Known as a “superfood” or “nature’s power fruit”, pomegranate is the original native of Persia. It is a bright red fruit covered with a hard layer, which encloses into it numerous jewel-like seeds, called arils. It is considered as a lucky fruit in China, and Egyptians look upon this delight as the source of eternity, hence, they bury a pomegranate with the dead body.

However, besides being privileged, pomegranate is known to cure various health related concerns. Read the article below to discover the 15 health benefits of pomegranate.

15 Health Benefits of Pomegranate

1. Prevents the Risk of Cancer

Pomegranate contains high quantity of vitamin A, anti-oxidants, vitamin C and iron that combat the free radicals to stop them from causing damage to your cells. This goodness of pomegranate prevents cancer, especially breast cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer.

2. Prevents Heart Diseases

Anti-oxidants in pomegranates trim down the bad cholesterol, known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and increase the good cholesterol, known as high-density lipoprotein (HDL). This course of action makes our heart risk-free of any diseases. The juice of pomegranate induces the blood circulation and keeps the heart and body healthier.

3. Holds Back Osteoarthritis

If pomegranate is consumed on a daily basis, it will definitely give strength to the bones, thereby, preventing osteoarthritis.

4. Keeps the Arteries Healthy

Daily consumption of pomegranate removes the formation of plaque from the arteries and keeps them hale and hearty. It also put a stop to additional building up of plaques.

5. Normalizes the Blood Pressure

Everyday use of pomegranate can diminish the high blood pressure up to 5% and can also downsize the blood pressure fluctuations.

6. Prevents the Dental Plaque

To prevent dental plaque, the best remedy is to imbibe a glass of pomegranate on a regular basis.

7. Prevents Diarrhoea

Intake of pomegranate helps in preventing diarrhoea, as well.

8. Weight Control

Welcome this fruit in your daily diet and see the magic! You will not only turn pink, but will also shed off extra kilos from your body. It is a gunny bag of anti-oxidants that can aid you in controlling your increasing weight.

9. Prevents Cell Damage

The presence of anti-oxidants in pomegranate in generous quantity tussles against the free radicals, which more often attack the cells and injure them. Regularly consume the juice of pomegranate to keep away from those free radicals and make your body cells and tissues strong.

10. Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease

Pomegranate is also great in treating Alzheimer’s disease. If a person is already suffering from this disease; daily consumption of pomegranate will decelerate the ailment.  It also improves the patient’s analytical power, which helps him/her to carry out his/her daily activities actively and precisely.

11. Increases Appetite

Pomegranate also works as an appetite stimulant. Those children, who do not have a strong appetite, a glass of pomegranate juice can do wonder for them.

12. Boosts Digestive Condition

Pomegranate has proved to be an excellent laxative, as well. It contains various such enzymes that help in curing digestion, nausea, haemorrhoids, intestinal parasites, dysentery and piles.

13. Cures Anaemia

The liberal amount of iron in pomegranate increases the level of haemoglobin in the blood, and treats anaemia.

14. Reduces Inflammation

Pomegranate also contains anti-inflammatory properties due to its vitamin C contents. Because of being anti-inflammatory in nature, it treats sore throat, asthma, wheezing, and coughing.

15. Decreases the Risk of Impotency

The anti-oxidants present in the pomegranate decreases the risk of impotency or atherosclerosis.

The Best Ways to Buy Pomegranate

Now that we’ve shared the 15 health benefits of pomegranate, it’s time to focus on the best ways to purchase healthy and fresh pomegranate and some considerations to bear in mind when storing this nutritious fruit. 

The easiest way to search for a healthy pomegranate is to choose one that feels heavy when you pick it up and is hard on the outside. There shouldn’t be any cracks or bruises present, though don’t expect pure perfection. Consider the color, too. Opt for bright shades from pink to red. Most people use color to determine a fruit’s ripeness, although this isn’t the case with pomegranate. 

If you’ve ever tasted pomegranate, you’ve been blessed with its delicious juicy flavor. When purchasing a fresh pomegranate, search for the largest fruit you can find as this indicates more juice. 

Storing Pomegranate

The great feature of pomegranate is that it lasts for up to one week when kept out of the fridge. Alternatively, pomegranate can comfortably last up to two weeks if you keep it in the fridge. If you wish to remove the seeds, store them in an airtight container and store in the fridge, where they’ll last for around five days. You can also keep pomegranate seeds in the freezer for up to three months. 

Remove Seeds From a Pomegranate Easily

There’s no denying that pomegranate seeds are delicious and one of the most popular ways to consume this fruit. Buying seeds from a supermarket can be pricey, so here’s how to de-seed a pomegranate the easy way.

Begin by washing the fruit, as when you cut the pomegranate, you can spread bacteria from the exterior to the inside of the fruit. Then, slice the pomegranate in half, horizontally. Place the fruit over a bowl when your hand covering the interior.

Use a spoon to hit the top of the pomegranate. You’ll need to whack the fruit because gentle taps won’t release the seeds. Repeat this process until all the seeds all into the bowl, turning the fruit over to check its status. Repeat with the remaining piece of pomegranate. There might be some residue and pieces of skin in the bowl, but you can easily remove these with a spoon.