Health benefits and harms of pomegranate

Pomegranate is a large shrub or tree about 4 meters high with beautiful long leaves and large fruits. 

In order for the cardiovascular system to work as a well-coordinated mechanism, it is enough just to eat pomegranate. You need to do this on a regular basis. In this case, the aging of the body can be delayed for a long time.

Every year on October 26, Azerbaijan celebrates Pomegranate Day. The holiday falls at the end of the harvest. This event is celebrated in a big way in the country. Holidays, solemn fairs and exhibitions are organized everywhere. People flaunt their crops, allow tasting juicy and healthy fruits. You can buy not only ripe pomegranates, but also juice, jam and wine based on it.

The pomegranate grows on a tree. It has a round shape and a rich red color. If you translate the word granatus from Latin, then it will sound like “seed”. Inside the fruit there are many grains that are separated by the thinnest film. Each fruit contains about 700 grains.

There are more than a dozen varieties of pomegranate. All of them have a different taste and color. The fruit is rich in vitamins and minerals, this is its main value.

Composition and calorie content

Other important connections:

• Phytosterols — 17 mg (31% of RDI)

• Purine — 6 mg (5% of RDI)

10 health benefits of pomegranate

Pomegranate has many beneficial qualities for the human body, as it contains amino acids, vitamins and trace elements. There are 10 most useful properties of pomegranate:

Pomegranate for heart health

Pomegranates contain a substance called punicalagins. They neutralize free radicals and increase the properties of antioxidants. In addition, they have a beneficial effect on the work of the heart.

The use of pomegranate can reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood and strengthen the vascular walls. Therefore, eating pomegranate seeds increases the likelihood of preventing the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.

A study was conducted that made it possible to establish that the risk of developing atherosclerosis of the vessels in people who eat pomegranate is reduced by 30%. The experiment involved patients with carotid artery stenosis. They drank 30 ml of pomegranate juice every day. The study lasted 3 years. Therefore, the claim that pomegranate is good for heart health is not unfounded.

Pomegranate against arthrosis

The most common joint disease is arthrosis. According to statistics, about 10% of the world’s population suffers from it. With arthrosis, the joints become inflamed, movements of the limbs cause pain to a person.

The pomegranate contains vitamin K, which takes part in the metabolic processes occurring in the bone and connective tissue. Vitamin K directly affects the absorption of calcium.

A study was conducted at Case University, Western Reserve School of Medicine, which found that pomegranate prevents the deformation of cartilage tissue, thereby preventing the development of osteoarthritis. Pomegranate juice contains phytonutrients that prevent the inflammatory response in the cartilage structures of the joints.

Benefits of pomegranate for teeth

Regular consumption of pomegranate juice helps protect teeth from hard deposits. The juice has an antimicrobial and antiviral effect, helps to cleanse the oral cavity from bacteria. Therefore, it can be drunk in order to prevent gum disease.

Pomegranate protects against cancer

The pomegranate contains substances that block the synthesis of estrogen and the growth of malignant cells. These substances are called ellagitannins. The results of one study were described in the Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Its organizers found that regular consumption of pomegranate in food can reduce the likelihood of developing breast cancer.

Scientists continue to study the properties of pomegranate in relation to prostate cancer. Since it contains substances to stop inflammation, there are suggestions that it can reduce the likelihood of developing this oncopathology.

In addition, scientists are convinced that pomegranate helps slow the growth of lung cancer and allows the body to fight the disease.

The benefits of pomegranate for immunity

It is enough to eat 100 g of pomegranate per day to provide your body with vitamin C by 21%. The fruit contributes to the activation of immunity, protects the body from viruses, allows you to destroy bacteria. It is believed that for this it is enough to eat 1/4 of the fruit.

Digestive benefits of pomegranate

Pomegranate is a source of dietary fiber. They are not digested in the intestines, thereby contributing to its cleansing. Coarse fiber works like a “brush”. If you eat 100 g of a grant per day, you can provide yourself with dietary fiber by 16%. This allows you to stabilize the stool and normalize the process of digestion.

Another useful property of pomegranate is to increase immunity and quench thirst.

Pomegranate improves the rate of tissue regeneration

Pomegranate seeds contain oil, which allows you to speed up the process of regeneration of skin cells. Any wounds will heal faster. Pomegranate seed oil has a positive effect on fibroblasts, which are responsible for the production of elastin and collagen. In addition, pomegranate extract can be used to heal the skin after sunburn.

pomegranate for anemia

The use of pomegranate juice and pomegranate seeds helps to increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood. Juice is often prescribed to patients suffering from anemia. They are shown to drink 1/2 cup of the drink 30 minutes before meals.

Hemoglobin is the most important substance in the blood, which is responsible for transporting oxygen to organs and tissues. Its norm for men is 130-160 mg / l, and for women – 120-150 mg / l. If this indicator decreases, then the person’s health worsens, he begins to feel sick, his head is spinning, and weakness increases. Pomegranate juice helps to avoid such problems.

Pomegranate in the treatment of diabetes

In small quantities, pomegranate juice can be consumed by people suffering from diabetes. It has a diuretic effect, therefore, it helps to reduce edema that haunts people with the initial stage of diabetes.

Pomegranate juice diluted with honey can relieve discomfort in the bladder area. It often occurs against the background of complications of diabetes.

You should not drink pomegranate juice, which is produced at the factory. People with diabetes can only consume juice that has been prepared on their own. A freshly squeezed drink retains the maximum benefit, it does not contain sugar. To make the juice less concentrated, dilute it with water.

Pomegranate prolongs youth

In 2006, a study was conducted that found that pomegranate prolongs youth. It prevents the development of Alzheimer’s disease, as it contains a powerful antioxidant punicalagin. Some time later, this fact was once again confirmed by scientists from the University of Huldersfield. The juice of fresh pressing of punicalagin contains 3,4%. This antioxidant reduces inflammation in the brain and slows down the aging process.

In medicine, pomegranate extract is used as an anti-aging food supplement. It slows down the aging process of the skin, reduces the number of wrinkles and prevents the appearance of age spots.

The benefits of pomegranate for women

Pomegranate is one of the healthiest fruits for women:

• Pomegranate fights early hair loss. Often this happens against the background of iron deficiency anemia, when the level of hemoglobin in the blood decreases. Cells experience oxygen starvation, which negatively affects the condition of the hairline and nails. If you eat pomegranate regularly, you can prevent hair loss, increase hemoglobin and strengthen hair follicles. Hair will look healthy and shiny.

• Pomegranate facilitates menopause. Pomegranate contains estrogens, which allow women to enter the menopause more easily and prevent the development of depression.

• Pomegranate fights cancerous tumors, in particular, breast cancer. This is possible due to ellagic acid, which is present in the composition of the fruit.

Benefits of pomegranate and pomegranate juice during pregnancy

Some experts forbid pregnant women from drinking pomegranate juice, as it contains a large amount of acids (citric, malic, oxalic). They can irritate the gastric mucosa and adversely affect the health of the child.

To avoid this, simply dilute the drink with water. You can also combine pomegranate juice with other non-aggressive drinks (carrot, pumpkin, beet juice). In this case, its annoying qualities will be reduced to zero. Such a drink will only benefit both the mother’s body and the growing child.

The benefits of pomegranate for men

Pomegranate contains a large amount of vitamin B12. This substance improves blood circulation in the body, thereby positively affecting male potency.

In addition, the pomegranate contains substances that increase the amount of nitric oxide in the blood. Namely, nitric oxide in our body dilates blood vessels, and thereby providing a stronger potency.

And finally, it should be said that a huge variety of antioxidants contained in pomegranate contribute to a good prevention of prostate cancer.

Is it okay to eat pomegranate with seeds?

There are no specific rules regarding eating pomegranate with seeds. If you wish, you can use whole pomegranate seeds. They are not harmful to health. Bones are a source of fiber, estrogens, essential oils. Therefore, eating them will only bring health benefits.

It is not recommended to eat pomegranate with seeds for children under 10 years old, as their digestive system is not as strong as that of an adult. Consuming pomegranate seeds along with bones can cause appendicitis.

Contraindications to the use of pomegranate

Contraindications to the use of pomegranate in food:

• Juice should not be drunk by people who have chronic diseases of the digestive system, such as gastritis with high acidity or stomach ulcers.

• Pomegranate juice should not be offered to children under one year of age. If the child is 4-7 years old, then he can drink juice only in a diluted form.

• It is not recommended to drink store-bought pomegranate juice, as manufacturers often add harmful substances to it. This can negatively affect human health.

• Freshly squeezed juice can worsen the condition of tooth enamel, as it contains a lot of acids. To prevent damage, pomegranate juice must be diluted with water. At the same time, the benefits of the drink are not reduced. After drinking the juice, the mouth should be rinsed with clean water.

• People with hemorrhoids and chronic constipation should not drink pomegranate juice.

• If a patient develops gastritis, enteritis or a stomach ulcer, then he should not eat pomegranate seeds.

• Pomegranate peel contains harmful substances – these are isopelletierine, alkaloids, pelletierine. Therefore, before taking products based on pomegranate peel (both homemade and pharmacy), it is recommended to consult a doctor.

How to choose a pomegranate?

To choose a quality pomegranate, you need to pay attention to its weight. A good fruit should be heavier than it looks. Its weightiness indicates its juiciness.

The peel should be free of stains, dents and damage. It must be dry. If you feel the skin of a pomegranate, you can feel the grains through it.

The color of the pomegranate does not affect its sweetness. It depends on the variety of the fruit, and not on its degree of maturity. It is best to pay attention to the tail of the pomegranate. It should not have green areas.

How to quickly and easily peel a pomegranate?

Peeling a pomegranate is not difficult. The main thing is to do it right. There are many ways to clean it, for example, in a cup of water. There will be no splashes or stains. How to do it? Watch the video below: