Can You Eat a Pomegranate Seed?
Considered “super foods” because of their healthy nutrient content, pomegranates are available mostly between the months of October and January. While cracking open a pomegranate to extract the seeds can be a time-consuming process, you can purchase and eat the seeds directly for a nutritious snack.
Daily Consumption of Pomegranates
Pomegranates are known for their deep red hue and distinctive shape, round with a crown at the top. This fruit looks like royalty, and in terms of health benefits, it is. It helps you reach your recommended daily fruit intake recommendations, set by the USDA -- 1.5 cups for women and 2 cups for men.
Known Allergic Reactions to Pomegranates
Pomegranates have an antioxidant content three times higher than either green tea or red wine, according to a study published in 2000 in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry." Along with other nutritional benefits, that study has contributed to the perception that pomegranate is a super fruit.
Are Pomegranates Good for Children?
The pomegranate is a fruit that is often known as a “superfood” thanks to its high antioxidant content. Originally native to Iran, the fruit is similar in dimension to a medium-sized orange, but has reddish-pink, leathery skin.
How to Use Dried Pomegranate
Dried pomegranate seeds, known as anardana, are used in a variety of ways. They are rich in vitamins C, K and 6. They also contain the minerals potassium and copper. You can purchase sun-dried anardana in packages much like you would sun-dried raisins or cranberries.
Pomegranate Vinegar Health Benefits
Both the seeds and the juice of pomegranates contain potassium, vitamins and three times the antioxidants of green tea.
The Disadvantages of Pomegranates
Pomegranates are sweet, juicy fruits native to northern India and Iran, although they are now cultivated in the Mediterranean, Malaysia and tropical regions of Africa. These fruits are about 5 inches in diameter, and have thick, leathery rinds that range from light pink to deep red in color.
The Health Benefits of Pomegranate Seeds
The name for the pomegranate fruit is derived from Latin and literally means "seeded apple." Only the seeds are edible and are found inside this large, hexagonal-shaped red fruit. An average pomegranate contains about 600 juicy seeds, also known as arils, which are encapsulated in white pith.
Health Benefits of Pomegranate Cherry Juice
Pomegranate and cherry juices have a number of health benefits to offer in addition to their great taste. Both cherry and pomegranate trees originated in Asia but are now found all over the world, with cherry trees growing in moderate temperate zones and pomegranates in the more tropical areas.
Health Benefits of Pomegranate Molasses
Pomegranates are a sweet fruit with a hint of tartness that originally grew in tropical Asia. Pomegranate molasses is a simple concoction of pomegranate juice, sugar and lemon juice. Therefore, you can get the same health benefits from pomegranate molasses as you can from pomegranate juice.
Growing Requirements for Pomegranate Trees
Pomegranates became wildly popular in the early to mid-2000s. They started showing up in large numbers in grocery stores, and pomegranate juices and syrups become widely available. Some of the fruit's popularity is probably due to its nutritional content.