We love eating seasonally at the Optimist Daily. Now that it’s autumn, there’s a special red fruit that is in-season and chock full of antioxidants: pomegranates! Let’s take a dive into the nutritional benefits of pomegranates, shall we?
Health benefits of pomegranates
Registered dietitian Ella Davar says pomegranates are so powerful because of the variety of nutritional substances they contain, from flavonols and anthocyanin to phenolic and organic acids. “These compounds have been studied and related with numerous health benefits against many metabolic conditions and diseases,” Davar told mindbodygreen.
As mentioned earlier, pomegranates are rich in antioxidants. In fact, studies have shown that the antioxidant potential of pomegranate juice is more than that of red wine and tea. Of all the benefits of pomegranates, Davar says the biggest impact of this fruit is on gut health. On the one hand, the compounds within pomegranate seeds are used in metabolic processes by the microbiota of the colon. On the other hand, pomegranate seeds are a great source of prebiotic fiber, which “keep the bowel movement regular and optimize digestive health.”
Picking the best pomegranate
To maximize the health benefits of pomegranates, you want to pay attention to color when you’re picking pomegranates. Darker colored pomegranates are found to have the highest amount of anthocyanins present. More specifically, you should look for fruits with a deep cherry-red color fruit and avoid ones that have large white portions in the peel color.
