Nutrition for Health: Pomegranate

Pomegranate: Food for Thought

Health Benefits of Pomegranate:

Pomegranates are beneficial for health.  A fruit that has been categorised as a super-food known for its nutrient density and as such has been studied for many years to investigate its health benefits.  

Some of the benefits are: 

• A fat-buster
  • pomegranate seed oil reduces the body's ability to store fat;
  • they prevent fat deposits (triglycerides) from clogging the arteries;
  • pomegranates increase the level of HDL (good) cholesterol in the blood;
• Reduces recovery time
  • pomegranate's contain uric acid which is known to speed up recovery rates;
  • it's a natural anti-inflammatory so eases painful joints;
  • it helps to relieve muscle soreness
• Packed with antioxidants
  • Pomegranates are packed with high levels of antioxidants (polyphenols) such as anthocyanins, flavonoids and tannins;
  • Antioxidants can protect against free-radical induced diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders (e.g. Parkinson's) and premature ageing.

Note:  As a rule I tend to eat the fruit and avoid drinking pomegranate juice as some of the nutrients (and fibre) are lost in the juicing process.  It's worth struggling with those pips to obtain the most nutritional value and to avoid a higher concentration of sugar intake.

Go Organic?

Yes.  Fruits and berries have been shown to have up to 50% more antioxidants than non-organic versions.  So worth getting hold of organic or sustainably farmed versions.