Pomegranate

Pomegranate has been domesticated and cultivated in India, Pakistan and Iran since ancient times. Because they are part of the global fruit industry and have extraordinary nutritional qualities they are called superfruits. The bright red flowers, the medium height of the tree and the beautiful tasty fruits make the plant easy to adapt even in a home. The fruit is medium sized (6-12 cm in diameter), the skin is red and the seeds have a purple color and they are called arils. A fruit can bear approximately 600 arils which are edible.

Pomegranate is mentioned in the Bible as one of the seven fruits that Israel has been blessed with and it is not far from truth as nowadays its health benefits and culinary uses are extremely appreciated.

Depending on the variety of pomegranate, the fruit may vary from sour to sweet, due to the different quantities of tannins. It is considered a luxury ingredient in many dishes as well as the pomegranate wine. Their nutritious qualities consist in the large amount of vitamin C, B and pantothenic acid, potassium and antioxidant polyphenols. In preliminary laboratory research, pomegranate juice is known to reduce heart disease, atherosclerosis and many cardiovascular diseases.

 Encouraging news is that there has been proven that consumption of such fruits leads to the decrease of prostate cancer and osteoporosis risk, while the dental plaque is highly protected against bacteria and viral factors by the substances present in pomegranate arils.