10 Impressive Health Benefits of Pomegranate
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Pomegranate is a round, red fruit, packed with luscious, unique, sweet-tart flavored, ruby red arils. It looks like an apple but cannot be eaten straight away.
The feathered crunchy arils are to be gently taken away to consume and reap the health benefits. The fruits give you the right nutritional value when consumed as a fruit itself rather than drinking juice out of them.
It has been proven that the ones who consume fruits and healthy foods develop abilities to fight diseases than the ones who don't. Packed with nutrients, low in calories and fat, high in fiber, minerals, and vitamins, pomegranate has a lot of benefits to offer. Some impressive health benefits of pomegranate have been elaborated below.
1. Powerhouse of Antioxidants
Pomegranate is a prime example of a nutritious fruit. It is a great source of antioxidants like any other fruit. Antioxidants are essential as they look for free radicals and help reduce the damage caused by oxidative stress. A diet rich in antioxidants is essential to prevent the risk of any diseases.
Rich in antioxidants and polyphenolic compounds, like anthocyanins, hydrolyzable tannins, etc., pomegranates help prevent various chronic diseases. Anthocyanins also help in lowering blood pressure and inhibit the growth of cancer cells. The deeper the color of the fruit, the more the antioxidants and it's no surprise for the pomegranates.
2. Keeps Inflammation at Edge
Chronic inflammation leads to numerous health diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, etc. Pomegranates are rich in antioxidants, and the consumption of pomegranates helps keep inflammation at bay. Having pomegranate reduces the markers of inflammation such as C-reactive protein, and Interlukin-6 too.
Pomegranate has a compound called punicalagins which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that antioxidants such as punicalagin in pomegranate help reduce inflammatory reciprocations in gastrointestinal tracts, plus breast and colon cancer cells. If you are willing to reduce inflammation in your body, adding pomegranate to your diet is a great choice.
3. Protects Heart Health
Having a properly functioning heart is essential for a healthy life. Hence, you ought to take care of your heart. When you have a healthy lifestyle, you have a healthy heart. So, make sure you are on a healthy diet.
One of the nutritional diets you can have to protect your heart is pomegranate. The presence of antioxidants and punicic acid, a fatty acid in pomegranate helps protect against various steps leading to cardiovascular diseases. Consumption of pomegranate is also said to lower cholesterol and maintain blood pressure, both the causes of heart diseases. Thus, if you want to have a sound heart and prevent any heart diseases, it will be beneficial to add pomegranate to your diet.
4. Aids Kidney Health
Healthy kidneys are essential to manage the body's wastes. About a half cup of blood is filtered by healthy kidneys which removes wastes and extra water to make urine. There are certain compounds in pomegranate that help prevent kidney stones.
According to various studies, pomegranate consumption resists the mechanism related to stone formation in people who suffer from recurring kidney stones. Pomegranate arils also help in regulating the concentration of oxalates, calcium, and phosphates in the blood which leads to the composition of kidney stones. Thus, if you want to prevent kidney stones and have sound urine health, make sure to add pomegranate to your diet.
5. Benefits Skin
Without any doubt, pomegranates are a rich source of antioxidants. Besides that, it also has anti-aging properties. From oily skin to acne-prone ones, pomegranate does great for all. Also, with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and minerals, it helps in the reduction of pigmentation and sunspots. Vitamin C in pomegranate provides radiance and improves skin tone.
Consumption of pomegranate helps protect your skin from the sun's harmful UV rays and detoxifies the skin too. On top, pomegranate consumption promotes collagen production leading to reduced fine lines and wrinkles. So, make pomegranate a part of your daily diet and achieve glowing skin.
6. Improves Stamina
The availability of antioxidants and micronutrients in pomegranate helps improve body stamina. The antioxidants in the fruit prevent the breaking down and increase the nitric oxide bioavailability in the body. Nitric oxide is essential as it helps our body get the required oxygen and nutrients during exercise.
Nitric oxide also improves the blood flow during heavy movements in the body. It does so by widening the blood vessels. Studies show that consumption of pomegranate helps expedite the recovery from exercise and enhance athletic performance. Likewise, pomegranate consumption pushes the exhaustion time and improves sports performance and physical exercises.
7. Aids Digestive Health
For a good, fresh day, having sound gut health is essential. To prevent yourself from any digestive symptoms, make sure to add pomegranate to your diet. Nutrient-packed ruby-red arils are more beneficial than you imagine.
According to research, pomegranates have effective prebiotics, an important player in digestive health. Prebiotics increase the level of beneficial gut bacteria and support a healthier gut microbiome. In addition, dietary fiber in pomegranate helps have a healthy digestive tract saving the body from digestive conditions. The owner of good fiber, pomegranate consumption helps lower the bad cholesterol. So, add pomegranate to your diet, and have a healthy digestive system.
8. Protects Brain Health
We all want to live a disease-free life. In order to have that make sure you have plenty of fruits and foods with higher nutritional value. The brain is the most important part of the human body. To keep it intact, make sure to add pomegranate to your diet.
Rich in antioxidants and various nutrients, pomegranate has been studied to have an antioxidant known as ellagitannins. Ellagitannins help reduce inflammation in the body and also help protect the brain against different diseases. The antioxidant helps increase the survival of brain cells by decreasing oxidative damage. With damages in control, we are safe from different diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
9. Benefits Prostate Health
In addition to the numerous benefits pomegranate has to offer, protecting prostate health is one of them. The presence of antioxidants and compounds in pomegranate hinders the growth of cancerous cells.
Studies suggest including pomegranate in a healthy plant-based diet for its various health benefits. Compounds in pomegranate weaken the attraction of cancer cells to a chemical signal that causes cancer. According to various studies, not just the arils and the juice, the pomegranate peel's extracts also have anti-cancer properties. The peel extracts can also be used for medicinal purposes. Thus, protect prostate health by adding pomegranate to your diet.
10. For Arthritis and Joints Pain
With long-hour sitting or standing jobs, joint pains have become common these days. As people age, the pain increases. To reduce or treat joint pains and arthritis, adding pomegranate to your diet will be beneficial. Nutrient-rich pomegranate helps to ease the pain.
Out of various forms of arthritis, inflammation in the joints is one of them. The anti-inflammatory properties of plant compounds in pomegranate help treat arthritis and joint pain. According to the studies, pomegranate extracts block enzymes that cause joint pain in people with osteoarthritis. Pomegranates are rich in vitamin C and help boost immunity, helping us fight different diseases and infections. Hence, consume pomegranate and reap the utmost benefit it has to offer.
Nutritional Composition of Pomegranate
A powerhouse of nutrients, antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and more, pomegranate has much to offer. Some of the nutritional value in 1 pomegranate (4" dia), (282 g) are mentioned below:
- Protein: 4.71 g
- Fat: 3.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 52.7 g
- Fiber: 11.3 g
- Vitamin C: 28.8 mg
- Folate: 107 mg
- Magnesium: 33.8 mg
- Phosphorus: 102 mg
- Potassium: 666 mg
Besides the mentioned nutritional value, there are many more that a pomegranate serves. Adding a pomegranate to your diet will aid you with benefits only. Hence, reap the benefits of pomegranate by adding it to your diet right away.
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