In some South Asian cultures, it is a tradition to feed pomegranate daily to a bride-to-be by their grandmothers, and rightly so. Eating pomegranates are second nature to us, but we never realize their amazing benefits. You can even call the pomegranate a divine fruit because it might be one of the most mentioned fruit in ancient theological books.
Pomegranate juice contains more than 100 phytochemicals. The pomegranate fruit has been used for thousands of years as medicine. Today, pomegranate juice is being studied for its many health benefits. It may help with cancer prevention, immune support, and fertility. Here are just a few of the countless health and physical benefits of this magic elixir!
1. Fights Cancers
The high amounts of anti-oxidants, vitamin A, vitamin C and iron in pomegranates fight against free radicals, stopping them from damaging cells. Pomegranates thus prevent many cancers, especially prostate cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer.
2. Prevents Heart Diseases
Antioxidants present in pomegranates lower bad cholesterol, LDL and increases good cholesterol, HDL, thus preventing heart diseases. Its juice improves blood circulation through the heart, making it healthier.
3. Treats Fertility Problems
These seeds have really high estrogenic properties and therefore could be the answer to your fertility problems.
4. Improves Good Cholesterol Levels
It also has abundant amounts of good fatty acids, thereby helping your body raise its level of good cholesterol.
5. Improves Bone Health
Pomegranate, if taken daily can give strength to bones and prevents osteoarthritis. As we age; our bone density can decrease to an alarming level. To prevent and even reverse this damage, consuming pomegranate or pomegranate extracts might be helpful. When pomegranate is fed to the mothers, even the unborn child is shown to have more calcified bones.
6. Prevents Dental Plaque
Drink a glass of pomegranate juice daily (without sugar) and it can prevent dental plaque. A recent study revealed that the polyphenols, tannins, and ellagic acids contained in pomegranate can help inhibit the colony formation of plaque causing bacteria.
7. Pomegranate Benefits for Weight Loss
Another pomegranate health benefits is that it is high in antioxidants. If taken daily, it can help you in controlling your body weight. You can take the fruit in your daily diet and lose those extra calories. The high fiber content will also make sure that people feel more satiated after its consumption.
8. Prevents Diarrhea
Pomegranate has been said to be a great natural remedy for diarrhea due to its natural astringent properties. But, consuming too much pomegranate juice could cause constipation.
9. Prevents Cell Damage
The presence of antioxidants in high quantity fights against the free radicals which usually attack the cells and damage them. Regular consumption of this fruit can keep your body cells and tissues healthy.
10. Prevents Alzheimer’s disease
One of the greatest health benefits of pomegranate is that if this fruit is taken daily, it can help in preventing Alzheimer’s disease. If the patient is already affected by this disease, then it can be slowed down with this fruit. It also improves the patient’s brain and helps to do daily activities properly and more actively.
11. Maintains Skin Health
Collagen is the basic component of your skin which ensures that your skin remains soft, smooth and firm. Certain compounds present in pomegranates stop the enzymes from breaking down collagen, thus maintaining skin health. They also assist in the growth of fibroblasts, the cells that produce elastin and fiber to ensure that your skin remains smooth and supple. Furthermore, this fruit stimulates proliferation of keratinocytes, the cells that form the outermost layer of your skin. The increase in the number of these cells enables your skin to repair itself better.
12. Moisturizes Skin
Being rich in punicic acid, the oil derived from these seeds will moisturize your skin.
13. Aids in Cell Regeneration
Skin damage often leads to problems like pigmentation and age spots. Pomegranates are beneficial in this regard as they protect the epidermis (outer layer of the skin), and facilitate skin cell regeneration in the epidermis and dermis (inner layer). They aid in the production of naturally occurring antioxidants in your body that help in regeneration of skin cells. In this way, they help in increasing circulation and aiding in tissue repair and wound healing.
14. Treats Acne
Acne is caused due to digestive problems or hormonal imbalance. Pomegranate, being a rich source of vitamin C, can regulate the production of sebum, an oily substance secreted by your skin which is the root cause of pimples. It also corrects digestive problems, thus promoting healthy blood circulation in the body. You can apply pomegranate juice on the areas affected by pimples. This will prevent acne and scars by generating tissues in the affected area.
15. Beneficial For Dry Skin
The small molecular structure of pomegranate enables it to penetrate deeply into the skin, making it effective for treating dry skin. It has the ability to soothe dry, cracked and irritated skin as it contains punicic acid, an omega-5 fatty acid that hydrates skin and prevents moisture loss.
16. Beneficial For Oily/Combination Skin
Pomegranate oil is great for oily skin and is often used in skin care products meant for acne prone skin to combat breakouts, reduce scarring, and soothe minor irritations.
17. Anti-aging Benefits
Pomegranates possess anti-ageing properties, thus rejuvenating your skin both internally and externally. Pomegranate juice is beneficial for the skin that is damaged due to sun exposure or aging. The oil from pomegranate seeds helps strengthen the epidermis thus reducing or delaying wrinkles. This fruit repairs skin damage to provide you with smooth and youthful skin and extends the life of the cells that are involved in the production of collagen and elastin. The collagen and elastin pump up your skin and render it elasticity, thus keeping it youthful and minimizing the occurrence of wrinkles.
18. Sun Protection
Pomegranates are a great way of countering the damaging effects of the sun. They contain a number of antioxidants that protect your skin against free radical damage. They also prevent skin cancer, relieve sunburn and reduce the signs of sun damage. It provides protection against skin cancer as it contains a large amount of ellagic acid, a polyphenol antioxidant which inhibits the growth of skin tumors.
19. Heals Dry Skin & Cracks
Do you suffer from cracked or dry skin? Apply the pomegranate seed oil on a regular basis and you can kiss goodbye to those cracks.
20. Revitalizes Facial Skin
This emollient will also revitalize your facial skin and is also a great product to heal wounds.
21. Treats Skin Infections
People suffering from inflammatory and other skin problems like eczema, psoriasis need not worry about a homemade remedy because here it is. Pomegranate seeds have really good anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. This, therefore, helps in relieving you of the mentioned skin infections.
22. Strengthens Hair Follicles
Drinking pomegranate juice helps in strengthening your hair follicles. Pomegranate extract is often used to treat hair loss. Pomegranate seed oil contains punicic acid which makes your hair strong, thick and healthy. It also improves circulation to the scalp, thus stimulating hair growth.
23. Treatment Of Frizzy Hair
Pomegranate oil is often used in hot oil treatments or pre-shampoo soothing for frizzy and over processed hair for the purpose of conditioning kinky, curly and wavy hair. It detangles your hair and moisturizes the hair shaft, thus enhancing the appearance and feel of your hair. After knowing its numerous benefits, here are some tips and tidbits on how to get the maximum out of pomegranate fruit.
24. Adds Shine & Luster to Hair
One of the major advantages of pomegranate seeds is that the oil derived from this can be used as a carrier oil with other oils like jojoba oil or almond oil. So, are you dying for lengthy, soft, and shiny locks? Then here you go.
25. Nourishes Hair
Pomegranate seeds have proved to not just hydrate your hair and give the nourishment it requires with vitamins and minerals, but also gives it that luster.
26. Strengthens Dull Hair
Heat pomegranate oil till it becomes mildly hot and massage your hair with it. Wrap your hair with a towel and wait for about 30 minutes before you rinse it off with a shampoo or conditioner. Being rich in essential fatty acids and punicic acid, it will strengthen all the dull strands and give your hair a natural gloss.
