Friday Fruitism : Pomegranate

Pomegranate is a very colorful fruit and no one can detest its sweet juice. Who won’t love it? The ruby-colored seeds inside a pomegranate are a breathtaking sight. But, you do have to pick the really good one in order to like the fruit. Even though the fruit is so sweet whatever brand of juice that I used to buy was always bitter; maybe they didn’t get really ripe pomegranates. 

However, as always, eating the fruit is the better choice as it outshines the benefit of drinking its juice.

It is also known as Granada in Spanish and Grenade in French. It grows into a shrub or a small tree mostly in hot climate areas. The astonishing fact is that this tree can remain for many years. You really need not put much effort into the maintenance and care of the tree. The fruits are ripe when they have developed a distinctive color and make a metallic sound when tapped. The fruits must be picked before over maturity when they tend to crack open, particularly when rained on. The pomegranate is equal to the apple in having a long storage life. If kept under proper temperature, they remain for several months. The fruits improve in storage, becoming juicier and more flavorful.

In one pomegranate -

• there is around 100 calories and only about 25g of sugar
• provides lot of antioxidants and fiber (it contains three times more antioxidants than green tea or red wine)
• gives potassium, vitamins A, E, C and folic acid

Its advantages and benefits are innumerable:-

• Prevents heart disease and cholesterol
• Tones up your immune system
• Arteries are freed of build ups, hence reducing heart attack and strokes
• Works as a blood thinner improving blood flow to the heart
• Improves blood pressure levels
• Reduce diarrhea and some fevers
• Root bark treats intestinal parasites like tapeworm
• Prevents dental plaque
• Fights Osteoarthritis by rebuilding damaged cartilage

It also finds a place in making dye (flowers), tanning leather (rind) and preparing oil for beautiful skin (seeds). It has also been found fruitful in cancer treatments and prevention.

People dislike its seeds or the way we have to take away the seeds in order to eat it. Since it easily gets all our hands and we get irritated, we refrain from eating it. An easy way to let off the seeds is to cut the pomegranate into two or four, holding it skin upside seed downside with one hand and striking it with the holder of a knife (holding the knife reverse) or a wooden spatula. With regard to the white tissue in between the seeds, put them in water and the pith will separate out on its own, then the water can be drained off. Try it once!

Image Courtesy : life123.com