I really love those pomegranates. They are even mentioned in the Bible and word has it that the apple in the Garden of Eden was actually a pomegranate.
Pomegranate is a nutrient-packed fruit that shares many similar health benefits with the noble cranberry. Pomegranates have been the focus of a myriad of studies for their abundant health-giving properties, including support for your liver, detoxification and weight management. A 2016 study found that in just 30 days, pomegranate extract was able to decrease blood glucose and insulin levels, reduce oxidative damage and inflammation, and substantially improve metabolic profiles in overweight and obese individuals.
The slightly six-sided pomegranate is the fruit of the shrub Punica granatum. Botanically, the pomegranate is a berry, but inside it’s like nothing else... chambers upon chambers of hundreds of “arils,” the term used for those juicy ruby-red pods you recognize as pomegranate seeds. The seeds are actually inside of those tasty pods. A single pomegranate can hold more than 600 arils! They can be eaten raw or pressed into pomegranate juice. Pomegranates (the peel, as well as the arils) contain substantial amounts of vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, potassium, folate, vitamin B6, and phosphorous.
Pomegranates contain three types of antioxidant polyphenols: tannins, anthocyanins and ellagic acid, with the most notable being punicalagins and punicalins. Punicic acid, also known as pomegranate seed oil, is the main fatty acid in the arils and is actually a type of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). This special polyphenol potion offers three times the antioxidant punch of red wine or green tea.
Due to its over-the-top antioxidant action, pomegranate offers outstanding protection for your heart, even in relatively small quantities—like two to four ounces per day. Science has identified substantial cardiovascular benefits including blood pressure stabilization, less platelet aggregation, and reduced arterial plaque and LDL oxidation. The same anti-inflammatory agents that benefit your heart also benefit the rest of your body, providing relief from arthritis, joint pain, and gastrointestinal maladies including ulcers.
Evidence shows pomegranate can improve memory in the elderly, as well as in anyone experiencing post-surgical memory impairment, and may offer some protection from Alzheimer’s disease—again, stemming from those powerful polyphenols. Punicic acid has been shown to inhibit the spread of cancer, including breast, prostate, and other types. Pomegranate has antibacterial and antiviral effects, helps prevent bone loss, and even shows promise as a natural treatment for erectile dysfunction—which likely explains why pomegranate has been long touted as an aphrodisiac.
I love pomegranate seeds in salads and I use them to dress up yogurt. Pom juice is a very refreshing drink with 2 oz. of unsweetened pomegranate juice diluted with 8 ounces of water. Clearly this ancient fruit is here to stay in 2017.
For more creative ways to pom up your meal plan, check out the New Fat Flush Plan .
