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3 Top Health Benefits Of Pomegranates + How To Eat More Of Them
Pomegranate is chock-full of valuable nutritional substances like hydrolyzable tannins, flavonols, anthocyanins, and phenolic and organic acids. These compounds have been shown to have numerous health benefits in research, and they can be protective against certain metabolic conditions and diseases1.
Here's a peek at some vibrant fall fruit's most notable benefits and how to make the most of them this season.
A dietitian's take on the top health benefits of pomegranates:
They're great for gut support.
One of the most important health-related functions2 of the pomegranate is its effect on gut microbiota and its potential use as an antimicrobial agent.
Pomegranate increases the gut bacteria 3Akkermansia muciniphila3 in the stool. Akkermansia is a gut-friendly bacteria that can help protect us against diabetes development, inflammation, and metabolic disorders. Additionally, fiber from pomegranate seeds contributes to gut health by serving as a prebiotic (food for prebiotic, live gut-friendly bacteria) and providing the necessary bulk to keep bowel movements regular and optimize digestive health.
They're loaded with health-protective flavonoids.
Anthocyanins4 in the pomegranate play a major role as a functional food component. Anthocyanins have been studied for their numerous effects on health, such as their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative properties5, meaning that they can contribute to the prevention of several diseases6 and reduce signs of premature aging.
These water-soluble plant pigments belong to the family of flavonoids and are responsible for the color of the fruit and its juice. The darker the fruit, the higher the amount of anthocyanins present!
Pro shopping tip:
Their juice is great for antioxidants on the go.
My favorite ways to eat them.
There are many tasty ways to enjoy pomegranate's perks: I like to sprinkle their seeds on salads, plain yogurt, and smoothies for extra fiber and a pop of color and crunch.
Another delicious (and convenient!) way to consume pomegranates is by drinking pomegranate juice. The key here is to dilute it with water (1:1 ratio) to prevent a blood sugar crash. You can also mix your juice with club soda to turn it into a refreshing spritzer. I specifically like POM Wonderful's pomegranate juice because there is 700 mg of polyphenol antioxidants in every 8 ounces.
I'll also add pomegranate juice to a salad dressing during the offseason. My favorite Zesty Pomegranate Vinaigrette Dressing is inspired by Dan Buettner and his research on the world's longevity Blue Zones—many of which prize the functional fruit.
One of my favorite Georgian cuisines boasts a variety of recipes using pomegranates for meat marinades and meals like eggplant rolls with walnuts and pomegranate, roasted pomegranate salmon, and pomegranate chicken (yum).
The takeaway.
Pomegranates are a super-healthy fruit, and their bioavailable constituents and metabolites have a beneficial effect on gene expression. Translation: They're definitely a superfood that I recommend adding to your routine in one way or another this season.
7 Sources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7074153/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4007340/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4856456/
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2019.00620/full
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17966977/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8308553/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15158307?dopt=Abstract
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