Fall is here! Before you go all pumpkin crazy with your spices and lattes, don't forget that this time of the year is also prime time for pomegranates. This deep red fruit is in season from September through December, peaking in ripeness starting in October. This fruit is both aesthetically pleasing and fun to eat or juice with its sweet flavor and piles of shimmering red seeds. Pomegranates aren’t just a tasty seasonal treat- they’re also a reliable source of healthy nutrients and other health benefits! Read on as we break open the humble pomegranate and see what wellness secrets are hiding inside its tough shell.
Superfood
Not all heroes wear capes; some wear rinds. Pomegranates are a superfood: low in calories, high in revitalizing vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Crack open a pomegranate, feast upon its copious ruby red seeds, and fuel yourself with the following nutrients:
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Protein
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Folate
- Vitamin B5
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Phosphorus
- Manganese
Antioxidant Rich
Pomegranates are a fantastic source of antioxidants. Each fruit contains high amounts of polyphenol antioxidants called anthocyanins. These antioxidants give the fruit its brilliant red color. Indeed, you can actually gauge how antioxidant rich a pomegranate is by its hue: the redder the fruit, the higher the antioxidant content.
Antioxidants help slow down the aging process by attacking free radicals, which are unstable molecules in the body that can damage your DNA through a process called oxidative stress. This process can cause a breakdown of skin elasticity, disrupt our body’s ability to process protein, elevate our blood pressure, and can lead to chronic health issues and even cancer. Antioxidants work as a counter against oxidative stress, protecting your body from its corrosive effects.
Good For Your Heart
Pomegranates contain tannins, which can support your heart health. Tannins help stabilize the tissue that surrounds your heart and blocks the degradation of elastin, which supports the blood vessels in your heart. Tannins also reduce the buildup of calcium on the walls of your heart.
Pomegranates also can help prevent plaque from building up in your arteries. The fruit’s antioxidant properties reduce inflammation, which mitigates against coronary artery disease and high blood pressure.
Supports Urinary Health
Studies have found that pomegranates can also help reduce our risk of developing kidney stones. The nutrients we absorb through pomegranates help us regulate the calcium and phosphates in our blood, which are common components for the creation of kidney stones. Pomegranates also help support healthy kidney functioning and contain antimicrobial properties that can help fight off harmful microorganisms in your body.
Article by Austin Brietta
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