Pomegranates – a power fruit in season

Pomegranates , one of nature’s power fruits, is in season. This is great news as pomegranates are amongst the healthiest fruit you can find. They are packed with beneficial plant compounds and provide many positive benefits to our bodies.

The pomegranate is in fact a shrub that produces red fruit. Very popular in Maltese and Gozitan gardens, where people have traditionally grown it for their fruit. Whilst the skin of the pomegranate is thick and inedible, inside it is a treasure of edible seeds called arils. Here are some of the benefits of eating these either raw or as juice.

Pomegranates are packed with nutrients

Pomegranates have an impressive nutrient profile: One cup of arils (174 grams) contains ¹

• Fiber: 7 grams.
• Protein: 3 grams.
• Vitamin C: 30% of the RDA.
• Vitamin K: 36% of the RDA.
• Folate: 16% of the RDA.
• Potassium: 12% of the RDA.

Benefits of Pomegranate juice

According to Medical News Today² , pomegranate juice provides you with all the following benefits:

1. Antioxidants: Pomegranate juice contains higher levels of antioxidants than most other fruit juices. It also has three times more antioxidants than red wine and green tea.
2. Vitamin C: The juice of a single pomegranate has more than 40 percent of your daily requirement of vitamin C.
3. Alzheimer’s disease protection: The antioxidants in the juice and their high concentration are believed to stall the progress of Alzheimer disease and protect memory.
4. Digestion: Pomegranate juice can reduce inflammation in the gut and improve digestion.
5. Anti-inflammatory: Pomegranate juice is a powerful anti-inflammatory because of its high concentration of antioxidants.
6. Arthritis: Flavonols in pomegranate juice may help block the inflammation that contributes to osteoarthritis and cartilage damage.
7. Heart disease: Pomegranate juice is in the running as the most heart-healthy juice. It appears to protect the heart and arteries.
8. Blood pressure: Drinking pomegranate juice daily may also help lower systolic blood pressure. But more studies need to be done to determine if pomegranate juice can decrease overall blood pressure in the long term.
9. Antiviral: Between the vitamin C and other immune-boosting nutrients like vitamin E, pomegranate juice can prevent illness and fight off infection. Pomegranates have also been shown to be antibacterial and antiviral in lab tests.
10. Vitamin-rich: In addition to vitamin C and vitamin E, pomegranate juice is a good source of folate, potassium, and vitamin K.

¹ source ² source