Pomegranates or Anar is considered as the fruit of the paradise, in ancient culture. It’s not only on their unique combination of crunchiness and juices but also their nutritional values that makes them so tempting and irresistible. Traditional pomegranates are known as a symbol of life of health, with several Ayurvedic and herbal medicine and use as natural remedy.
Help in digestion
To keep our digestive system healthy, we need to include fiber rich source in our diet. However, our busy life style and personal linkage for junk food have deprived us of the goodness of fiber in fruits and vegetables. Eating pomegranates every day is a good way to add fiber to our daily diet. One pomegranate can fulfill about 45% of daily recommended intake of fiber, which is about 20 to 35g.
Boost immunity
Being rich in anti inflammatory compounds, pomegranates are extremely healthy for those suffering from immune-related disorder like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. They are also rich in vitamin C, which boost antibody production and development of immunity. Pomegranate can thus help you maintain a healthy immune system and to save of common illnesses and infections.
Increase libido
Since ancient time pomegranate has been consider as symbol of fertility. According to research conducted by the researcher of Queen Margaret University, a glass of pomegranate juice boost testosterone levels in both men and women. This property makes natural aphrodisiac that is great for sex life. Also studies show that pomegranate contain certain compound that are similar to sex steroids in the human system.
Keep you younger
Ever wonder why we grow old and our skin develops wrinkled and other signs of aging? Well, it is because of free radical damage that affects your cells. Polyphenolic compound in pomegranate is powerful antioxidant that can delay the process of ageing. Therefore eating pomegranate keep your skin glowing and radiant for long time.
Prevent heart diseases
Pomegranates are loaded with polyphenols that have powerful antioxidant properties antioxidant prevent free radical damage of the walls of arteries thus preventing heart diseases. They also prevent oxidation of cholesterol, which cause plaque formation and development of coronary artery disease.
Lower blood pressure
Pomegranate helps lower blood pressure by preventing the activity of serum angiotension-converting enzyme. Punicic acid is the one of the main constituent of pomegranate that helps lower cholesterol, triglycerides and reduces blood pressure. A study has shown that pomegranate component reduced the risk factor for heart disease in patients with diabetes and high LDL level of blood.
May help to prevent cancer
From prostate cancer to breast cancer, lung cancer and skin cancer, pomegranate help to prevent and treat several forms of cancer .this properties of delicious fruit is also attributing to the presence polyphenol antioxidants in them. Studies have shown that pomegranate juices can inhibit the growth of tumor cells, certain compound in pomegranate have anti inflammatory ability that also contribute to its anti cancer properties.
Lowe stress level
Apart from reducing the body internal oxidative stress, pomegranate also help lower psychological stress that you go through your personal and professional life .according to study conducted by queen Margaret university, who drank pomegranate juices had lower level of cortisol, a stress hormones that increase under stressful situations.
Prevent plaque formation
If you mouth wash to keep improve your oral health, pomegranate juices can be a better option than alcohol containing mouth washes available at pharmacy store. Certain compound in pomegranate exhibit strong anti plaque effects. A study show that hydroalcholic extract of pomegranate effectively dental plaque due to microorganism build up by almost 84%
All of these benefits make pomegranate a great addition to your diet .The fruit is bit expensive side but so much nutrition definitely make it worth the price.
Muhammad Mohsin Raza*1, Malik Muhammad yousaf1, Samiullah2, Bashir Ahmad1,Mumtaz hussain1, Muhammad Jahangir shah1,Muhamad zeshan1,usman ali1, Muhammad Hammad fayyaz1, Ehsan Raza Asif3,H.Muhammed Bilal3
1 Pakistan Agriculture Research council Arid Zone research institute Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
2 Department of agronomy University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan.
3 Institute of soil and environmental Sciences University of agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan.