POMEGRANATE
HEALTH FACTS:
THE PERFECT SUPERFOOD
A Personal Letter from Drs. Brenda and Erik Slovin…
Pomegranates
– A Rich Source Of Food Value
The exotic
red pomegranate, fondly called the "jewel of winter," is quickly
becoming a sought-after delicacy, not only for its wonderful tangy zing
of flavor, but also for its remarkable health benefits. Pomegranates offer
amazing food value, providing substantial amounts of potassium, Vitamin
C and niacin, and are naturally high in fiber. This scarlet-red jewel
is also a potent source of disease-fighting antioxidants, with its juice
containing almost three times the total antioxidant ability of the same
quantity of green tea or red wine. The pomegranate’s powerful food
value and incredible health benefits combine to make this nutritional
jewel the perfect superfood.
Antioxidants
And Free Radicals
Just like
rust on a car, oxidation can damage cells and may contribute to premature
aging. Each and every day, our bodies are bombarded by the damaging oxidative
effects of free radicals created through our normal metabolic functions.
Free radicals
are atoms formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. Once formed,
these highly reactive radicals can start a chain reaction, sort of like
dominoes. Their chief danger comes from the damage they can do when they
react with important cellular components such as DNA or the cell membrane.
Cells may function poorly or even die if this occurs. Free radical oxidation
is also responsible for the effects of premature aging, making your skin
appear dull, mottled and wrinkled.
To prevent
free radical damage, the body utilizes a natural defense system of antioxidants.
Antioxidants help prevent harmful oxidation, and even help increase immune
function and cellular health. Antioxidants are also an effective prevention
against aging, and with pomegranates chock-full of antioxidants, they
skyrocket right to the top of our “favorite fruit” list!
Pomegranates Lower Cholesterol
Free radical
oxidation alters cholesterol and speeds up hardening of the arteries.
Recent research has revealed that pomegranate juice lowers cholesterol,
slowing down cholesterol oxidation by almost half. Amazingly, this hardy,
ancient fruit also reduces the amount of LDL or “bad” cholesterol
that your body retains. This is fantastic news, considering that these
LDL fatty deposits narrow the arteries and are a leading cause of heart
disease.
If you are
among the thousands of Americans who suffer from high cholesterol or associated
chronic heart disease, pomegranates definitely need to be a regular part
of your diet. Just one glass of pomegranate juice each day has been shown
to not only keep your arteries free and clear of plaque, it also helps
support healthy blood flow to your heart.
Pomegranates And Prostate Cancer
A pomegranate
a day may help keep prostate cancer away. Recent research has linked antioxidant-rich
pomegranates and potent prostate cancer fighting properties. This landmark
research provides incredibly important health news, as prostate cancer
is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the
United States as well as many other Western countries.
The healthful
properties of pomegranates seem to be equally beneficial, whether you
choose to enjoy eating its luscious fresh fruit or drinking it as a tasty,
refreshing fruit juice.
Make
Your Own Pomegranate Juice – You Can Do It!
Pomegranate
juice can be purchased at your local grocery store, but many people prefer
their fruit juices to be fresh and prepared at home. So how do you make
pomegranate juice?
Inside these
round leathery fruits are beautiful, edible seeds nestled in tiny juice
sacs. First, remove these little juice sacs by slicing the crown-end off
and then gently scoring the rind vertically in several places. Do this
from the top to the bottom of the fruit. Next, place the pomegranate in
a bowl of fresh water. Carefully break the sections apart, gently prying
the red seeds from the spongy white membrane. When you have broken the
seeds free, you will notice that the seeds sink to the bottom of the bowl,
while the rind and membranes float to the top. Simply drain the water,
rind and membranes out of the bowl, and collect the seeds in a colander.
To make pomegranate
juice, place the seeds in a food processor or blender and process them
until a juice is formed. Strain the seeds out of the juice using a fine-mesh
sieve or a strainer, and you are ready to enjoy all the wonderful health
benefits the “jewel of winter” has to offer.
More
Fascinating Pomegranate Health Facts
The fruit
of pomegranates has long been used in folk medicine in the Middle East,
Iran and India. Healers have used the bark, leaves, skin and rind as well
as the edible bits of the fruit to cure everything from conjunctivitis
to hemorrhoids.
For centuries,
these native healers have use boiled pomegranate rind to soothe sore throats,
and even claim that they can reverse baldness by massaging a paste of
the leaves into the scalp.
Greek tradition
calls for a pomegranate to be broken at weddings as a symbol of fertility.
And in China, a sugared version of the pomegranate seed is eaten on the
wedding day to bless the newlyweds.
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Slovin Family Chiropractic Center
205 Main Avenue, Norwalk CT, 06851
Phone: 203-840-0000
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