Pomegranates are rich in various vitamins and minerals, which have a good effect on your health. In addition, they also contain polyphenols and flavonoids, which have powerful antioxidant effects. The substances found in pomegranates can not only resist ultraviolet rays, scavenge free radicals, and keep skin young, but they also help protect the eyes. In recent years, women who are fond of beauty treatments have been flocking to pomegranate juice, hoping to benefit from its anti-aging and skin-whitening properties.
Benefits of pomegranates
1. Anti-aging
Pomegranates are rich in vitamin C and other nutrients, including ellagic acid, anthocyanins, and flavonoids. These are super antioxidants that can help remove free radicals from the body and prevent them from damaging cells.
Eating pomegranates regularly can enhance the skin’s antioxidant capacity, strengthen the skin’s ability to resist ultraviolet rays, and effectively slow down aging.
2. Lower blood pressure
Pomegranate juice is rich in tannins, which have anti-atherosclerotic, anti-aging, and potent antioxidant properties. Studies have shown that drinking pomegranate juice can lower blood pressure and help maintain cardiovascular health.
3. Prevent breast cancer
The compounds found in pomegranates can inhibit the secretion of estrogen in women. Estrogen is likely to stimulate the proliferation of tumor cells in breast cancer. Some polyphenols in pomegranates can block the activity of aromatase, an enzyme involved in the synthesis of estrogen.
4. Maintain heart health
Pomegranate extract may help maintain heart health by being anti-inflammatory and fighting the buildup of plaque in the arteries (atherosclerosis). According to a report of research conducted on laboratory mice published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, drinking pomegranate juice for 2 weeks can increase the activity of the antioxidant enzyme paraoxonase by 20 percent, reduce the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and help prevent heart disease and arteriosclerosis.
5. Reduce inflammation
Phenolic compounds in pomegranates, called punicalagins, have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Drinking pomegranate juice may also reduce inflammation in people with diabetes.
6. Prevent brain function decline
Pomegranates contain ellagitannins, compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. A Polish study showed that ellagitannins reduce oxidative damage and protect the nerves in the brain, helping to prevent Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
7. Reduce menopausal symptoms
Studies have found that pomegranates are rich in phytoestrogens, which can help prevent and regulate perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms in women before and after menopause, such as osteoporosis.
8. Antibacterial
A 2011 study published in the Ayurvedic journal Ancient Science of Life found that pomegranates contain compounds that help eliminate certain microorganisms, including bacteria, yeast, and fungi. These compounds help remove microbes that cause bad breath and tooth decay.
9. Inhibit kidney stone formation
Studies have shown that pomegranate extract can reduce kidney stones. American urology researchers found that taking 1,000 mg of pomegranate extract for 90 days inhibited stone formation.
How to choose fresh pomegranates
When selecting pomegranates, choose those with bright and colorful skin, and pay attention to whether the skin is shriveled, cracked, or bruised. If there is a white powdery substance at the crown, this indicates that the pomegranate has deteriorated and should be avoided.
The larger the fruit, the more pulp it has; the heavier the fruit, the more juice it contains. The skin of fresh pomegranate should be thin and elastic, and the crown at the bottom of the fruit should be moderately hard.
How to easily peel a pomegranate
- Wash the pomegranate and pat dry.
- Hold the bottom of the pomegranate and use a small knife to make a circle around the top — do not cut too deep.
- Lift off the top and cut vertically along the white membrane of the pomegranate.
- Gently twist the pomegranate and it will automatically divide into 4 sections.
- Put the pomegranate seeds into a container, clean with water, remove the floating white membrane and skin, and pour off the water to get clean pomegranates.
Translated by Patty Zhang
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