Some of health benefits of pomegranates
Packed with a 100s of bright pinkish, tiny seeds, pomegranates are considered as the “fruits of paradise” in an ancient cultures. It is not only their exclusive combination of crunchiness & juiciness but also their dietetic value that makes them so tempting & appealing. Traditionally, pomegranates are known as symbol of health, with a several Ayurvedic & herbal medicinal scriptures mentioning their use as natural remedy. Here are the some health benefits of pomegranates one should include them in the diet.
Prevents heart disease:
Pomegranates are laden with polyphenols that have powerful anti – oxidant properties. Anti – oxidants prevents the free radical which damage the walls of arteries, Therefore preventing from heart diseases.
Lowers blood pressure:
Pomegranates help to lower the blood pressure by preventing the activity of serum angiotensin which is a converting enzyme. Punicic acid is one of main constituents of pomegranates that help to lower cholesterol, triglycerides & reduce the blood pressure.
Might help to prevent cancer:
From prostate cancer – breast cancer, lung cancer & skin cancer, pomegranates can help to prevent and can also treat several forms of cancer. This property of delicious fruits is also attributed to the presence of polyphenol anti – oxidants in them. pomegranate juice can restrain the growth of the tumour cells and encourage natural death in them. Certain compounds in the pomegranates have an anti inflammatory ability that also contributes to its anti cancer property.
Helps digestion:
To keep the digestive system healthy, we need to include fibre rich sources in the diet. Though, busy lifestyle & personal liking for junk food have depressed us of goodness of fibre in fruits & vegetables. Eating pomegranate every day is good way to add fibre to the daily diet. One pomegranate can fulfil about 45 percent of the daily recommended intake of fibre, which is about 20 – 35g.
Improves immunity:
Being rich in antiinflammatory compounds, pomegranates are an extremely healthy for those who are suffering from immune related disorders like rheumatoid arthritis & osteroarthrits. They are also rich in vitamin C, which enhances antibody production & development of immunity. Pomegranates can therefore help to maintain healthy immune system and stave of common illnesses & infections.
Keeps to looking younger:
Ever speculated why we grow old and our skin develops a wrinkles and other signs of ageing. Well, it is because of the free radical damage that affects the cells. Polyphenolic compounds in pomegranates are a powerful anti – oxidants that can delay the process of an aeging. Thus, eating pomegranate keeps the skin glowing and radiant for long time.
Prevents plaque formation:
If mouth wash to keep increase the oral health, pomegranate juice can be better option than mouth washes available at pharmacy stores. Certain compounds in pomegranate reveals strong anti – plaque effects.
Photo credit: sanpar32 / Foter / CC BY-ND
All of above discussed health benefits make pomegranate great addition to the diet. The fruit is a bit on expensive side but so much nutrition definitely makes it worth the price.