Pomegranate - A Cocktail Of Antioxidants

Pomegranate is believed to have come from ancient Persia or Afghanistan. It was cultivated by the Jews 5,000 years ago. It is believed that even the shape of the royal crowns is borrowed from the shape of the pomegranate. Centuries ago, the fruit was considered the "king of fruits."
Although it has changed its name several times, pomegranate remains popular because of its useful substances.
 

There are 400-700 seeds in a pomegranate, it is possible to number more than 1000. That is why in the past the pomegranate symbolized fertility and was traditionally served to married couples on the day of their union with a wish for many children.
 

Pomegranate is considered ripe when the color of its bark is uniform, the fruit is dense and dry.
 

In folk medicine, the grains, peel, flowers and bark of the plant are used. The nipples are used to make infusions for women in menopause. The fact is that the beans contain natural estrogen. From the decoction of the peels is prepared a remedy for diarrhea, stomatitis and conjunctivitis, from the bark - against worms, from the flowers - vitamin tea.


To this day, the most useful is considered to be the juice of the fruit, which is contained in 80% of the fruit. Hippocrates also recommended pomegranate juice to be used for skin diseases and burns, and Avicenna mentioned it many times in the recommendations for the treatment of various diseases because of its bactericidal properties.
 

The juice has a diuretic, choleretic, analgesic and strengthening effect on the body, stimulates the appetite and has a beneficial effect on hematopoiesis. A study by a team from the United States recently proved that a glass of pomegranate juice helps with erectile dysfunction.
 

It is now known that ripe fruits contain acids - mainly citric, tartaric, malic, boric, oxalic.
 

The tartness of pomegranate is due to the presence of tannins, and the sweet taste of high content, up to 20%, of monosaccharides - fructose, glucose and sucrose. Pomegranate juice contains potassium up to 378 mg, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, iron, as well as aluminum, silicon, chromium, nickel and copper. Pomegranate is rich in vitamins C, B6, B12 and E.
 

Pomegranate juice contains the most antioxidants compared to other fruits, an Israeli study showed in 2004. The cocktail of antioxidants found in pomegranate is a radical tool to fight free radicals and DNA damage to cells in the body.
 

Pomegranate supports the functions of the cardiovascular system. It has been proven through clinical studies that its consumption effectively prevents the development of prostate cancer, slows down the process of cartilage destruction in arthritis.


In cooking, pomegranate seeds are used as a spice, and the juice for marinating meat and the basis of sauces.


The disadvantages of the fruit are that it contains many seeds and is difficult to peel. 

To facilitate peeling, it is recommended to lightly freeze the fruit in the freezer and then cut it into pieces. This makes the grains much easier to separate.
Ripe pomegranate juice can also be obtained with the help of a citrus juicer.

Varieties whose seeds are soft and not bitter are currently available.