Pomegranates:  Fruits of Paradise

Pomegranates are a glorious red berry fruit that are very rich in natural healing agents with great medicinal properties.  They are among the healthiest fruits on earth. They contain a range of beneficial plant compounds, unrivaled by other foods. Everything created by God is good. It is understood to be the fruit that grew in the Garden of Eden and which was one of the fruits brought to Moses to show the fertility of the Promised Land. The Greeks called pomegranates the “fruit of the dead,” relating to the story of Hades tricking Persephone into eating its seeds in order to keep her as his wife. Ancient Egyptians saw the pomegranate as a symbol of prosperity and ambition. In Judaism, it symbolises fruitfulness, and in Hinduism it represents prosperity and fertility.
Could this be the reason behind this great fruit, with exceptional healing properties?
Pomegranates are considered as the ‘fruits of paradise’ in ancient cultures. It’s not only their unique combination of crunchiness and juiciness but also their nutritional value that makes them so tempting and irresistible. Traditionally, pomegranates are known as a symbol of health, and are known for their use as a natural remedy.

Pomegranates are packed with goodness
The pomegranate is known as a superfood. Its jewel-like seeds are called arils have been used for medicinal purposes. Packed with powerful antioxidants and vitamins, this ruby-red fruit has been shown to be an all cure for just about any ailment. It is a fruit that contains hundreds of edible seeds called arils. They are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and bioactive plant compounds, but they also contain some sugar.
Sure, like strawberries, they’re a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants, not to mention fiber and anti-inflammatory properties — but more than that, studies show eating the fruit and/or drinking pomegranate juice can help protect against disease, like certain cancers and Alzheimer’s. It has powerful anti inflammatory effect, which works against chronic inflammation, that is the driver for any killer diseases, this includes heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and even obesity.

• It helps stomach upsets,
• menopausal hot flashes,
• hemorrhoids,
• conjunctivitis,
• osteoarthritis,
•  lowers blood pressure,
• stimulates the immune system,
• wards off the flu,
•  reduces inflammation,
• reduces risk of heart disease and
• lowers cholesterol.
• Helps increase memory
• Improves exercise performance.

The peel: is good for the heart and blood vessels;
The white membrane: is good for stopping diarrhea and good for wounds and ulcers of the mouth and throat.
The fruit: also strengthens the brain, cleanses the body and blood from toxins, and is very good at expelling worms from the intestines.
So is there anything that this miracle fruit cannot do? Absolutely nothing.

Great Taste
Pomegranates taste great , despite their bitter peel, that also gives a purple stain to your hands.  But crack open this pink-red-purplish fruit and dig in. A bit tart but sweet too, pomegranates are a tasty and nutritious snack. And if you’re not a fan of purple-tinged fingers, it can also be enjoyed as fresh juice or pomegranate ice cream.

Health Benefits
Lower blood pressure: Pomegranates help lower blood pressure . Punicic acid is one of the main constituents of pomegranates that help lower cholesterol, triglycerides and reduce blood pressure. Study has shown that pomegranate components reduce risk factors for heart disease, in  diabetic patients  and high LDL levels of the blood.
Keeps your youthful looks: Ever wondered why we grow old and our skin develops wrinkles and other signs of ageing? Well, it is because of free radical damage that affects your cells. Polyphenolic compounds in pomegranates are powerful antioxidants that can delay the process of ageing. Therefore, eating pomegranate keeps your skin glowing and radiant for a long time.
Boost your libido: Since ancient times, pomegranates have been considered as a symbol of fertility. Research has shown that a glass of pomegranate juice boosts testosterone levels in both men and women. This property makes natural aphrodisiac that is great for your sex life. Also, studies suggest that pomegranates contain certain compounds that are similar to sex steroids found in the human system, explaining why it improves sex stamina and desires.
Erectile dysfunction :  Oxidative damage can impair blood flow in all areas of the body, including erectile tissue. Pomegranate juice has been shown to be beneficial in increasing blood flow and erectile response, in a study in animals.  In a study of 53 men with erectile dysfunction, pomegranate appeared to have some benefit, but it was not statistically significant. Pomegranate juice has been linked to reduced symptoms of erectile dysfunction, even though more research is needed.
Prevention and treatment of cancer: It has been found to help prevent and treat several forms of cancers like, prostate, skin, lung, breast cancers. This property of the delicious fruits is also attributed to the presence of polyphenol antioxidants in them. Studies have shown that pomegranate juice can inhibit the growth of tumour cells and induce natural death in them.
Works against prostate cancer :  Certain compounds in pomegranates have an anti-inflammatory ability that also contributes to its anti-cancer property. Components in pomegranate juice help prevent prostate cancer metastasis. Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men.
Laboratory studies have shown that pomegranate extract can slow down cancer cell reproduction, and even induce apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells . The PSA (prostate specific antigen) is a blood marker for prostate cancer. Men whose PSA levels double in a short period of time are at increased risk of death from prostate cancer.
Interestingly, a human study found that 237 ml (8 oz) of pomegranate juice per day increased the PSA doubling time from 15 months to 54 months. There is preliminary evidence that pomegranate juice can be useful in men with prostate cancer, potentially inhibiting cancer growth and lowering the risk of death.
Prevention of heart disease; Pomegranates are loaded with polyphenols that have powerful antioxidant properties. These prevent free radical damage of the walls of arteries, thus preventing heart disease. They also prevent oxidation of cholesterol, which causes plaque formation and development of coronary artery disease.
Lowers stress levels: Apart from reducing the body’s internal oxidative stress, pomegranates also help lower psychological stress that you go through your personal and professional life. People who drank pomegranate juice had lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that is increased under stressful situations.
Boost immunity: Being rich in anti-inflammatory compounds, pomegranates are extremely healthy for those suffering from immune-related disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and osteroarthrits. They are also rich in vitamin C, which boosts antibody production and development of immunity. Pomegranates can thus help you maintain a healthy immune system and ward off common illnesses and infections.
Prevents formation of plaque: pomegranate juice can be a better option than alcohol  containing mouth washes which most people use.  Certain compounds in pomegranate exhibit strong antiplaque effects. Hydroalcoholic extract of pomegranate effectively lowered dental plaque formation due to microorganisms build up by almost 84%.
Fights against Fungal and Bacterial infections : For example, they have been shown to be beneficial against some types of bacteria, as well as the yeast Candida albicans. The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects may also be protective against infections and inflammation in the mouth. This includes conditions like gingivitis, periodontitis and denture stomatitis . Pomegranate has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, which may be useful against common diseases of the gums.
Aids digestion: To keep your digestive system healthy, you need to include fibre-rich sources in your diet. However, our busy lifestyle and personal liking for junk food have deprived us of the goodness of fibre in fruits and vegetables. Eating a pomegranate every day is a good way to add fibre to your daily diet. One pomegranate can fulfil about 45% of your daily recommended intake of fibre, which is about 20 to 35.
This miracle fruit, has an impeccable power to help with your health all round. The antioxidants found in pomegranate juice may be especially beneficial to diabetic patients. Drinking pomegranate juice reduced the uptake of oxidised “bad” LDL cholesterol by immune cells, which is a major contributing factor to atherosclerosis. “Pomegranate at low dosages is also good for diabetics as the pomegranate sugar is not free (and harmful) but it is attached to the pomegranate’s unique phenolic antioxidants.”