We all have seen them – those purplish, large, almost circular fruits that are supposed to be filled with rows of seeds that you can pop into your mouth. These seeds, small but full of flavor, bring a burst of sweet and tart that just feels like sunshine and nutrition wrapped into one. Although they may take some patience when trying to get to the goods, the work is well worth it when you realize what an impact a pomegranate can make for your nutrition and overall health and wellness.
But what does it mean when one thinks of pomegranate nutrition?
When looking at the nutritional values listed for a pomegranate, there are some surprises that many people may not realize are part of the pomegranate makeup. The USDA lists some interesting facts about the pomegranate:
Fat – There is very little fat in a pomegranate, with only .1 g in half a cup.
Calories – A single serving has only 72 calories, and most of those calories are in the seeds!
Cholesterol and Sodium – Each of these come with 0% for daily values in a serving.
Vitamin C – Each serving packs a 14% for a daily value.
Vitamin B-6 – Each serving has 5% of this important vitamin.
As you can see for such a small fruit, there are some great advantages to adding pomegranate into your diet – this small but vitamin filled fruit can be a great asset for anyone trying to improve their health. The arils, the other name for the pomegranate seeds, are loaded with a great burst of nutrition for such a small package. When you weigh the health benefits against the small amount of calories, it is easy to see why so many people choose to add pomegranates into their nutrition profile each day.
Are pomegranate seeds edible?
Pomegranate seeds
A common question asked when unfamiliar with this super fruit is “can you eat pomegranate seeds?” Just like grapes, eating the seeds of a pomegranate is common. Interestingly enough, the seeds of a pomegranate are where most of the calories reside. For those that decide to eat the seeds along with the fruit, you can easily pull apart the pomegranate, separate the seeds from the membranes and pop a handful of the small fruit bites into your mouth and enjoy your snack.
If you purchase these tiny powerful fruit snacks already peel and pulled from the rind, make sure that you don’t let them sit out too long. Although this is an easier way to eat them, the fruit will start to break down quickly in the air, and some of those great nutrients will be lost.
The membrane and the rind are typically not eaten. Both have a bitter taste, and are not seen as a typical portion of the fruit. In some countries the seeds are dried out and used in recipes with specific meat dishes. It is clear that many people have taken the time to find the best ways to gain as much nutrition out of the fruit as possible, knowing that it has a lot to offer.
What is pomegranate seed oil and what can it be used for?
Although we can all guess the benefits of the pomegranate when we eat it, there are also great uses for the pomegranate seeds when the nutrients are extracted from them, making pomegranate oil. Pomegranate oil is considered to be very nutritious, and is used for multiple purposes, from medicinal to cosmetic uses. As you can imagine, the pomegranate seed oil is very high in antioxidants, which can be great for fighting those free radicals that we all know wreak havoc on our skin.
Pomegranate oil can be infused into most products that are used on the skin – items such as soaps, lotions, oils and other products that we use each and every day. Think of the health benefits that could be gained from this powerful fruit when used directly on the skin (without the dying properties of the juice of course!).
It is easy to see why so many people have jumped to embrace this funny-looking super fruit – from great nutrition without adding a lot of calories, to wellness properties for the skin and antioxidants to fight off illness, the pomegranate has the potential to impact your health quickly. Make a choice today to try it out, and see what this amazing fruit has to offer to you!
Want to know more? Read Pomegranate seed oil – What you Need to Know about this Amazing Oil
