Itz Holistically Wholesome

Growing up on the island, I had so many fruits and vegetables at my disposal. One such fruit was pomegranate which grew so widely and wildly along almost every roadway. As a child, I used to pick them from the tree, smashed them on the concrete to break them, and enjoyed the deliciousness as the bright red juice drips from my palm and down my arm. It was so much that the boys used to throw them at each other. Little did I know how potent a fruit pomegranate was and that what was so plentiful that we wasted them at times would become something that I now have to pay money for in my adopted country.

I think my first glimpse of this incredible fruit came while I was in my early twenties when a family member was diagnosed with prostate cancer; it was bourne out that drinking pomegranate juice could be helpful. As such, we went about looking for this fruit so that he could consume it. Honestly, even then, I did not fully realize what a powerful fruit it was.

Today, pomegranates have gained much popularity worldwide because of their numerous health benefits. I am not sure if it still grows plentiful on the island and whether it is as accessible as it once was, but here in the United States, if I want it, I have to pay for it. I no longer have that luxury of walking up to the tree and picking or eating it whenever I chose. However, paying for it now does not deter me in the least bit because the benefits derived from this fruit are worth the money. I either eat them as is or extract the seed and placed them in my juicer for a delicious and healthy drink; yum yum!

Remember that I previously said that pomegranate has numerous health benefits. Well, here are a few:

Antioxidants – pomegranates contain higher amounts of antioxidants than most other fruits. Because it is high in antioxidants, it is a powerful anti-inflammatory.

Vitamin C – the juice of one pomegranate has more than 40 percent of your daily requirement of vitamin C.

Cancer Prevention – research has shown that pomegranate juice prevents cancer or reduce the risk. Research as shown that it may help stop the growth of prostate cancer.

Digestion – the juice can reduce inflammation in gut and improve digestion.

Heart Healthy -pomegranate juice protects the heart and arteries.

Blood Pressure – Drinking pomegranate juice may also help lower systolic blood pressure.

Memory – drinking 8 ounces of pomegranate juice daily may improve learning and memory.

Diabetes – it may help decrease insulin resistance and lower blood sugar.

Rich in Vitamin – In addition to being rich in vitamin C and vitamin E, pomegranate juice is a good source of folate, potassium, and vitamin k.

So next time you are grocery shopping grab a few pomegranate and power up your health.