Pomegranates .. the Super Food!

We have all heard of so called “super foods”. Well the” super food” that gets the most attention this time of year, is the pomegranate. A native fruit of Iran, pomegranates are now available year round, however are considered “in season” now until February.

The health benefits of pomegranates are constantly being researched. To date the list includes:

• Very high in antioxidants
• Lowering bad cholesterol and increasing good cholesterol
• Anti-inflammatory
• Reduce the incidence of skin and breast cancer
• Decrease blood pressure

Current studies on pomegranates are looking at the effect of this “super food” on diabetes, prostate cancer and various heart diseases.

To get the most out of your pomegranate it is best to consume either pomegranate juice or the whole fruit. Many people shy away from eating the pomegranate as extracting the seeds can be a messy and time consuming process. A quick and easy way to prepare a pomegranate is to cut off the crown and slice the fruit into sections. In a large bowl submerge the sections in water and gently pull the seeds away from the surrounding membrane. Seeds will sink to the bottom of the water leaving the membrane floating on top.

References from the SIRC Collection:
Food Focus: pomegranates. Webster, Sandy Todd, IDEA Fitness Journal Nov/Dec2010, Vol. 7 Issue 10, 57.

The Pomegranate. Samples, Evangeline Y., American Fitness Nov/Dec2009, Vol. 27 Issue 6, 66.

Pomegranate juice: a heart-healthy fruit juice. Arpita; Penugonda, Kavitha, Nutrition Reviews Jan2009, Vol. 67 Issue 1, 49.