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The Health Benefits of Pomegranate

pomegranate fruit and juice

Pomegranate is absolutely gorgeous, both as a drink and as a whole fruit. It is refreshing and it tastes fantastic. Interestingly, pomegranate is the stuff of legends, having played part in many ancient stories. For instance, the story of Adam and Eve is well known and in our culture, Eve eats an apple. In Persian culture, however, she eats a pomegranate. The ancient Egyptians believed pomegranates gave eternal life, which is why the fruits were found in many tombs. It is also the symbol of good tidings. As such, in Greece, married couples break open a pomegranate at their weddings for good luck. The Chinese eat the seeds of pomegranate (candied for extra sweet taste) for good luck too.

Scientific Research into Benefits of Pomegranates
There is good reason for the pomegranate fruit to be so evident in ancient cultures. Firstly, they are jam packed with antioxidants. This means they stop bad cholesterol from clotting up the arteries. They work just like aspirin, stopping dangerous blood clots from forming. These same antioxidants also stop free radicals, which can cause cancer other dangerous illnesses. Best of all, pomegranates can stop erectile dysfunction and they help with arthritis, slowing down the breakdown of the cartilage by slowing down the enzymes that cause this.

How to Eat Pomegranate
A pomegranate is a fascinating fruit. It has edible flesh covered in hundreds of seeds. The skin is like a bark, which makes it quite hard to get to the seeds. First, cut the crown off (keep it for compost) and then slice the rind all the way around. However, don’t cut it through altogether. Then proceed to soak the fruit upside down in a bowl of cold water and leave it there for ten minutes or so. While it’s in the water, break the scored rinds and take the seeds out of the flesh. The seeds don’t float, so you will find them on the bottom of your bowl. Next, use a sieve or a spoon to take all the membranes and rinds out. Drain the seeds and pat them dry and eat. Try to eat the seeds as soon as they have come out of the fruit, because this is when they are at their strongest.

It is also possible to suck the juice out of the pomegranate and spit the seeds out. There is nothing wrong with this, but you will miss out on some of the fibers in the fruit itself. The seeds have a lovely and acidic flavor. Many compare it to cranberries, although less tart. You can even add some tasty seeds to fruit salads or green salads, for an extra burst of flavor.

The pomegranate juice benefits are almost as good as the seeds. The skin is completely packed with antioxidants, but unfortunately you are not able to eat the skin of a pomegranate. However, when you squeeze the fruit to release its juice, you will release these antioxidants into the juice.

There are only two words of warning when it comes to pomegranate. The first is to always check with your medical practitioner whether any medication you currently take should not be combined with pomegranate. The second is that the fruit and juice stain as badly as red wine, so make sure you protect your belongings.

Pomegranate Benefits
We have touched upon some of the pomegranate health benefits, but let’s look at these in some greater details. Firstly, pomegranate nutrition includes that they are full of potassium and vitamin C, two essential building blocks of life. They reduce the chances of heart disease occurring, as well as cancer. They are particularly beneficial in the fight against breast and prostate cancer. Because they are fibrous, they lessen the side effects of having diarrhea. They reduce cholesterol, as stated, and also help in controlling weight, making them a perfect addition to any diet, mainly because the pomegranate nutritional values are very high, but it has almost no calories. Last but not least, they fight cell damage from free radicals.


Pomegranate Martini Recipe
A cocktail, by definition, is not very healthy. However, for those who are able to drink in moderation, a cocktail is a fantastic way to relax. For those of us who can’t, there is always the option of changing it into a virgin cocktail, without the alcohol.

The pomegranate cocktail recipe is:
• Four ounces of pomegranate juice
• Two ounces of cranberry juice
• Two ounces of vodka (with a raspberry flavor if possible)
• Two ounces of orange flavored liquor, like Blue Curaçao
• One ounce of grenadine syrup
• Crushed ice

This will make you the perfect pomegranate martini – shaken or stirred. To make it non-alcoholic, take out the vodka and replace it with some raspberry juice, and swap the orange liquor for some orange juice.

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