ADD POMEGRANATE TO YOUR DIET!

So I did some research on pomegranate because I heard it had a lot of great health benefits for both men and women. Some say celebrities like Oprah and Heidi Klum LOVE pomegranate. Find out why! Here are some random facts I gathered together from different health websites.

- Rich in antioxidants: According to (Alive+Well Magazine) pomegranate is one of nature's richest sources of antioxidants. They contain more polyphenol antioxidants than green tea, blueberries, cranberries and red wine. This makes them a powerful tool to help combat heart disease, premature aging, Alzheimer's disease and even cancer.

- Studies published in the (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition) found that pomegranate juice lowered blood pressure in people with hypertension. The study found that blood pressure was reduced up to 5 percent after two weeks spent consuming pomegranate juice.

- Promotes Heart Health: There are both numerous studies and benefits pomegranate has for your heart and they all seem to tie together. It includes...

Lowering & stopping the oxidation, or breakdown, of LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) which will...
reduce plaque from building up in your arteries, leading to
A decrease in blood pressure & increased blood flow to the heart and therefore...
Less chance of having a heart attack!

- Great for Men’s Health: There are 2 parts... protects against prostate cancer & fights off erectile dysfunction. Some of the cancer-fighting properties in pomegranate help to delay the development of prostate cancer by “blocking” the production of PSA (the marker used to detect prostate cancer).

This combined with the juice’s antioxidants & its ability to improve blood flow may help in the fight against erectile dysfunction. It’s been dubbed as a “Natural Viagra” and has some interesting history to it.

- Anti-Aging and Healthy Skin: May help to slow down the aging process and beneficial in maintaining the elasticity/health of your skin. Probably explains why so many celebs love it!

- Women's Fertility: Drinking pomegranate juice for women's fertility is one way to increase your sex drive, enable you to become pregnant, and also help to ensure that you’ll give birth to a healthy baby. Since the beginning of time, the pomegranate fruit and its juice have been hailed as an amazing promoter of fertility. In Armenia, the pomegranate fruit is a symbol representing marriage and abundance. The fruit has often been seen depicted in drawings and mentioned in historical writings as a powerful fruit with amazing health benefits, including increased fertility, fighting against the natural aging process, and protecting people from diseases.

- Pregnancy: It can protect your unborn baby from brain injury. Pomegranate juice is a great source of folic acid which is essential for the healthy development of babies. Folic acid, also known as "folate", is vital for the formation of red blood cells and DNA, which contains every individual's particular genetic code. New research has also demonstrated a direct link between folate levels and birth weight. Women with higher folate levels during early pregnancy were more likely to have heavier, and therefore healthier babies. Drinking a daily glass is almost certainly the easiest and most delicious way for pregnant mothers to ensure that they and their babies get 100 per cent of the recommended daily allowance of folic acid. So if you are expecting, add this to your diet!

Other health benefits of pomegranate juice include its anti-inflammatory properties, antibacterial/antiviral benefits, and the ability to control diabetes.

SOME COOL POMEGRANATE RECIPES I FOUND ON THE WEB:

Pomegranate Spritzer
Add a fruity splash to the festivities

Ingredients

5 oz champagne, sparkling cider, or seltzer, chilled
3 oz pomegranate juice, chilled
3 fresh pomegranate seeds or frozen cranberries

Directions
1. Pour champagne into a festive 8 ounce glass. Slowly fill almost to brim with pomegranate juice. Drop in pomegranate seeds and serve

Caramel Apple Pomegranate Parfait (serves 2):
Print this recipe!

1 C granulated sugar, plus 1/8 C, plus 1 t
6 T butter, plus 1 T
1 t vanilla extract, plus 1 t
1/2 C heavy/whipping cream, plus 1 C
2 macintosh apples, chopped into small cubes
1/8 C brown sugar
Arils from 1 pomegranate

POM Passion Smoothie by POM Wonderful
Time to Table: 15 minutes
POM Passion Smoothie Ingredients:

2 oz. freshly squeezed pomegranate juice* or POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
6 oz. non-fat yogurt
1 cup fresh strawberries
Handful of ice

Preparation:

Blend all ingredients together until the desired consistency is reached.

Notes:

* This smoothie can be made with freshly squeezed juice from a POM Wonderful Pomegranate or by using POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice. To juice the pomegranate, cut it in half (as you would a grapefruit) and juice using a citrus reamer or a juicer. Pour mixture through a cheesecloth-lined strainer or sieve. One large POM Wonderful pomegranate will produce about 1/2 cup of juice.

POM Ginger Muffins by POM Wonderful
Time to Table: 30 minutes
Servings: 12
POM Ginger Muffins Ingredients:

1/2 cup arils from 1 large POM Wonderful Pomegranate or POM POMS fresh pomegranate arils
2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chopped candied ginger
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1 cup milk
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, melted and cooled sugar for muffin tops

Preparation:

Score 1 fresh pomegranate and place in a bowl of water. Break open the pomegranate underwater to free the arils (seed sacs). The arils will sink to the bottom of the bowl and the membrane will float to the top. Sieve and put the arils in a separate bowl. Reserve 1/2 cup of the arils from fruit and set aside. (Refrigerate or freeze remaining arils for another use.)
Preheat oven to 400ºF. Generously grease 12 muffin cups.
In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in ginger, orange peel and pomegranate arils. Make a well in the center.
In a measuring cup, whisk together milk, egg and cooled butter. Pour liquid into well. Stir just until batter is moistened and ingredients are evenly mixed.
Spoon batter into 12 prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle tops with sugar.
Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Let muffins cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing.

POMEGRANATE SWIRL POP

Ingredients
Serves: Prep: 6min |Cook: 0min |Total: 8hr 6min

8 oz pomegranate juice
1/2 cup plain 2% Greek yogurt

Directions
1. Fill two-thirds of each ice-pop mold with pomegranate juice. Add enough yogurt to fill the molds to the top, about 2 tablespoons per mold. Slide a knife or chopstick into each mold and swirl until a pattern forms. Insert sticks and freeze for about 8 hours.

PINK POMEGRANATE LEMONADE!

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
2 cups granulated sugar
7 cups water

Instructions

In a large pitcher, combine the juices, granulated sugar and water. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
Refrigerate until ready to serve, up to one day.
To serve, stir pretty pink pomegranate lemonade, then pour into tall glasses over ice. Add a splash of coconut rum for an “adult” lemonade.

FOR MORE POM RECIPES GO TO - http://www.pomwonderful.com/recipes/


Pomegranate juice is available in many supermarkets so be sure to read the label to make sure you’re getting a quality product. Make sure it’s 100% pure juice, or 100% pure juice from concentrate at the very least. Also make sure that no sugars are added.

This is the kind I bought from Costco. It was less than $7.

WARNING: Drinking too much of it can cause you to have constipation so don't over do it. According to www.NaturalNews.com, a daily 8-oz. serving of pomegranate juice is enough to benefit your health