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5 Reasons To Switch To Pomegranate As Your Everyday Snack

Pomegranates are a round-shaped fruit with reddish yellowish colour on the top. Split one open to reveal delicious, juicy and ruby-like red colour seeds. These seeds are known as arils, which can be relished raw or in the form of a juice.

It is wonderfully easy to enjoy the luscious jewel of the fruit just by itself or adding it to any of your meals to elevate your recipe to the next level.

Polyphenols, an antioxidant present in the fruit are responsible for that vibrant red colour of pomegranate and many of its functions. Let’s deep dive into each of the functions this beautiful fruit holds!

Nutritional Facts of Pomegranate

Tiny seeds of pomegranate are a rich source of dietary fibre, Vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, calcium, potassium, iron and Vitamin K.

Pomegranate seeds contain two major compounds mostly responsible for their health benefits – punicalagin and punicic acid. Punicalagins are a group of antioxidants commonly found in pomegranate juice and peel, whereas punicic acid, found in seed oil is the main fatty acid.

We will read more about these wonderful ingredients as we proceed further in our article. 

Try to eat pomegranate in the morning as it is rich in calories and provides a good amount of energy. Avoid eating in excess as it may interfere with your metabolism and cause constipation or digestive problems.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.

Nutritional Information of 1 cup of Pomegranate

Health Benefits of Pomegranate

1. More Antioxidant Power: 

Pomegranates are packed with antioxidants. The red colour of the pomegranate seeds comes from the antioxidant called polyphenols. Pomegranate juice is considered to have more antioxidant power than seeds. In fact, studies have shown that the juice might contain 3 times more antioxidants than red wine and green tea. Antioxidants can play a very important role in removing free radicals from your body, reducing inflammation and protecting the skin and cells from oxidative damage.

2. May Protect Your Heart: 

Another name for pomegranate would be a hearty fruit. It is known to protect the heart and the arteries. Studies have also shown that pomegranate taken in the form of juice can help improve the blood flow and also protects the arteries. Regular consumption of pomegranate seeds or juice can help control your blood cholesterol and keep your heart up and running. 

3. Works like An Oxygen Cylinder: 

Due to its antioxidant activity, pomegranate juice is considered to be a boon for the lungs. When consumed on a regular basis, it can help cleanse the lungs, a much-needed  detox for consistent smokers. It may also help to pump oxygen levels in your blood and ultimately all these functions can improve the overall functioning of your lungs which is a much-needed drive in today’s age.

4. Helps Improve Immunity: 

Last year, we all understood the importance of a strong immune system. Pomegranate, being a great source of Vitamin C, contains two important compounds punicalagin and punicic acid; and also acts as an antioxidant that can help your body fight disease-causing germs.

5. May Strengthen Bone Heath: 

Pomegranate juice contains a high amount of flavonols. Flavonols are antioxidants that can work to reduce inflammation in the body. By controlling inflammation, it can help control the osteoarthritis or cartilage damage. Pomegranate juice is also being studied to have a beneficial impact on joint inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis. 

Pomegranate has been observed to have anticancer effects. It may slow tumor growth and spread and reduce inflammation, although more research is needed to learn more.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

Also read: Health Benefits and Precautions: Can You Eat Pomegranate Seeds?

Uses of Pomegranate 

Indian kitchens widely use pomegranate seeds in both savoury and sweet dishes. It adds a tangy and sweet taste to the dishes. Few dishes like chaats, Gujarati snacks like khaman or Dabeli are incomplete without the garnish of pomegranate seeds.

It can be either consumed as raw or even in the form of a juice, which can help improve your antioxidant quotient and thus can help your skin glow. Nowadays, you also find pomegranate flavoured green tea, you should definitely add this to your bucket list. Green tea combined with pomegranate might have more antioxidant power than regular tea.

Pomegranate extract, which is more concentrated than pomegranate juice and has no sugar, is the most convenient way to eat it. Even if you buy pomegranate juice, the pomegranate juice itself is a rich source of natural fructose, sucrose, and glucose. Pomegranate seeds can also be added to salads, glazes, salsas, and chutneys, along with other dishes.

Pomegranate juice benefits the skin too. According to experts, it can help rejuvenate dry, drab skin. It’s also high in vitamin C, which can help with skin texture and radiance when applied topically. Mix 3 tablespoons pomegranate seeds, 1 cup cooked oats, 2 teaspoons extra virgin organic olive oil, and 1 tablespoon, raw honey, in a blender or food processor. Apply to your face and leave for 10 minutes before rinsing with warm water.

Read more about: 13 Immunity-Boosting Foods To Build A Healthy Life

How to Store Pomegranate without Affecting Its Nutritional Value

It is always recommended to enjoy pomegranate arils fresh and not to store them. But, in case you are not able to relish the seeds due to lack of time, storing the seeds may help. Fresh arils can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can also store the whole fruit in a cool, dry place or even in the refrigerator. It will remain fresh for up to 1 month.

Possible Side Effects

When consumed as a fruit or juice, pomegranate is generally harmless and does not cause any negative effects. However, some people may experience negative side effects. A few side effects are:

Take Away Message:

Pomegranate is a fruit with powerful antioxidant functions that can help improve your immunity levels, lung functioning and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent that can provide ample amounts of benefits to your body. The best way to have pomegranate is in the form of arils, but you can also try consuming the juice or pomegranate tea, depending on your health condition. 

Pop those little rubies in your mouth and charge up your antioxidants levels!

Read more about: Benefits of Immunity Booster Kadha or Herbal Tea

Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.

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Anaemia – How Pomegranates Can Help?

According to a report, more than half of Indian women and about 3/4th of Indian children suffer from Anaemia. What is startling in the data available is not how widespread the disease is but that it has nothing to do with one’s socioeconomic status and is found across all sections of society. Advanced countries such as the US also have a high percentage of the anaemic population.

What is Anaemia?

Anaemia is a lack of haemoglobin in your blood. Haemoglobin carries oxygen to all parts of the body and is vital for healthy functioning. Anaemia is also characterised by an unhealthy count of Red Blood Cells (RBCs). The threshold after which a person (children, adults, and pregnant women) are considered anaemic are –

 Anaemia
PopulationNon-anaemicMildModerateSevere
Children 6 to 59 months old110 or above100-109 70-99Below 70
Children 5 to 11 years old115 or above110-11480-109Below 80
Children 12 to 14 years old120 or above110-11980-109Below 80
Women older than 15 years120 or above110-11980-109Below 80
Pregnant women110 or above100-10970-99Below 70
Men older than 15 years130 or above110-12980-109Below 80

The following three are the leading causes of Anaemia-

Loss of blood: Chronic loss of blood due to internal or external injury and bleeding, childbirth, certain illnesses, menstruation, etc. leads to Anaemia.

Increased demand for iron: The body requires more iron during pregnancy, growth spurts in childhood and adolescence.

Decreased production of haemoglobin/RBCs: This occurs in conditions such as after an operation, bone marrow, stem cell problems, diarrhoea or thalassemia.

Anaemia causes fatigue and tiredness, retarded growth in children amongst other issues.

Read More: 9 Anaemia Symptoms & Signs To Watch Out For

Pomegranates, when consumed with iron-rich foods such as liver, green leafy vegetables, lentils and tofu, will help in anaemia, not when consumed alone.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

Factors that may increase your chances of developing anaemia

Several factors need to be weighed in while talking about anaemia. Some of these factors cannot be helped while others are very much in our control. To have a better idea, here are some of the factors that can increase your risk of catching anaemia:

At home, you can have pomegranate for anaemia as the fruit is rich in vitamins and minerals. A detailed list of benefits are given below, so read on to find out more!

Also read: Health Benefits and Precautions: Can You Eat Pomegranate Seeds?

How can pomegranates help?

Pomegranate is rich in vitamin K, vitamin C, fibre, potassium, and protein. Although there are many other fruits with higher iron content, pomegranate is highly recommended for anaemia. This is because pomegranate is rich in vitamin C.

Our bodies generally absorb only 3% of the iron consumed. This is because our gut does not readily absorb iron. The high content of vitamin C in pomegranate helps our bodies to absorb the iron present in the fruit as vitamin C, which is integral to iron metabolism. Regular consumption of pomegranate helps to increase haemoglobin levels and fight anaemia.

Avoiding certain foods along with pomegranate is recommended. Chocolates, spinach, tea, coffee, and alcohol have compounds in them that inhibit the absorption of iron. Keep at least a 30-minute gap between these foods and pomegranate consumption for maximal iron absorption.

A small bowl or around 100 gms of this tangy-sweet fruit every day helps to fight iron deficiency by maximizing iron absorption.

Read More: Home Remedies For Anaemia

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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