benefits of pomegranate

pomegranate

The pomegranate, known as the “Punica granatum”, is a 1.5 meter long shrub or small tree with a height of 3-5 meters, with a curved trunk and branches. Its native habitat is Asia. It is now spread throughout the Mediterranean basin, , South Africa, the Near East, South Asia, China, Australia, the United States of America and South America. Many pomegranate parts and their fruit are used for therapeutic purposes And is cultivated in arid regions because of its ability to adapt to difficult climatic conditions. Pomegranate occupies a special place among Muslims because it is mentioned in the Holy Quran. It is mentioned that pomegranate is one of the fruits in Paradise. .

The fruit of pomegranate is characterized by its distinctive taste and color, which adds a delicious form of food and juices, and be careful to eat pomegranate or drink natural juice 100% and avoid buying products containing pigments, sugar and flavors to ensure the benefits , Since it is considered a safe food , And in this article we will talk about the fruit of pomegranate and its health benefits.

Nutritional composition and active ingredients in pomegranate

The following table represents the installation of 100 g of the edible part of pomegranate:

Pomegranate contains many phytochemical compounds known as Phytochemicals, which carry many therapeutic properties , As the chemical composition of pomegranate juice includes fructose, sucrose, glucose, and some organic acids such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid, phyomaric, and malic, in addition to simple amounts of all amino acids, especially proline, methionine, A rich source of polyphenols, specifically Tannins and Flavonoids, and its therapeutic properties, while its white seed contains rich oil with Punicicacid and some plant estrogen compounds that are very similar to the steroids in the body San .

Health benefits of pomegranate

Pomegranate intake provides many health benefits to the human body. These benefits include:

• Antioxidant activity : Pomegranate contains antioxidants that have antioxidant activity three times higher than that of green tea extract. Antioxidants fight cancer, heart disease, arteries, inflammatory diseases, etc. It has been found that pomegranate juice reduces the activation of carcinogens and protects cells , And has been found to have protective effects of cardiovascular disease, including reduction of total cholesterol, bad cholesterol, blood pressure and others .
• Anti – inflammatory activity : Acute inflammatory responses are useful in protecting tissues from damage, but the persistence of inflammatory conditions in the body increases the risk of many diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and cancer. Pomegranate has an anti-inflammatory activity through many .
• Anticancer activity : Pomegranate has an antagonist activity for many cancers, such as prostate cancer, breast, colon and lung , Which found that pomegranate can be used in the treatment of prostate cancer because of its role in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells and stimulate death, and has found effects on many mechanisms of growth of lung and colon cancer cells, and found some studies conducted on the experimental mice chemical properties of pomegranate seed oil against Cancer cells include its effect on skin cancer , And many studies have found the ability of pomegranate to prevent the formation of new blood vessels and needed tumors, which is one of the mechanisms of resistance to cancer .
• Resistance to cardiovascular disease : As noted above, the antioxidant effects of pomegranate help in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and reduce many of the risk factors, such as blood pressure and cholesterol. Punicic acid, the main component of pomegranate seed oil, has anti-atherosclerotic effects , And found some preliminary studies that drinking pomegranate juice maintains the neck arteries of fat accumulation, and preliminary studies have found that pomegranate juice improves the flow of blood to the heart, but did not have the ability to prevent the narrowing of blood vessels in the heart .
• Some preliminary studies suggest drinking pomegranate juice for a month Improves blood vessel function In adolescents with metabolic syndrome .
• Pomegranate seed oil can have effects Resistant to obesity In a study of mice, a high-fat diet was given to mice for 12 weeks to stimulate obesity and insulin resistance. 1% of pomegranate seed oil was added to this diet in a group of mice. The results found that the group that consumed pomegranate oil was lower in body weight Fat weight and improved insulin sensitivity compared to the group that did not take pomegranate oil , And some preliminary studies suggest that eating a product containing pomegranate seed oil and a type of brown seaweed reduces the weight of women with obesity and liver disease .
• The pomegranate had effects Resistance to osteoarthritis .
• Some of the studies conducted on the experimental mice found the ability of the pomegranate extract in Resistance to rheumatoid arthritis .
• Pomegranate has properties Resistant to bacteria and fungus .
• Found for both pomegranate juice and pomegranate extract and oil Preventive effects of skin damage from sunlight Ultraviolet .
• Found effects Resistant to dental lime To wash the mouth with pomegranate .
• Pomegranate juice was found in Improvement of some indicators of Alzheimer’s disease In mice .
• Found for use of pomegranate extract Ability to relieve wounds and improve collagen .
• Some preliminary studies have found that drinking pomegranate juice twice daily is 15 days Relieves muscle pain after exercise in the attachment .
• Some preliminary studies suggest eating a certain extract of pomegranate twice a day To improve muscle healing after exercise .
• Use a gelatinous ointment containing pomegranate extracts on the gums Relieves the symptoms of fungal infections in the mouth .
• Some preliminary studies suggest the use of pomegranate in Fight intestinal worms , Diarrhea, dysentery, sore throat, and symptoms of menopause at menopause, but these effects need further scientific research .

Pomegranate eating precautions

• Pomegranate intake and juice are safe for pregnant and lactating women, but there is insufficient information about the safe use of other pomegranate products such as extracts during pregnancy and lactation. .
• Pomegranate juice should be taken care of by people with low blood pressure, as it lowers blood pressure, which increases the risk of hypotension .
• Care should be taken when pomegranate is taken by people with plant allergies .
• Due to the effect of pomegranate juice on blood pressure, avoid taking it two hours before the surgery, to avoid conflict with control of blood pressure during operations .
• The doctor should be consulted before taking pomegranate or juice or extracts in the case of taking the drugs that interact with him, and must be mentioned all the medicines dealt with the doctor to ensure the safety of dealing with Pomegranate or its products .

Drug interactions

Pomegranate reacts with drugs that work on the liver to be altered by Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) substrates, such as Amitriptyline, Codeine, Desipramine, Flecainide, Fluoxetine, Ondansetron, Tramadol, Etc. It also interacts with pressure medications because of its antihypertensive effect, which can cause a significant reduction in blood pressure, and also interact with Rosuvastatin, reducing the liver’s ability to get rid of it, which increases the risk of its side effects.

Your doctor should be informed of all medications that are taken by the person before eating the pomegranate and its products.

To prepare an exceptional dish of hummus and pomegranate try this recipe.