Pomegranate is a sweet, tart fruit with thick, red skin. While the skin is not edible, it holds hundreds of juicy seeds that you can eat plain or sprinkle on salads, oatmeal, hummus and other dishes.
It is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub. Pomegranate is a tree, various parts of the this tree and fruit are used to make medicine.
Pomegranate arils are packed with nutrients and antioxidants, substances that can help prevent or delay damage within the cells. In fact, pomegranate juice has three times as many antioxidants as other antioxidant-rich beverages, such as green tea and red wine. People use pomegranate for high blood pressure, athletic performance, heart disease and many other conditions.
How does it work ?
Pomegranate contains a variety of chemicals that might have antioxidant effects. Some preliminary research suggests that chemicals in pomegranate juice might slow the progression of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and possibly fight cancer cells.
Health Benefits
Pomegranates can have up to three times more antioxidants than green tea or red wine. Antioxidants protect cells from damage, prevent diseases — such as cancer — and reduce inflammation and the effects of aging.
Additionally, other health benefits of pomegranates include the following:
Heart Health
Studies have suggested that pomegranates can protect the heart in many ways, including lowering blood pressure and reducing blood sugar levels.
Atherosclerosis — the build-up of cholesterol and fats in the arteries — is a common cause of heart disease. Pomegranate juice may help reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol — “bad” cholesterol” — that clogs arteries. It can also increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol — “good” cholesterol” — which lowers the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
Diabetes Control
Initial studies have revealed that people with type 2 diabetes who began to drink pomegranate juice showed an improvement in insulin resistance. Pomegranates can also help people without diabetes maintain a healthy weight.
Lowering Risk of Cancer
Pomegranates are rich in antioxidants and flavonoids, both of which are known to prevent free radicals from damaging your cells. In some studies, pomegranates show potential to be effective in preventing prostate, breast, lung, and colon cancers.
Nutrition
Fresh pomegranate is also a source of fiber, which can promote weight loss, lower cholesterol, and ease constipation.
In addition, pomegranates provide:
– Folate
– Vitamin K
– Vitamin E
– Vitamin B6
– Potassium
Pomegranate comes in two forms:
1: Natural form as a fruit and
2: As a supplement.
Take pomegranate today and stay healthy!
Source: Webmd
Written by Sarah Amah