So red, so good, so healthy - the pomegranate

Dear readers,

all my best wishes for a wonderful 2014 and a big thanks to all of you for visiting my blog so frequently! It keeps me going, looking for new interesting topic to tell you about. Please don't forget to post your comments or to become my follower. 

The " apple of Aphrodite " - its botanical name derives from the Latin word " granatus " (rich of kernels) . Be grateful that this is not the „forbidden fruit“ in the end as when we talk about antioxidants, hormonal disorders and anti-aging, then we should we also talk about the pomegranate. He can do all three of them, thus is increasingly becoming the center of attention .

The red super fruit has been cultivated for thousands of years in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, China and India. For hundreds of years in Latin America and the Caribbean. Its popularity dates back to the Early Bronze Age . The beautiful fruit, which has found quite some attention also in art, plays a role in the legends of the ancient world and in many religions .

The healing powers of the pomegranate is in its kernels, about 400 seeds per fruit , which can be used against cardiovascular disorders , menopausal problems , high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, cellular ageing and cancer. 

Amino acids, minerals , a variety of vitamins, but most of all polyphenols and phytoestrogens ( also found in soybeans) provide the tremendous healing effect. The phytoestrogens are way healthier than hormone replacement therapy pills, they act on one hand estrogen-like, on the other hand but also anti-estrogenic and thus cancer protective, especially for the very similar tissue of the breast and prostate.

Also they are said to relieve diarrhea, pneumonia , sore throat and toothache, as well as being helpful for infections of  the urinary tract . Similarly, the polyphenols are known for remedial care of stress-related diseases such as rheumatism, dyslipidemia , cardiovascular diseases and many more .

From the pomegranate seeds a valuable oil can be extracted , which can be used internally and externally . It contains many rare and valuable fatty acids. Especially helpful is the internal application of the oil in case of problems during menopause , but also for younger women it acts hormone balancing.

If you buy pomegranate juice, extracts and capsules  it is important to pay attention to a high content of polyphenols.

What else you can do with the fresh, fruity cores?

What else can I do with these fleshy succulent seeds unless just spoon them out of their shell ?

You can actually use it everywhere : in cereal, yogurt , salads , they give a gorgeous contrast when combined with meat dishes . Pomegranate juice is drunk pure or mixed with other juices or cocktails.

On this page I have found some wonderful pomegranate recipes, from sweet to hearty, cold to warm: http://www.eatingwell.com/node/16487?slide=5#leaderboardad

From breakfast to cocktails and dinner to dessert, either pomegranate arils or pomegranate juice make an amazing addition of acidity, sweetness and color.

Enjoy!!