|
The Pomegranate (Punica
granatum) is a
fruit-bearing
deciduous
shrub or small
tree growing to 5–8 m tall. The pomegranate is
native from
Middle East to the Himalayas in northern
India and has been cultivated and naturalized over
the whole
Mediterranean region including
Armenia since ancient times. The tree was introduced into
California by Spanish settlers in 1769. In the United
States, it is grown for its fruits mainly in the drier
parts of California and Arizona.
Exodus chapter
28:33-34 directed that images of pomegranates be woven
onto the borders of Hebrew priestly robes. 1 Kings
chapter 7:13-22 describes pomegranates depicted in the
temple King Solomon built in Jerusalem. Jewish
tradition teaches that the pomegranate is a symbol for
righteousness, because it is said to have 613 seeds
which corresponds with the 613 mitzvot or commandments
of the Torah. For this reason and others many Jews eat
pomegranates on Rosh Hashanah.
Health benefits
One pomegranate delivers 40% of an adult's daily
vitamin C requirement. It is also a rich source of
folic acid and of
antioxidants. Pomegranates are high in
polyphenols. The most abundant polyphenols in
pomegranate are hydrolysable
tannins, particularly
punicalagins, which have been shown in many
peer-reviewed research publications to be the
antioxidant responsible for the
free-radical scavenging ability of pomegranate
juice.
Many food and
dietary supplement makers have found the
advantages of using pomegranate extracts (which have
no sugar, calories, or additives), instead of the
juice, as healthy ingredients in their products. Many
pomegranate extracts are essentially
ellagic acid, which is largely a by-product of the
juice extraction process. Ellagic acid has only been
shown in published studies to absorb into the body
when consumed as ellagitannins such as
punicalagins.
In several human clinical trials, the juice of the
pomegranate has been found effective in reducing
several heart risk factors, including
LDL oxidation,
macrophage oxidative status, and foam cell
formation, all of which are steps in
atherosclerosis and heart disease. Tannins have
been identified as the primary components responsible
for the reduction of oxidative states which lead to
these risk factors. Pomegranate has been shown to reduce systolic blood
pressure by inhibiting serum angiotension converting
enzyme (ACE).
Research suggests that pomegranate juice may be
effective against prostate cancer and osteoarthritis.
Wikipedia contributors. Pomegranate. Wikipedia, The
Free Encyclopedia. Available at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pomegranate&oldid=113510610.
Back to other fruits
Back to Product
Flavors
|
