Find a wealth of health benefits in pomegranates
Pomegranate is a fruit that contains hundreds of edible seeds called arils. They are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and bioactive plant compounds.
Pomegranates are loaded with important nutrients
Pomegranates have an impressive nutrient profile — one cup of arils (174 grams) contains:
- Fiber: 7 grams
- Protein: 3 grams
- Vitamin C: 30 per cent of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)
- Vitamin K: 36 per cent of the RDI
- Folate: 16 per cent of the RDI
- Potassium: 12 per cent of the RDI
The pomegranate arils (seeds) are also very sweet, with one cup containing 24 grams of sugar and 144 calories. However, pomegranates really shine in their wealth of powerful plant compounds, some of which have potent medicinal properties.
Pomegranates have powerful medicinal properties
According to Joe Leech of Healthline.com, pomegranates pack two unique substances that are responsible for most of their health benefits.
Punicalagins
Punicalagins are extremely potent antioxidants found in pomegranate juice and peel.
They’re so powerful that pomegranate juice has been found to have three times the antioxidant activity of red wine and green tea. Pomegranate extract and powder is typically made from the peel, due to its high antioxidant and punicalagin content.
Punicic Acid
Punicic acid, found in pomegranate seed oil, is the main fatty acid in the arils.
It’s a type of conjugated linoleic acid with potent biological effects.
Pomegranate has impressive anti-inflammatory effects
Chronic inflammation is one of the leading drivers of many serious diseases. This includes heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and even obesity.
Pomegranates have potent anti-inflammatory properties, which are largely mediated by the antioxidant properties of the punicalagins.
Pomegranate may lower blood pressure
Regular intake of pomegranate juice has been shown to lower blood pressure levels in as little as two weeks.
High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the leading drivers of heart attacks and strokes. In one study, people with hypertension had a significant reduction in blood pressure after consuming 5 ounces (150 ml) of pomegranate juice daily for two weeks.
Pomegranate can help fight bacterial and fungal infections
The plant compounds in a pomegranate can help fight harmful microorganisms.
For example, they have been shown to combat some types of bacteria as well as the yeast Candida albicans. The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects may also be protective against infections and inflammation in your mouth. This includes conditions like gingivitis, periodontitis and denture stomatitis
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