Discover the Benefits of an Ancient Fruit

Bursting With Flavor

While the proliferation of pomegranate products on store shelves makes it seem like the new, new thing, the shiny red fruit actually was mentioned both in the Bible and in the works of Homer; some even say a pomegranate, not an apple, was the forbidden fruit in the story of Adam and Eve. Egyptians used pomegranates as an ingredient in disease-treating remedies dating back to 1552 B.C., and physicians in Greece prescribed pomegranate juice as a treatment for arthritis, circulation disorders, viruses and digestive problems.

Although Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon’s fountain of youth remains elusive, pomegranates may be the next best thing. The fruit consists of a thick outer peel with chambers containing the source of the juice – dozens of small seeds (called arils) hidden inside, with the look and taste of miniature grapes. While the most common pomegranate product these days is juice, eating the arils along with their tiny seeds is a good source of fiber.

Not only does this wondrous fruit assist outer beauty, but it offers internal benefits as well. Known to reduce the number of free radicals that we encounter each day just by venturing outside, pomegranate juice’s antioxidants keep your skin glowing and healthy. A promising new study demonstrates that pomegranate extracts may help avert age-related changes in the skin.

Due to the fruit’s abundance of antioxidants, it is also believed to help lower bad cholesterol and diminish illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, prostate cancer and arthritis.