The pomegranate is native to a region from modern-day Iran to northern India and they have been cultivated throughout the Middle East, South Asia, and Mediterranean region for several millennia. It is also cultivated in the Central Valley of California and in Arizona.
Pomegranates may have been domesticated as early as the fifth millennium BC as they were one of the first fruit trees to be domesticated in the eastern Mediterranean region.
For years, people have enjoyed the juicy tartness of the famous pomegranate, believing it to bode well for life and prosperity. Nowadays, researchers are unearthing more of the science behind the health benefits of pomegranates. The name pomegranate derives from medieval Latin pōmum apple and grānātum seeded.
In the last couple of decades, evidence of the fruit’s antioxidant, antifungal, anti-depressive and cancer-fighting properties has been mounting. Some researchers have learned of its power to boost memory, while others have reported on the relief it may provide to those who deal with arthritis and joint disorders.
Pomegranates, lemongrass and turmeric are often used by those who are looking for natural solutions to inflammation. In 2013, a team from Haifa, Israel, wrote an article on the use of pomegranates in improving heart health, due to their impressive multiple mechanisms of action.
In an extensive review of the literature, the scientists described how the fruit has long been used as traditional medicine. Its juice is full of antioxidants with high bioavailability, each of which directly impact on cardiovascular health.
Multiple studies were cited in reference to the fruit’s ability to address atherosclerosis, blood pressure and cholesterol.
What’s especially interesting about this fruit is that the antioxidants, for which it is known, are bound to its sugars. Some researchers are impressed with its three-tiered punch against diabetes: It is low in carbohydrates, has a low glycaemic load and helps with insulin sensitivity.
The popularity of pomegranates has grown as more is learned about the health benefits that may be realised from indulging in them. In India, where Ayurveda is practiced, all parts of the fruit, including the root and bark, have a medicinal purpose.
If you've never eaten a pomegranate before, you may be curious to know what part is actually edible, and what's not.
If you cut one in half, you'll find that it's filled with juice- filled seed sacs called arils, separated by thin white bitter membranes. Arils are the jewels of the pomegranate, and they're the part you'll want to enjoy.
Many people enjoy pomegranates as a snack, but you can also sprinkle the arils over salads or cooked dishes. Inside each aril is a crunchy, fibre-rich seed. While some people spit them out, you can eat them whole, seed and all.
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