Pomegranate have been cherished for their exquisite beauty, flavor, color, and health benefits.
The name “pomegranate” derives from the Middle French “pomme garnete” – literally “seeded apple.” It is also sometimes referred to as a Chinese apple.
The Punica granatum, commonly known as the pomegranate, is a superfood with a long and rich history.
Native to the East, it can be traced through historical documents as far back as thousands of years ago.
The red fruit grows from pretty red flowers and is between a lemon and a grapefruit in size. The white flesh inside the thick skin is full of several hundred seeds.
Pomegranates are grown as both a fruit crop and as an ornamental trees or shrubs for parks and gardens.
They are tolerant of drought and moderate frost, growing in climates similar to the Mediterranean region, California, or Northern India.
There are many genotypes, with the differences ranging from April color, hardness of seed, fruit size, juice content and astringency.
The pomegranate has become increasingly popular in the countries of North America over the last few decades.
Consuming pomegranate provides the skin with compounds that help to protect against free radical damage which can cause sun damage, cancer and sunburn.
The oil of a pomegranate contains the antioxidant ellagic acid that can help to inhibit skin tumors to protect the body from skin cancer.
The enzyme inhibitors in pomegranate juice can help to prevent damage to the cartilage. It can also help to control the cartilage collapse to prevent osteoarthritis.
Children that do not have a strong appetite can drink a glass of pomegranate juice to open the appetite as it acts as a stimulant.
Pomegranate juice is high in niacin, folic acid, potassium, calcium, vitamin C, iron and fiber that help to maintain a pregnant woman’s health and encourage cell growth.
Consuming pomegranate wine instead of alcoholic beverages helps to curb the craving for these hazardous materials while preventing the damage that often comes with consuming alcohol while pregnant.
Consuming pomegranate juice during pregnancy have also been found to reduce cramps and sleep difficulties that often appear during pregnancy. It has also been found to increase blood flow to the baby which reduces the risk of brain damage.
Last, according to Merav Altman-Adler, “the peel of the fruit is good for the heart and blood vessels; the white membrane is good for stopping diarrhea and good for wounds and ulcers of the mouth and throat.
The fruit also strengthens the brain, cleanses the body and blood of toxins, and is very good at expelling worms from the intestines.”