Repsol YPF

Originally from southern Asia, the pomegranate is a fruit with a thick skin, which is round and reddish in colour. Inside it is divided by a membrane and each part contains numerous bittersweet pink or red seeds. The Arabs considered it to be the “medicine fruit” due to its curative applications and they introduced it to Spain. From there, it reached America. 

It has a very low calorie content. It contains mainly water and carbohydrates in the form of sugars, as well as vitamins B1, B2, B3, C and E. Likewise, it contains calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, sulphur and silicon. 

However, out of all the minerals that it contains, the most highly valued is potassium, necessary for the generation and transmission of nerve impulses and for muscular activity. It is these high levels of potassium that make the pomegranate a highly recommended fruit for those people who suffer from high blood pressure. Moreover, it is useful for maintaining the correct levels of triglycerides. 

Furthermore, this fruit protects the nitric oxide, which is found in  small amounts in the human body. It tells the body when to relax and open the blood vessels; hence its control over blood pressure. By maintaining nitric oxide levels in the human body, the walls of the blood vessels remain healthy and blood flow to the heart increases. 

In addition to all of this nutritional richness there are also other non-nutritional components, such as citric and malic acids, tannins and flavonoids, among others, which have beneficial effects on the body.

Powerful antioxidant

However, without any doubt, one of the pomegranate’s main qualities is its capacity to reduce blood cholesterol levels. If consumed in the form of a juice, this fruit helps to prevent the oxidation of LDL, which is also known as bad cholesterol which tends to stick to the artery walls. This excess of plaques, known as atherosclerosis, is one of the main factors in heart attacks and strokes.

The pomegranate is full of polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants. They can be thought of as the resource used by the body to defend itself against the free radicals which can cause degenerative diseases and premature ageing. In addition to helping to neutralise the harmful effects of free radicals, its beneficial effects include cleansing the blood, assisting digestion and fighting stomach acidity.

It has been proven that a glass of pomegranate juice has an antioxidant power which is up to three times greater than green tea or red wine, which top the list of foods with antioxidant properties. Furthermore, recent studies show that pomegranates can also help in the battle against Alzheimer’s, since they stimulate the brain function. It is also believed that they can help to prevent prostate cancer and to destroy breast cancer cells.

Other properties

In addition to all of this, the pomegranate has other properties. It is the only natural product which contains oestrogen, making it particularly suitable for preventing the discomfort of the menopause. It is diuretic and cleansing, due to its high water and potassium content which assists the elimination of liquids via the kidneys. Likewise, its high vitamin C and copper content assists iron absorption and aids recovery in cases of anaemia. Another of its qualities is that it is astringent and anti-inflammatory, as such it is suitable for those people suffering from infectious diarrhoea or intestinal colic. 

Related articles:

- Grapefruit to enrich our diet

- Therapeutic foods