Organic pomegranate seeds or refreshing pomegranate juice is a
delicious, refreshing snack! This slightly peculiar fruit has been
thought to hold legendary powers for centuries. Persians believe Eve
actually ate a pomegranate when she plucked from the tree of knowledge
in the Garden of Eden, not an apple. Ancient Egyptians buried their
dead with pomegranates because they believed it offered eternal life.
This fruit is also featured in mythology and tradition as a symbol of
good tidings. Greeks break open a pomegranate at wedding celebrations
and the Chinese eat candied pomegranate seeds for good luck.
Pomegranate Research
Researchers are discovering the truth surrounding the pomegranate’s
powers, proving why this exotic fruit has claimed such a fabled place in
cultures throughout the ages. Scientists conducting research on the
many health benefits of pomegranates have made some incredible
discoveries.
First, organic pomegranates are full of antioxidants.
These are compounds and enzymes known for keeping low-density
lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol from oxidizing and causing
atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries [1].
Organic pomegranate seeds act a lot like aspirin, keeping blood
platelets from sticking together and forming dangerous blood clots [2].
Antioxidants
also buffer the effects of free radical damage to your cells caused by
oxidation. Free radicals are produced by functions within the body and
elements outside the body, such as radiation from the sun. You can’t
stop free radical occurrence and oxidation but you can consume foods
that help neutralize their potential damage.
Research also shows that eating organic pomegranate seeds and
drinking pomegranate juice can increase oxygen levels to the heart [3].
Other studies reveal that, over time, organic pomegranates might help combat erectile dysfunction [4]. This super fruit might also reduce the redness of arthritis by slowing the enzymatic activity that breaks down cartilage.
How to Eat an Organic Pomegranate
The pomegranate is an intricate fruit that contains a maze of seeds
inside an encapsulation of bark-like, inedible flesh. It may initially
look daunting but there is an easy way to get to all those nutritious,
sweet and juicy seeds.
- Cut off the crown (you’ll see it) and discard in your compost pile.
- Score and slice the rind all around, but don’t cut the rind all the way through.
- Soak the pomegranate face down in cold water for about ten minutes.
- While the pomegranate is still in the bowl of water, break apart the
scored rinds, and remove the seeds from the flesh (the seeds will sink
to the bottom of your bowl).
- Remove the rind and membrane from the bowl with a sieve or spoon.
- Drain the seeds with a colander and pat dry with a paper towel.
To get the most out of an organic pomegranate, eat the seeds while
they’re at their freshest and juiciest. This is when their therapeutic
powers are at their peak!
Some people suck the juice out and spit out the seed. This is a
personal choice but most of the beneficial fiber comes from the seed so
it is beneficial to eat it and a waste to ignore it. Organic
pomegranate seeds are bursting with a delicious, pleasant, slightly
acidic flavor that has all the sweetness of cranberries without the
tartness.
I suggest sprinkling the seeds on a green salad or a fruit salad.
You’ll be surprised at the awesome extra taste sensation this provides.
You can add them to any recipe that calls for fruit or seeds, too.
Pomegranates are often
used in Middle Eastern dishes and make a great
cranberry-style sauce.
Organic pomegranate seeds are also perfectly delicious eaten all by themselves.
Health Benefits of Organic Pomegranates
Packed with antioxidants equal to those in green tea and red wine, and especially loaded with vitamin C and potassium, pomegranates are believed to help:
- Lower Risk of Heart Disease [5]
- Lower Risk of Cancer, Especially Prostate and Breast [6]
- Lessen Symptoms of Diarrhea [7]
- Reduce Cholesterol [8]
- Control Your Weight [9]
- Fight Cell Damage [10]
Pomegranates are one of the few fruits where the juice is just as
beneficial as the fruit or seeds. The peel, which you can’t eat,
contains the most antioxidants, and they are released in abundance when
the fruit is squeezed for juicing.
Note: Eating pomegranates might interfere with
certain medications in the same way that grapefruit juice does. Be sure
to ask your doctor or pharmacist about drug interactions.
Pomegranate’s wine-red juice will stain your fingers, clothes, and countertops! Be careful with these.
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