Did you know that a glass of pomegranate juice has more antioxidants than cranberries, red wine and green tea?
Categorized as a berry, pomegranate is a round, red fruit that looks like a small apple but with a flower-shaped stem. The flavonoid anthocyanin is responsible for its red skin and juice color. Pomegranate is composed of the pericarp or the peel which is thick and inedible, the seeds, and the aril or the outer layer that surrounds the seeds. The arils and the crunchy seeds are the edible portions of a pomegranate.
Pomegranate is a Middle Eastern superfruit that is nutrient-dense. Known as the “fruit of paradise” in ancient cultures, pomegranate is traditionally considered as a symbol of health. Several herbal medicinal and Ayurvedic scriptures mention the use of this fruit as a natural medicine. Pomegranates are indeed packed with antioxidants, fiber, vitamins A, C, K and E, and iron. This fruit has high levels of flavonoids and polyphenols which are potent phytochemicals that act as antioxidants that protect your cells from free radical damage. Bet you didn’t know that there are 122 phytochemicals identified in pomegranate.
Scientific studies have already proven the health claims made about pomegranate. Here are eight of the many proven health benefits of this superfruit. These should be enough to convince you that you should include this ruby-red jewel of a fruit in your diet.