by Nutritionist Avril
"Pomegranates are abundant in dietary fibre and antioxidants," stated Penny Kris-Etherton of Penn State University in University Park, Pennsylvania. Pomegranates, sometimes known as "jewels of autumn," are a kind of fruit that originated in Iran and India. They are mostly found in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, South Asia, and areas of Arizona and California. Pomegranates have traditionally been connected with abundance, fertility, and good fortune.
Pomegranates are red fruits that are spherical in shape. They have white interior pulp that is thickly packed with crisp, juicy edible arils. They may be best known for the vibrantly coloured juice in which they are frequently used, but these unusual fruits have much more to offer. The pomegranate tree, which is claimed to have thrived in Garden of Eden, has long been utilised as a traditional medicine in many cultures. Pomegranates are worth including in your healthy eating regimen since they have the ability to enhance many aspects of health, from immunity to brain function.
Pomegranate contains a high concentration of antioxidants (tannins and anthocyanins), which are also anti-atherogenic. The combination of the pomegranate polyphenols listed above gives a considerably broader spectrum of activity against numerous types of free radicals. Indeed, pomegranate outperforms other antioxidants in shielding low-density lipoprotein (LDL, "bad cholesterol") and high-density lipoprotein (HDL, "good cholesterol") from oxidation, hence slowing the development of atherosclerosis and the subsequent cardiovascular events.
It is high in antioxidants, which are quite effective in protecting nitric oxide. Louis Ignarro and his study team investigated the effect of pomegranates on nitric oxide protection. They discovered that they are more antioxidant-rich than Concord grape juice, blueberry juice, red wine, Vitamin C, and dl-α-tocopherol. Pomegranate juice's antioxidant activity shown a unique protection of nitric oxide against oxidative degradation.
Pomegranate antioxidants are not unbound, but are bound to pomegranate sugars, and have thus been demonstrated to be useful even in diabetic people. Pomegranate antioxidants are also unique in their capacity to boost the activity of the HDL-associated paraoxonase 1 (PON1), which degrades toxic oxidised lipids in lipoproteins, macrophages, and atherosclerotic plaques. Moreover, pomegranate antioxidants help to lower blood pressure. Pomegranates are believed to lower blood pressure via lowering levels of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). ACE is a protein that helps to regulate blood pressure by managing the size of blood vessels in the body. All of the above health benefits combine to make the pomegranate a unique healthy fruit.
References:
- Panoff, L. (2022, February 23). 10 health benefits of pomegranate. Healthline. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-proven-benefits-of-pomegranate
- Just how healthy are pomegranates? www.heart.org. (2022, January 3). Retrieved January 2, 2023, from https://www.heart.org/en/news/2021/09/09/just-how-healthy-are-pomegranates
- Aviram, M., & Rosenblat, M. (2013). Pomegranate for your cardiovascular health. Rambam Maimonides medical journal, 4(2), e0013. https://doi.org/10.5041/RMMJ.10113
