Saturday, September 27, 2008

Pomegranate & My Health


Tropical Fruits


Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a fruit-bearing shrub or small tree growing to between five and eight metres tall


Pomegranate is large, roundish, 3 inches in diameter. Skin is medium thick and tough.


Pomegranate (Punica granatum) flesh is deep crimson in color.


Pomegranate flesh is juicy and with delicious vinous flavor.


Pomegranate seeds are not very hard.


The pomegranate has glossy, leathery leaves that are narrow and lance-shaped.


In the food industry, pomegranate is included in the category of exotic fruits called superfruits.


From http://www.hotgardens.net/Pomegranate_fruit_and_blooms.JPG
Pomegranate (Punicaceae) grows as a rounded shrub that reaches 8 feet in height and is self-fruitful.



Facts about Pomegranate
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomegranate
The pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a fruit-bearing shrub or small tree growing to between five and eight metres tall.

The pomegranate is found in
the region from Iran to the Himalayas in northern India. It is widely cultivated throughout Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, India, Syria, Turkey, the drier parts of southeast Asia, Penisular Malaysia, the East Indies, tropical Africa, California and Arizona ( for juice production).

In the food industry, pomegranate is included in the category of exotic fruits called superfruits.

The taste differs depending on subspecies of pomegranate and its ripeness. The pomegranate juice can be very sweet or sour, but most fruits are moderate in taste, with sour notes from the acidic tannins contained in the aril (seed) juice.

Pomegranate is large, roundish, 3 inches in diameter, deep purple-red fruit. Skin is medium thick and tough.

Flesh is deep crimson in color, juicy
and with delicious vinous flavor. Seeds is not very hard.

It is better for juicing than for eating out of hand.
The juice can be used as a fresh juice, to make jellies, sorbets or cold or hot sauces as well as to flavor cakes, baked apples, etc.

Pomegranate syrup is sold commercially as grenadine.


The juice can also be made into a wine.




The pomegranate has glossy, leathery leaves that are narrow and lance-shaped.

Plant is vigorous and productive.



The attractive foliage, flowers and fruits of the pomegranate, as well as its smallish size make it a excellent
landscaping plant.





Pomegranate Ranked Healthiest Fruit Juice.
(http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/05/earlyshow/health/main4234811.shtml)

Pomegranate is the healthiest because it contains the most of every type of antioxidant. It may protect against some cancers, such as prostate cancer. It might also modify heart disease risk factors, and it could be healthy for the heart.




Scientific Facts about antioxidants
Anything fruits with a vivid color, like most berries, will be high in antioxidants.


Oxidants
, are naturally-occurring substances that derive from oxygen. Chemically, oxygen always wants to "mate," and if it can't find a mate, it will latch onto anything. As it's latching onto substances in the body, it can overwhelm them, and cause disease.


Antioxidants
, on the other hand, voluntarily bond with molecules of oxygen, preventing them from glomming onto any other substance in our body, and that helps keep us healthy.

Most fruits and vegetable have different antioxidants. As a genereal rule of thumb try to eat every colour. Oranges are orange. Blueberries are blue... Each color is often associated with a different antioxidant. This is because of how plants absorb light for photosynthesis.
(http://www.pomegranateworld.com/blog/antioxidant-powers.html)


Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
From
(http://www.massiveunderstatement.com/photos/20070807/gv-pomegranate.jpg)



How others call Pomegranate
Pomegranate, punic apple, granatapfel, granada, grenade, melograno, melagrana.



The name "pomegranate" derives from Latin pomum ("apple") and granatus ("seeded").



German
call it Granatapfel (seeded apple).



Punica
is named for the Phoenicians.



In classical Latin, the pomegranate's name was Malum punicum or Malum granatum
Italian named it "Melograno" or "Melagrana".


Pomegranate (Punica granatum) great source of fiber - Photo by Myriam Hu

According to Webster's New Spanish-English Dictionary, "granada," the Spanish word for "pomegranate," could also mean "grenade".



Pomegranate (Punica granatum) helps prevent heart disease - Photo by Myriam Hu



Potential health benefits
  • a great source of potassium
  • more antioxidants compared to other juices and even wine!
  • source of vitamin B and Vitamin C
  • great source of fiber
  • helps prevent heart disease
  • keeps your immune system in top notch conditions
  • prevents buildup of material in your arteries
  • antibacterial effects against dental plaque.
  • against proliferation of breast cancer cells.
  • reduce blood pressure
  • Inhibit viral infections


Pomegranate (Punica granatum) - Seeds


Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
(From http://www.papayatreenursery.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=527)


Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
(From http://www.papayatreenursery.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=527)


Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
(From http://www.papayatreenursery.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=527)


Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
(From http://www.papayatreenursery.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=527)


Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
(From http://www.papayatreenursery.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=527)


Papaya Tree Nursery Proprietor - Alex Silber
(From http://www.papayatreenursery.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=527)


Pomegranate tree with fruit - from ( http://outoffocus.ca/photos/pict0126.jpg)


Pomegranate tree with fruit - from ( http://www.owlsland.com/pomegranates.jpg )


Pomegranate tree blooming with flowers -
from (
http://espanol.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/a/aSigiam/34.jpg )


Pomegranate tree with fruit -
from ( http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hTsWqQ7zE8s/RtHvbtQgdyI/AAAAAAAABKA/i9MIaTefVU4/pomegranates+on+tree.JPG )
Pomegranate trees from southern China



Pomegranate tree with fruit -
from (
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_P1rbMtBYxUo/Rsk__xErr3I/AAAAAAAADlA/_lL-3YfTg_c/IMG_1165.JPG )


Pomegranate trees lined the path to the top of the hill over the tomb of Qin Shi Huang
from (
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_MyIvULaDodE/SGRAIBvnKwI/AAAAAAAABR8/yiaAybDziIk/IMG_7059.JPG )


Early Wonderful varieties of Young pomegranate trees are now being sold on a “to order” basis.
from ( http://www.vintagenurseries.com/images/Pomegran_lrg.jpg )


Pomegranate green tree - from
( http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKG6P6lBpcE/RrbJmv01DTI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/lDMQr2NL7tk/s1600-h/Picture+013.jpg


Pomegranate green tree - from
( http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKG6P6lBpcE/RrbLHf01DUI/AAAAAAAAARA/Tw0IYEM3Ilk/s1600-h/Picture+012.jpg


Pomegranate green tree - from
( http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKG6P6lBpcE/RrbIlv01DSI/AAAAAAAAAQw/4PVHaE1T23A/s1600-h/Picture+014.jpg


Some beautiful pomegranate trees at Jennifer's house by gserafini.
from (
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/2604877936_6ebc091968.jpg?v=0 )


Pomegranate fruit at the tree -
from ( http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/2604883166_a73d66bfae.jpg?v )


Pomegranate tree bearing fruits ready for harvest -
from ( http://k41.pbase.com/g4/07/675107/2/61954716.1bhjEC3h.jpg )


Pomegranate tree with unripe fruits -
from ( http://places-to-visit.info/media/var/images/2007/10/25/2004-08-16_16-33-18_s.jpg )


Pomegranate large fruits -
from ( http://www.tigminzaraba.com/P1000088_1.jpg )


Kara Bala Mursal Pomegranate Tree - from
( http://www.stellasolaorchards.com/images/545_KaraBalaMiursalTree_jpg_w560h420.jpg )


Pomegranate fruits - from
( http://image60.webshots.com/160/9/59/77/2628959770071696169yybdPW_ph.jpg )


Pomegranate fruits - from
( http://swdesertgardening.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/pomegranate3.jpg )


Pomegranate young fruit fruits - from
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NXOLDTkXY94/RuGUAn-Fg1I/AAAAAAAABw4/KC2OlgCl_g0/Pomegranate+trees,+Locanda+Cipriani+Inn+and+Bar,+S.+Maria+As.jpg )



Nutrition Information for Pomegranates:

from http://www.thefruitpages.com/chartpomegranates.shtml

Pomegranates, raw

Scientific Name: Punica granatum

NDB No: 09286
Nutrient Units Value per
100 grams of
edible portion
Sample
Count
Std.
Error
Proximates
Water
g
80.97
9
1.352
Energy
kcal
68
0

Energy
kj
285
0

Protein
g
0.95
7
0.180
Total lipid (fat)
g
0.30
0

Carbohydrate, by difference
g
17.17
0

Fiber, total dietary
g
0.6
0

Ash
g
0.61
9
0.073
Minerals
Calcium, Ca
mg
3
0

Iron, Fe
mg
0.30
0

Magnesium, Mg
mg
3
0

Phosphorus, P
mg
8
0

Potassium, K
mg
259
0

Sodium, Na
mg
3
0

Zinc, Zn
mg
0.12
0

Copper, Cu
mg
0.070
0

Selenium, Se
mcg
0.6
0

Vitamins
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid
mg
6.1
11
0.710
Thiamin
mg
0.030
0

Riboflavin
mg
0.030
0

Niacin
mg
0.300
0

Pantothenic acid
mg
0.596
0

Vitamin B-6
mg
0.105
1

Folate, total
mcg
6
0

Folic acid
mcg
0
0

Folate, food
mcg
6
0

Folate, DFE
mcg_DFE
6
0

Vitamin B-12
mcg
0.00
0

Vitamin A, IU
IU
0
0

Vitamin A, RE
mcg_RE
0
0

Vitamin E
mg_ATE
0.550
0

Lipids
Fatty acids, total saturated
g
0.038
0

4:0
g
0.000
0

6:0
g
0.000
0

8:0
g
0.000
0

10:0
g
0.000
0

12:0
g
0.002
0

14:0
g
0.002
0

16:0
g
0.022
0

18:0
g
0.012
0

Fatty acids, total monounsaturated
g
0.046
0

16:1 undifferentiated
g
0.006
0

18:1 undifferentiated
g
0.039
0

20:1
g
0.002
0

22:1 undifferentiated
g
0.000
0

Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated
g
0.063
0

18:2 undifferentiated
g
0.063
0

18:3 undifferentiated
g
0.000
0

18:4
g
0.000
0

20:4 undifferentiated
g
0.000
0

20:5 n-3
g
0.000
0

22:5 n-3
g
0.000
0

22:6 n-3
g
0.000
0

Cholesterol
mg
0
0

Phytosterols
mg
17
0

From USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 14 (July 2001)

Pomegranate is a great source of vitamin B and Vitamin C


Pomegranate (Punica granatum) prevents buildup of material in your arteries


Pomegranate (Punica granatum) has more antioxidants compared to other juices and even wine!


Pomegranate Nursery


Pomegranates can take all day sun and will grow in alkaline soil.


Adapted from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomegranate http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pomegranate.html
http://homecooking.about.com/cs/foodfactsheets/p/pomegranate_pro.htm
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/05/earlyshow/health/main4234811.shtml
http://www.juicing-for-health.com/pomegranate.html

http://www.thefruitpages.com/chartpomegranates.shtml

http://www.pomegranateworld.com/blog/antioxidant-powers.html
http://huntingtonbotanical.org/Rose/Subrosa/4849/pomegranate.htm
http://www.papayatreenursery.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=527
http://lh5.ggpht.com
http://swdesertgardening.files.wordpress.com
http://image60.webshots.com
http://www.stellasolaorchards.com
http://www.tigminzaraba.com
http://places-to-visit.info
http://k41.pbase.com
http://farm4.static.flickr.com
http://3.bp.blogspot.com
http://4.bp.blogspot.com
http://www.vintagenurseries.com
http://lh4.ggpht.com
http://espanol.wunderground.com
http://www.owlsland.com
http://outoffocus.ca
http://www.massiveunderstatement.com
http://www.hotgardens.net