Pomegranate is among the most popular, nutritionally rich fruit with unique flavour, taste, and heath promoting characteristics. Along with berries, and some tropical exotics such as mango, it too has novel qualities of functional foods often called as “super fruits.”
Botanically, it is a small size fruit-bearing deciduous tree belonging to the Lythraceae family, of genus: Punica. The fruit is thought to originate in the Sub-Himalayan range of North India. Scientific name: Punica granatum.
The tree grows to about five and eight meters tall. It is cultivated at commercial scale in vast regions across Indian sub-continent, Iran, Caucuses and Mediterranean regions for its fruits. Completely grown-up tree bears numerous spherical, bright red, purple, or orange-yellow coloured fruits depending on the cultivar types. Each fruit measures about 6-10 cm in diameter and weigh is about 200 gm. Its outer skin or rind is tough and features leathery texture.

Interior of the fruit is separated by white, spongy, membranous, bitter tissue into compartments; packed in sacs filled with tiny edible juicy, red, pink pulp encasing single angular, soft or hard (in over-mature fruits) seed.

Pomegranate is one of the most extensively cultivated fruits for food, juice, flavour, and colour, making it a common ingredient in new functional foods often called “super-fruits.”

Health benefits

The health benefits of pomegranate are innumerable. Apart from being healthy, pomegranates are delicious as well. Pomegranates also have antioxidant, antiviral and antitumor properties. They are said to be good sources of vitamins, since it includes vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E, as well as folic acid.  This fruit consists of three times as many antioxidants as both wine or green tea.  It is said to be a healthy powerhouse.

Stomach Disorders: Pomegranate peel, bark and leaves are used to calm disorders of the stomach or the diarrhoea caused by any kind of digestive problems. Drinking tea made from the leaves of this fruit also helps in curing your digestive problems. Pomegranate juice is also used for handling problems like dysentery and cholera.

Heart Problems: Regular intake of pomegranate juice can maintain good flow of the blood in the body. Because of this property, it subsequently decreases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The antioxidant components that are contained in this fruit help to keep the bad cholesterol from gaining any significant presence and thus keeps the arteries clear of any clots. The clots are clear because pomegranates have the ability to make the blood thinner.

Cancer: Pomegranates contain high levels of antioxidants called flavonoids. These flavonoids are known to be effective in counteracting various cancer radials. People that face high risk of prostate and breast cancer should start drinking the juice of this fruit, as it will help them to reduce the risk of developing cancer. Regular consumption of pomegranates can reduce the PSA levels in the body and aid in the fight against existing cancer cells in the body.

Dental Care: One of the best benefits of pomegranates is that their juice, along with its antibacterial and antiviral properties, helps to reduce the effects of dental plaque and protects against various oral diseases.

Osteoarthritis: Pomegranates help reduce illnesses of many forms, including atherosclerosis and osteoarthritis. The damages that are caused due to the thickening and hardening of the arterial walls and in the cartilage and joints can be cured by eating this fruit. Also, pomegranates are capable of preventing the creation of enzymes that are responsible for breaking down connective tissues within the body.

Anaemia: Healthy blood flow can be maintained in the body by consuming this fruit in any form. Pomegranate supplies iron to the blood, thus helping to reduce symptoms of anaemia, including exhaustion, dizziness, weakness, and hearing loss.

Diabetes: For diabetic patients, drinking pomegranate juice can reduce the risk of various coronary diseases. Along with this, there is a reduction in the hardening of the arteries, which can inhibit the development of various heart diseases.

Other Benefits: Over time, more and more people have started to realize the importance of eating pomegranates. There are other benefits of eating this fruit as well, like reducing the possibility of having premature babies and avoiding low birth weight for new-born infants.

Pomegranates also reduce the possibility of developing Alzheimer’s disease among older generations. It helps to control aging problems like wrinkles as well, thus providing people with youthful and glowing skin. Other than this, it can help women overcome depression symptoms during her period, especially post-menopausal depression.