How To Choose Good Pomegranates
Touted to be one of those foods which are rich in antioxidants, pomegranate is a fruit which is very beneficial for health. It is believed to be a native north Indian fruit but now it is cultivated around the globe. Various food manufacturers use the same in their products and these are also quite popular in the form of juices.
After cutting a ripe pomegranate, one can observe yellow colored layers of a thin covering within which the red colored juicy sacs are present. These red to pink colored sacs known as arils, are juicy and sweet with a dash of acidic taste and these alone are the edible parts of this fruit.
Nutritional Information
A medium sized pomegranate contains only about 90-110 calories. It is a fiber rich fruit and is hence very good for health. It does contain good amounts of carbohydrates and sugars but these are quite healthy.
It is also a rich source of potassium, proteins, vitamin C, iron etc. All these nutrients are very essential for carrying out various functions of the body effectually. It also contains other micro-nutrients like calcium, magnesium, sodium etc.
How To Use It?
Pomegranate possesses a blend of acidic and sweet taste and hence one can use it to create interesting syrups and add the same to chutneys and jellies. These go well with almost all sorts of salads and so you can add it to the same.These are perfect ingredients for making smoothies, salsa dips etc.
You can also extract the juice from pomegranate and have it few times a week for great health. You can also use the same to make mock tails and add a dash of pomegranate in your desserts for natural sweetness.
Health Benefits of Pomegranate
Improves Immunity
The presence of phytochemicals and polyphenolic compounds in this fruit makes it rich in antioxidant properties. These compounds greatly enhance one’s immunity and helps keep an array of ailments at bay. Presence of vitamin C in this makes it excellent for treating any sort of mild allergies, cold, flu etc.
Cancer
Some studies and researches have also concluded that pomegranate helps kill malignant cells responsible for breast cancer, lung cancer prostate cancer etc. It slows and prevents further multiplication of cancerous cells in the body.
Cholesterol
Those suffering from high levels of bad cholesterol in the body known as low density lipoproteins (LDL) must consume pomegranate on a regular basis. It not only reduces the levels of bad cholesterol in the body but also elevates the levels of good cholesterol known as high density lipoproteins (HDL).
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Heart Diseases
Regular intake of pomegranate also improves the blood circulation in the body and also helps eliminate plaque build up in the arteries. Such plaque build ups can result in coronary heart diseases. Those who have this frequently are at reduced risk of developing such heart related ailments.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Those suffering from this ailment can consume pomegranate on a regular basis to cope with the symptoms of this disease. The compounds present in this fruit helps improve one’s ability to perform various metal tasks efficiently.
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