Your brain, belly, and heart will thank you.
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you could think of pomegranates as natures jewels.
Poms are also precious for their numerous health benefits.
Photo:Adobe Stock
Here’s what you better know about the potential health benefits of these round, ruby-red fruits.
Not surprisingly, then, poms contain a multiplicity of these compounds known forquelling systemic inflammation.
Among them are ellagitannins, tannins, anthocyanins, and flavanols.
Whether you opt for the fruit or the juice, youll get plenty of inflammation-busting antioxidants.
Some research even shows that pomegranate juices antioxidant capacity is higher than that of red wine or green tea.
Adds Fiber to Your Diet
Not-so-fun factmost of us arent getting enoughfiber.
A half-cup serving of arils provides 3.5 grams of fiber.
Could Boost Heart Health
Turns out, these fruits have some heartwarming possibilities for cardiovascular health.
Feeds Gut Bacteria
You might associate pomegranate’s fiber with a healthy gutand youd be right.
But besides their fiber, the fruit’s antioxidants also promote a well-functioning GI tract.
May Improve Exercise Recovery
After a sweaty workout, its important toreplenish your carbohydrate and electrolyte stores.
A systematic review found that supplementing with pomegranate could have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects during and following exercise.
It also may improve cardiovascular responses during exercise, and enhance endurance, strength performance, and post-exercise recovery.
The same is actually true of those complex polyphenols, adds Berggren.
May Support Immune Health
Antioxidants are itty bitty heroes for the immune system.
Increased consumption of pomegranate polyphenols has been associated with reduced inflammatory markers in the bloodstream, says Berggren.
If you could use more, add some pomegranate or its juice to meals and snacks.
Supports Healthy Pregnancy
When youre expecting, many of your nutrient needs increase.
Among the most important vitamins to stock up on for a healthy pregnancy is folate.
Every little bit helpsbut dont forget totake your prenatal vitamin, too.
However, this research concluded that these effects come primarily from antioxidants in the fruits peel.
Still, pomegranate is known for preserving nitric oxide, a neurotransmitter involved in pain relief.
USDA, FoodData Central.Pomegranates, raw.
Zarfeshany A, Asgary S, Javanmard SH.Potent health effects of pomegranate.Adv Biomed Res.
2014 Mar 25;3:100. doi: 10.4103/2277-9175.129371.
Molani-Gol R, Foroumandi E, Alizadeh M, Kheirouri S.Pomegranate and cognitive performance: A systematic review.CPD.
2017;11(1):80-85. doi:10.1177/1559827615588079
American Heart Association.Sound the fiber alarm!
Most of us need more of it in our diet.
American Heart Association.Flavonoids are a flavorful way to boost heart and brain health.
2019;10:51. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00051
National Institutes of Health.Potassium.
Wald NJ.Folic acid and neural tube defects: Discovery, debate and the need for policy change.J Med Screen.
2011;25(3):243-254. doi:10.1016/j.niox.2011.06.004
