Pomegranate: properties and benefits of this unique fruit

The pomegranate is a fruit that is not widely consumed, so that something may go unnoticed within the variety of fruit that we have available to buy.

Despite this, within its compact bark this fruit treasures sweet grains with magnificent properties useful for our health.

Being one of the richest fruits in vitamins and antioxidants, in this article we want to present the properties and benefits of the pomegranate. It is an excellent option to introduce into our diet to make it healthier and more balanced.

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What is the pomegranate?

This fruit has its origin in the area of ​​Iran, although it has been known for millennia that it was in the area of ​​the Caucasus. Over time it adapted to the Mediterranean area and then reached other parts of the world. Its name comes from Latin, as the ancient Romans called it “malum granatum”, which means “apple with seeds”.

Although the fruit seen from afar may resemble an apple, it has little or nothing to do with it. Once we remove its hard and reddish bark, we find inside a series of well packed seeds or granules; a juicy inner fruit that is surprisingly divided.

The different granules are compacted to each other, and each of these small compartments contains a seed and a tasty pulp that covers it. While if we taste the skin we will notice a sour taste, these granules are tasty and even refreshing, because contains water, sugars and different vitamins and minerals.

6 benefits and properties of pomegranate

Taking the fruit without more or consuming the fruit in the form of juice is the most common way to take advantage of its great benefits and properties. Still, everything from the pomegranate can be used: seeds, flowers, bark, etc. through extracts, oils or infusions.

Next we are going to see the main contributions that this fruit can give to our body regardless of the way in which we consume it.

1. Nutritional contribution

The pomegranate is a fruit with a very good nutritional contribution. It is a fruit that is a magnificent source of vitamins and beneficial substances for our well-being. Its seeds contain water, vitamins of group B and vitamins A, C, K and E, in addition to important minerals such as zinc, copper, potassium and phosphorus.

In addition, as we will see, it contains many substances that are actually responsible for its added value as a source of health. Phenols, folic acid, ellagic acid and other substances difficult to find in other foods give the pomegranate its ability to improve our health.

2. Antioxidant power

Thanks to its components, the pomegranate is a food with very good antioxidant properties. Among the antioxidant compounds, ellagic acid stands out. It protects some plants from ultraviolet light, viruses, bacteria and parasites, and of all fruits only raspberries reach such high concentrations.

Also the vitamins and minerals that it provides us help to strengthen the immune system against colds, flu and any opportunistic pathogenic biological agent. And it is that, in addition to taking care of the defenses, there are studies that have highlighted the antibacterial and antifungal effects of the pomegranate.

3. Anti-cancer properties

Pomegranate has been shown to have the ability to reverse the development of cancer cells. An evident antitumor activity of the products derived from the pomegranate has been found on different cancers, such as prostate, colon or breast.

Therefore, the fresh pomegranate juice and extracts from the pomegranate are potent inhibitors of cell growth. Different substances responsible for the inhibitory activity of cancer cells are detected, such as anthocyanins, punic acid and flavanols.

4. Fight arteriosclerosis

Numerous studies highlight the ability of the beneficial substances contained in the pomegranate to fight atherosclerosis, a cardiovascular disease that affects many older people advanced.

This disease consists of a coronary problem in which the arteries are covered with plaque. This is a sticky substance that is made up of fat, cholesterol, and other substances present in the blood. As time passes, the plaque causes the arteries to harden and the diameter available for blood flow to be lost.

5. Regulates hypertension

As we can see, the pomegranate has the ability to improve cardiovascular health, but the fight against arteriosclerosis is not the only way to help us in this section.

Compounds in pomegranate also help us regulate blood pressure, improving our blood pressure and plasma status. Studies show that just drinking pomegranate juice improves blood pressure in the short term.

Therefore, that there are foods like the pomegranate that allow us to help our body to reverse pathological conditions as undesirable as this is great news.

6. Regulates diabetes

Having seen that pomegranate helps us fight arteriosclerosis and hypertension, its benefits at the cardiovascular level continue. The components of this fruit we they also help improve insulin sensitivity.

The main substances that are antidiabetic are polyphenols. When we absorb polyphenols, they regulate blood glucose through different mechanisms, but they focus on inhibiting the absorption of glucose in the intestine or through peripheral tissues. The main mechanism believed to be behind this inhibition is the presence of the enzyme glucosidase.

How to consume it?

The best way to consume the pomegranate is to consume it fresh. This means that we can eat it simply by peeling the fruit, or by making juice from it.

The grains can be eaten alone or added to salads, yogurt, etc. Another good combination is to eat the pomegranate grains with nuts, as it is a tasty mixture that combines the wonderful properties of the two foods.

If, on the other hand, you want to choose to take the pomegranate in the form of juice, you can use a juicer, like the one we use for oranges. A glass of this juice in the morning is a great way to start the day!

Bibliographic references

• Chéchile-Toniolo, G.E. (2011). II International Symposium on the Granado, Madrid, Spain.
• Hernández, F., Melgarejo, P., Tomás-Barberán, F.A. and Artés, F. (1999). Evolution of juice anthocyanins during ripening of new selected pomegranate (Punica granatum) clones. European Food Research and Technology, 210 (1), 39–42
• Stover, E. and Mercure, E.W. (2007). The Pomegranate: A New Look at the Fruit of Paradise ". HortScience, 42 (5), 1088-1092.