
This article tells you everything you need to know about pomegranate seeds.
Potential benefits and risks
Eating pomegranate or drinking its juice has been linked to several health benefits.
Pomegranate seeds may have value, too.
Nutrients
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Many of the nutrients in pomegranates come from the arils, but the seeds themselves provide a few nutrients as well.
Studies show they’re particularly high in vitamin E and magnesium (1Trusted Source, 2).
Fiber
Pomegranate seeds are rich in fiber. According to one study, flour made from these seeds boasts about 50% fiber (3).
The main types of fiber in pomegranate seeds are cellulose and lignin (4).
Both cellulose and lignin are insoluble and pass through your digestive system largely unchanged. Interestingly, they’re the main constituents of wood (5Trusted Source).
The seeds are safe for most people to eat, although excessive intake may cause intestinal blockage in rare cases. This risk is greater for people with chronic constipation (6Trusted Source).
Antioxidants
Like all fruit components, pomegranate seeds contain antioxidants. However, they’re not as rich in antioxidants as the arils (1Trusted Source).
The seeds contain various phenolic acids and polyphenols, including flavonoids, tannins, and lignans (7, 8).
Unique fatty acids
Pomegranate seeds comprise around 12–20% seed oil. This oil mainly consists of punicic acid, a polyunsaturated fat (1Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).
Studies in rats and mice suggest that punicic acid may reduce inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, and promote weight loss (10Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source).
While these preliminary results are promising, human research is needed.
SUMMARY
Pomegranate seeds are rich in fiber, antioxidants, and fatty acids that may benefit your health. They are also a good source of vitamin E and magnesium.
The bottom line
Pomegranate seeds are different from the arils, which are the sweet, juice-filled pulps that this fruit is known for.
The seeds themselves appear to be perfectly edible.
They are a good source of antioxidants, insoluble fiber, and punicic acid. Animal studies suggest that this unique acid provides anti-inflammatory effects.
While no evidence indicates that pomegranate seeds are unhealthy, a very high intake may increase the risk of intestinal blockage in people with severe, chronic constipation.
pomegranate molasses
How To Make Pomegranate Molasses
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Have you ever tried pomegranate molasses? It’s tangy and bright in flavor, and it’s easy to make at home! You can use it for dressings, sauces, or roasts. You can even drizzle it on desserts!
How to Make Pomegranate Molasses - step-by-step recipe on homemade pomegranate molasses
I first came across this thing called “pomegranate molasses” about 6 years ago when I flipped through the pages of Heidi Swanson’s Super Natural Every Day (one of my favorite cookbooks, by the way). It found her recipe for Pomegranate-Glazed Eggplant with Tempeh, and the photo in the cookbook looked so inviting. As I read the ingredients list, I saw pomegranate molasses and thought, “What on earth is that?” Mix pomegranate juice with molasses? That doesn’t sound right.
Everything was going fine, until I bought a bad bottle of pomegranate molasses. I noticed something was wrong when I a batch of muhammara (red pepper dip) and wondered why my dip tasted bitter. Then, I tasted the molasses. Instead of a familiar sweet and tangy taste, the molasses had a bitter finish. I later learned that the bitterness could have come from the manufacturers not separating the pomegranate arils from the rind properly while making the pomegranate juice. Because of that experience, I make my own pomegranate molasses from scratch.
HOW TO MAKE POMEGRANATE MOLASSES
It’s actually quite easy to make. All you do is boil down pomegranate juice, sugar and lemon juice for about 1 hour, and that’s it. You can use store-bought pomegranate juice to make the molasses. I prefer using fresh pomegranate juice because the color of the molasses will look much brighter (and better for photographs).
How to Make Pomegranate Molasses Recipe
How to Make Pomegranate Molasses Recipe
To juice the pomegranate, we’re going to dig into those ruby globes and separate the arils. Find the crown of the pomegranate (the part that’s sticking out). (Did you know that the crown is actually the bottom of the pomegranate?) Holding the paring knife at a diagonal, start cutting underneath the crown. Make a full circle around the crown and remove it. Score the pomegranate.
Pomegranate Molasses Recipe
How to Make Pomegranate Molasses
Mediavine
Tear the pomegranate apart into different sections. Remove the arils by prying them loose from the rind. To prevent pomegranate juice from splattering everywhere (because it will), loosen the arils inside a large bowl filled with water.
When you’re done, you’ll notice that most of the seeds have sunken to the bottom of the bowl and the loose membrane will float on the top. Remove any stray pieces of membrane, and drain all the water.
How to Make Pomegranate Molasses
Pour the arils into a high-speed blender or food processor, and pulse or gently blend until all the arils have been crushed.
Strain the juice through a fine-mesh strainer. Use a spatula to press down on the purée so that you can squeeze out as much juice as possible.
How to Make Pomegranate Molasses
How to Make Pomegranate Molasses
Right, we now have pomegranate juice. On to making the molasses!
TIPS FOR POMEGRANATE MOLASSES RECIPE
You can overcook the molasses: When I was making the video for this, I wasn’t keeping an eye on the molasses carefully and overcooked it. The molasses turned from a beautiful magenta color to brown. Once the molasses cooled, I ended up with a very thick and stiff substance that was very difficult to remove from the jar and difficult to work with. I ended up throwing it all away. The last 10 to 15 minutes of the cooking process are the most critical. You may need to reduce the heat slightly.
How to tell when the molasses is done: After an hour, you’ll notice that the bubbles will start to look thicker at more viscous. That’s a good sign. You want the molasses to be able to coat the back of a spoon (see below). I also like to pour the molasses into a glass measuring jar to see how much liquids I have. Once I’ve boiled everything down to a little over a cup, I’ll stop. This recipe should yield 1 cup and 2 tablespoons of molasses.
INSTRUCTIONS
Boil the pomegranate juice, sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan over medium-high heat. When the juice boils, reduce the heat to a medium-low. You should see the liquid boiling very gently in the middle.
Let the mixture simmer for about an hour, uncovered. Stir occasionally to make sure that the sugars don’t stick to the bottom of the saucepan.
After 45 minutes of simmering, you’ll notice that a lot of liquid has burned off. Reduce the heat very slightly and let it simmer for another 15 minutes or so. Take a spoon and dip it into the molasses. If it coats the spoon, the molasses is done cooking (see photo in blog post for a visual).
Turn off the heat and let it cool for 30 minutes before pouring it into a jar. The mixture will still be runny, but don’t worry. The molasses thickens as it cools.
This recipe should yield about 1 cup and 2 tablespoons of pomegranate molasses. Store the molasses in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.
NOTES
If you are making fresh pomegranate juice, you’ll need 6 to 7 large pomegranates to yield 9 cups of arils. Find the crown of the pomegranate (the part that’s sticking out). With a paring knife, dig into the part underneath the crown, and make a circular incision. You’re removing the crown and a bit of the skin underneath it so that the pomegranate is easier to peel later. Score the pomegranate.
Tear the pomegranate apart into different sections. Remove the arils by prying them loose from the peel. Do this step over a medium bowl filled with water.
When you’re done, you’ll notice that most of the seeds have sunken to the bottom of the bowl, and the loose membrane will float on the top. It’s okay if some of the arils are floating too. Remove any stray pieces of membrane, and drain all the water.
Pour the arils into a high-speed blender or food processor, and purée until the pomegranates look like a smoothie. You may need to do this step in batches.
Strain the juice through a fine-mesh strainer. Use a spatula to press down on the purée so that you can squeeze out as much juice as possible. You should end up with 3 1/2 to 4 cups of pomegranate juice.
how to eat a pomegranate
2 easy ways to open and seed a pomegranate
There are two simple ways to remove pomegranate seeds — with a spoon or knife.
With a spoon
One popular and easy method for removing pomegranate seeds involves using a wooden spoon.
First, cut the fruit in half around the middle. Then, hold it over a bowl with the seed side facing down.
Firmly hit the pomegranate skin with the back of a wooden spoon until all the seeds have fallen out.
You can fill the bowl halfway with water, so the seeds to sink to the bottom while pieces of the pith float to the top. This makes it easier to separate the seeds.
Rinse and strain the seeds to remove any unwanted pith remnants. Now, the arils are ready to enjoy.
Scoring with a knife
Another equally popular and effective method of retrieving pomegranate seeds is to use a knife to score the fruit.
First, using a paring knife, remove the little stem at the top of the fruit, which is known as the flower.
Then, score the sides by cutting the skin between the ridges from top to bottom. If you can’t feel the ridges, simply make about six evenly spaced cuts around the fruit.
To prevent the juices from escaping, don’t make the cuts too deep.
Next, grip the fruit and place your thumbs at the top where the flower was. Gently pull apart the fruit to separate the sections.
It may be helpful to do this over a bowl so all the loose seeds are caught.
To continue, peel off the white membrane that surrounds each section of seeds.
Lastly, working over a bowl or clean surface, pull the edges of each section back towards you to push the seeds out and into the bowl.
Depending on the ripeness of the fruit and how easily the seeds come out, you may have to gently rub some of the seeds to detach them.
Now, they’re ready to enjoy.
SUMMARY
You can remove the tasty pomegranate seeds from the fruit using the wooden spoon or paring knife methods.
Easy ways to add pomegranate to your diet
Pomegranate seeds are delicious and versatile, making them easy additions to a variety of dishes.
Here are some ways you can enjoy pomegranate seeds:
Toss them into a green or fruit salad.
Sprinkle some seeds onto your yogurt or oatmeal.
Add them to smoothies or juices.
Use pomegranate seeds as a tangy garnish on avocado toast.
Garnish roasted or grilled meat dishes with the tasty seeds.
Add them to sangria, cocktails, or mocktails.
Eat them fresh from the fruit.
SUMMARY
Pomegranate seeds are a versatile and flavorful addition to both sweet and savory dishes.
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Helpful tips
Here are some helpful tips to get the most out of your pomegranate experience:
Choose a ripe fruit. Not only is it easier to remove the seeds from a ripe fruit, but they taste better too. The fruit should be heavy with a firm skin. Note that small scratches on the skin won’t affect the inside.
Only eat the seeds. Though the white, pithy part is safe to eat, it’s bitter and most people choose to discard it. The skin is technically edible as well but generally used in extract and powdered forms.
Freeze the seeds. You can store leftover pomegranate seeds in your freezer for up to 12 months. Simply freeze them on a baking sheet for 2 hours, then collect them in freezer bags (2).
SUMMARY
To better enjoy your pomegranate, consider choosing a ripe fruit, eating only the seeds, and freezing leftovers for later use.
The bottom line
Pomegranate is a fruit with delicious, edible seeds.
Hitting the back of a pomegranate that has been cut in half with a wooden spoon or scoring the fruit to separate sections are two simple and effective ways to remove the seeds.
This process is easier when the fruit is ripe.
Once removed, you can enjoy the bright, ruby-red seeds plain or add them to your favorite recipes for a tangy yet sweet, refreshing flavor.
Health benefits of pomegranate
Pomegranate is one of the healthiest fruits on earth. Pomegranate has many incredible health benefits for your body. It is called as a divine fruit because it is the most mentioned fruit in theological books. Pomegranate has anti-oxidant, anti-viral and anti-tumor properties and is said to be a good source of vitamins, especially vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E, as well as folic acid. This amazing fruit consists three times as many antioxidants as both wine or green tea. Consuming pomegranate also lowers the risk of all sorts of diseases. Following are the benefits of pomegranate:
1. Protects us from free radicals
Pomegranate is rich in anti-oxidants and thus protects our body from free radicals, which are responsible for premature ageing. Free radicals are formed by exposure to sun and due to harmful toxins in the environment.
2. It thins your blood
Antioxidants present in pomegranate act as a ‘thinner for your blood’. The seeds of pomegranate prevent your blood platelets from forming clots and coagulating.
There are two types of blood clots, first is the good one which speeds the recovery during a cut or an injury and second is when there is any internal clot, like in heart, arteries or anywhere else inside the body. These type of clots are not good and can be fatal.
3. Prevention of atherosclerosis
With increasing age and the type of lifestyle we live, the walls of our arteries become harder due to cholesterol, resulting in blockages sometimes. The anti-oxidant property of pomegranate prevents bad cholesterol from oxidizing. So, eating pomegranates removes the excess fat and prevents the hardening of artery walls.
4. It acts like an oxygen mask
Pomegranate helps to pump the level of oxygen in our blood. Due to anti-oxidants present in pomegranate, it fights free radicals, reduces cholesterol and prevents blood clot. All this eventually helps blood to flow freely and thus improve the level of oxygen in your body.
5. It prevents arthritis
Pomegranate can reduce the damage of the cartilage by fighting the enzyme that does so. Pomegranate also has the ability to reduce inflammation.
6. Fights erectile dysfunction
Though it is not a wonder drug but yes pomegranate juice can slightly improve erectile dysfunction. And a lot of theories prove this as true. 7. Fights heart disease and prostate cancer
Two studies claim that pomegranate juice has the ability to fight prostate cancer. An experiment showed that pomegranate juice slowed the growth and even killed cultured cancer cells. And as we have already mentioned in the second point, pomegranate juice thins the blood and thus improves its condition which in turn prevents cardiovascular diseases.
8. Pomegranate is loaded with beneficial nutrients
A cup of pomegranate seed contains 24 grams of sugar and 144 calories. A cup of pomegranate seeds contain following nutrients: Fiber: 7 grams Protein: 3 grams Folate: 16 per cent of the RDA Potassium: 12 per cent of the RDA Vitamin C: 30 per cent of the RDA Vitamin K: 36 per cent of the RDA 9. It improves memoryA study was conducted where people who had a problem with their memory were given 237ml of pomegranate juice every day. After a certain period of time, a lot of improvement was seen in their verbal and visual memory. In fact, another experiment done on mice shows that pomegranate consumption can also prevent Alzheimer’s. But the experiment is yet to be done on humans.
10. It lowers blood pressure
Punicic acid is one of the main constituents of pomegranate that help lower cholesterol, triglycerides and reduce blood pressure.
11. Helps in digestion
We all know fibre is good for digestion. But due to our lifestyle where we are inclined towards eating junk food, we miss the goodness of fibre in our vegetables and fruits. Adding pomegranate to your everyday diet can be one the best ways to include fibre in your daily routine. One pomegranate contains 45 per cent of your daily recommended intake of fibre.
12. Boosts immunity
Being rich in anti-inflammatory compounds, pomegranates are extremely healthy for those suffering from immune-related disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and osteroarthrits. They are also rich in vitamin C, which boosts antibody production and helps in the development of immunity. Pomegranates can thus help you maintain a healthy immune system and keep common illnesses and infections at bay. 13. Lowers stress levels
Apart from reducing body’s internal oxidative stress, pomegranates also help lower psychological stress that you go through in your personal and professional life. According to a study conducted by Queen Margaret University, people who drank pomegranate juice had lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that is increased under stressful situations.
14. Prevent plaque formation
You use mouth wash to improve your oral health, but much to your surprise pomegranate juice can be a better option than alcohol containing mouth washes. Certain compounds in pomegranate exhibit strong antiplaque effects.
A study showed that hydroalcoholic extract of pomegranate effectively lowered dental plaque formation due to microorganisms build up by almost 84 per cent. Caution: Pomegranate juice is good for cardiovascular health but in rare cases, it may react with a patient’s medication.
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