Pomegranate is the fruit of the shrub Punica granatum, which is native to Iran and Iraq, although now it is cultivated in many arid regions around the world. The seeds of this fruit are eaten for the sweet, tangy seed casings (arils). The juice from the seed casings is often extracted for its delicious flavour.
Interestingly, grenadine syrup used in cocktails is actually concentrated and sweetened pomegranate juice. In addition to its delicious flavour, this fruit also provides a number of health benefits, and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years.
Traditional Uses For Pomegranate
Traditionally, the rind of the pomegranate fruit is used in India for the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery and intestinal parasites, and modern Chinese herbal medicine uses it for these purposes as well. The seeds and the juice are used to treat heart and throat conditions and to help balance a diet high in sweet and fatty foods. The seeds and rinds were once thought to prevent conception and are still used today as a folk-remedy for family planning in some parts of Africa. Fresh and dried pomegranate seed arils are used in many Persian, Greek, and Pakistani dishes as well for their sweet, tart flavour and nutritional benefits.
Nutrient Profile of Pomegranates
Pomegranate juice contains a relatively high dose of vitamin C, vitamin B5, and potassium. The seeds within the arils also contain large amounts of fibre, and a number of fatty acids, including oleic, linoleic, palmitic and punicic acids, which may explain some of its potential cardio-protective properties.
Health Benefits of Pomegranate
Cardiovascular Benefits
Preliminary research has also shown pomegranate to be beneficial in reducing many of the risk factors associated with heart disease, particularly by reducing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and by lowering blood pressure. It is also thought that the tannins present in the juice are responsible for balancing the “good” (HDL) and “bad” (LDL) cholesterol, by interfering with the oxidation of LDL cholesterol specifically. Interestingly, one human study found that pomegranate juice helped to treat carotid artery stenosis (narrowing) by reducing the thickness of the artery wall.
Potent Antioxidant
Pomegranate juice contains a large number of different phenolic compounds that act as strong antioxidants. In fact, the antioxidant capacity (ORAC) of this fruit has been measured as 2,860 per 100g. Some scientists and health professionals believe that pomegranate may play a role in the treatment of a variety of “silent” inflammatory processes, like those involved in cardiovascular disease, diabetes and more.
Healthy Cell Growth
One of the major active constituents in pomegranate juice is called ellagic acid, which is a natural phenol compound. It acts as a strong antioxidant that may boost healthy cell growth. Ellagic acid has the ability to directly prevent the binding of carcinogenic compounds with cellular DNA in a test tube. This is the mechanism by which Ellagic acid has been thought to help prevent unhealthy cell growth. Water extracts of the pomegranate rind, which are rich in different polyphenols, were found to promote differentiation of unhealthy cells, causing them to revert to normal cells. Further research is required before we can be sure of these effects.
Shopping For Pomegranate Fruit & Supplements
The fruit can be purchased at your local grocery or health food store, as can the bottled juice. Pomegranate extract can also be purchased as a supplement, in capsule form. Pomegranate extracts are usually standardized to include a certain percentage of polyphenols / ellagic acid. There is no consensus in terms of dosage or recommended juice consumption. Pomegranate juice has a very strong safety profile, and is generally considered safe. The rind should be used with caution by women who are pregnant or breast feeding.
