The slew of amazing pomegranate health benefits make peeling and cleaning the fruit worth the hassle. The name of the fruit actually means seeded apple, despite the fact that the two don’t look that much alike. Pomegranate health benefits are owed to the various nutrients and key active ingredients found in the tiny seeds.
Pomegranates have been cherished in many civilizations since the dawn of time, considered a symbol of abundance and hope. Packed with antioxidants, pomegranates can be eaten in their raw form, sprinkled on salads with some balsamic vinegar or incorporated in fresh juices. Once you get the hang of how to correctly peel the fruit, you’ll have no problem adding it to your daily meals and you’ll only be reaping the benefits.
1. Packed with nutrients
There’s more to pomegranates than meets the eye. While the skin of the fruit is very thick and can’t be consumed, it holds dozens of small juicy seeds that are loaded with essential nutrients. The seeds within a pomegranate are called arils.
Whether you prefer eating them raw or making them into a juice, you’ll get plenty of nutrients. One cup of pomegranate seeds, which is roughly 174 gr, comprises 3 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber, 30% of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C, 16% folate, 36% Vitamin K and 12% Potassium. The nutrition facts speak for themselves. The best part is that you can eat as many pomegranates as you want, without experiencing any side effects like bloating or indigestion.
A ripe pomegranate should have sweet, deep red, plump seeds. One cup of arils has 144 calories and 24 gr of natural sugar.
2. Prevents cancer
The polyphenol antioxidants in cucumbers can also be found in pomegranates. Thanks to these, the fruits have the ability to prevent various types of cancers: lung cancer, skin cancer, breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men.
Recent studies have managed to prove that the active ingredients in pomegranate juice have the ability to inhibit the development of tumor cells and even neutralize them completely. Pomegranate seed and pomegranate juice also comprise anti-inflammatory abilities that act as adjuvants in preventing and treating cancers.
3. Lowers blood pressure
High blood pressure can give rise to a slew of other complications. If you struggle with high blood pressure, you might want to consider incorporating pomegranates into your diet. The punicic acid found in the fruit helps decrease cholesterol and triglycerides levels while reducing blood pressure.
Studies show that unique compounds in pomegranates have the power to decrease risk factors for developing heart diseases. Patients struggling with high LDL levels and diabetes benefited from daily drinking pomegranate juice. Pomegranate health benefits on blood pressure are owed to the fruit’s ability to hinder the development of angiotensin-converting enzyme.
4. Helps with digestion
This may be valid for a slew of vegetables and fruit, but pomegranates are high up on the list. They help maintain a healthy and perfectly functional digestive system due to the fiber-rich content. The nutritional value of pomegranates is wonderful. A single pomegranate will provide you with 45% of the needed daily intake of fiber, delivering anywhere between 20 to 35 gr.
The much-needed fiber can help with indigestion, constipation and can make you feel full for longer. Pomegranate concentrate or juice is ideally consumed in the morning. A pomegranate juice cleanse would require drinking the beverage three times a day.
5. Immunity booster
If you want to keep common colds at bay during winter months, stock up on pomegranates and keep the fresh fruit at hand. The anti-inflammatory compounds will give your immune system a boost and even help out with conditions related to immunity: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Loaded with Vitamin C, pomegranates do a great job at improving the immune system and fight off infections and common illnesses.
6. Decreases stress levels
Pomegranate health benefits do not only take care to reduce your body’s oxidative stress. They also contribute to lowering the psychological stress that you might be undergoing because of your professional and personal life. Ever heard the expression ‘you are what you eat’? Just as junk food can make you feel bloated and fatigued, fresh fruit will make you feel energized and happier.
And it’s not mere assumptions either. Studies have shown that pomegranate juice consumers have lower cortisol levels. Cortisol is the hormone that blows up when you are under a lot of stress. Sounds familiar? Then start juicing and pair you omelets with freshly squeezed pomegranate juice in the morning.
7. Prevents formation of plaque
If you’re struggling with plaque, you know it’s stressful and can even be embarrassing. With everything contributing to plaque formation (from fizzy drinks to spicy dishes), regular mouth washes that comprise alcohol can’t properly prevent this nuisance. Luckily, pomegranate health benefits extend to oral care as well.
The compounds in pomegranate seem to have potent antiplaque properties, which could make the fruit more efficient than some drugstore bought mouthwashes. This less known benefit of the fruit is owed to the hydroalcoholic pomegranate extract that has the ability to decrease dental plaque formation caused by microorganisms build up. Individuals who are in the habit of drinking pomegranate juice on a daily basis have 84% fewer chances to develop dental plaque.
8.Fights off Alzheimer’s disease
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