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Winter
may not be everyone's favourite time of year, but it is the season
when some of our most mouthwatering fresh produce is at its best,
including the delicious pomegranate.
The
jewel-coloured fruit originally grew in Iran but soon spread to
India, China and Europe. And today, in this country at least, it's as
much a part of winter and Christmas as the satsuma.
There is,
however, much more to the pomegranate (or Punica granatum, to give
its botanical name) than its fragrant, sweet-sharp taste. Pomegranate
flesh is rich in antioxidants, most notably a type of flavanoid
called punicalagins, which are metabolised in the body to produce
another antioxidant called ellagic acid.
In fact
pomegranates have one of the highest ratings in terms of its
antioxidant content - on the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance
Capacity) scale, a rating system for antioxidant power, it scores a
massive 10,500 units per 100g according to tests carried out at the
US-based Brunswick Laboratories (brunswicklabs.com).
Meanwhile,
other antioxidants found in pomegranate include vitamin C,
beta-carotene, catechins, gallocatechins, and anthocyanins such as
prodelphinidins, delphinidin, cyanidin, and pelargonidin.
Anthocyanins, for instance, have been linked to heart health.
Research suggests that just one glass of pomegranate juice a day
could boost blood flow to the heart by more than 30 percent and
reduce the size of lesions that narrow the arteries, a cause of heart
failure. Other studies claim that pomegranate juice may also reduce
your risk of developing high cholesterol.
The humble
pomegranate may also help in the fight against cancer, with studies
suggesting the fruit may help protect against different types
including prostate, breast and skin cancer.
Most
recently, an animal study has shown that pomegranate extract may have
anti-inflammatory properties. Writing in the Journal of Inflammation
(i), researchers from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland,
Ohio claim pomegranate extract could provide a safer alternative to
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), some of which have in
recent years been linked to serious side effects and health risks.
Another study
from the Case Western team discovered that pomegranate extract may
prevent joint damage linked to rheumatoid arthritis (ii). Earlier
reports suggest that pomegranate extract may block the action of
enzymes that damage cartilage in osteoarthritis.
Pomegranate
may be good for your love life too. One animal study, published
earlier this year in Clinical Nutrition (iii), claims drinking
pomegranate juice on a regular basis may boost the quality and
mobility of sperm, while research published last year claims a glass
a day could help reduce erectile dysfunction, a condition that's
thought to affect one in 10 men worldwide (iv).
When out
of season&ldots;
The
pomegranate season lasts from December to March, but you can harness
all that antioxidant power any time of year with Wonderful
Pomegranate Liquid Fruit Supplement, SoftGel Fruit Capsules and Fruit
Supplement Bars from PowerFruits (www.powerfruits.co.uk).
The
PowerFruits pomegranate bars, liquid supplement and capsules are
around four times higher in antioxidants than normal fruit juice
concentrates, thanks to the fact that they're made from the whole
fruit, not just the juice.
The Wonderful
Pomegranate Liquid Food Supplement contains 180mg of anthocyanins,
125mg ellagic acid and 70mg punicalagins per serving. Meanwhile each
Wonderful Pomegranate SoftGel Fruit Capsule contains 80mg
anthocyanins and 50mg ellagic acid.
Wonderful
Pomegranate Fruit Supplement Bars, on the other hand, are a delicious
way to get two of your daily fruit and veg portions under your belt,
not to mention 250mg of anthocyanins and 117mg ellagic acid, plus 46
percent of your daily vitamin C requirement and 12 percent of your
daily fibre intake.
Wonderful
Pomegranate Liquid Fruit Supplement: £26.99 (60 servings)
Wonderful
Pomegranate SoftGel Fruit Capsules: £24.99 for 60
Wonderful
Pomegranate Fruit Supplement 25g Bars: £34.99 for 30
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