“Your shoots are an orchard of Pomegranates, with choice fruits, Henna and Nard plants”
: Song of Solomon: 4:13
The pomegranate, that ancient biblical fruit often seen on ancient mosaics, is truly a fruit to add to your list of natural health remedies. Pomegranates are mentioned in the bible under their biblical name “Rimon”. They were often displayed on ancient mosaic floors in temples, synagogues, and even private homes. The ancient Greeks and Romans also mention them as the “fruit of the gods” and even then their beneficial attributes were already well known.
Pomegranate fruit is usually pink or red in color, with hundreds of similar color seeds inside. They are usually found in warmer semi-tropical climates, and besides being common in the Mediterranean basin, they are also found in many Asian countries, including Iran, India, and China.
Pomegranates have many useful health benefits, whether eaten raw or drunk as a refreshing juice. The flowers of this amazing fruit, as well as its juice, contain a substance which appears to be helpful in treating Diabetes Mellitus. The seeds of the pomegranate are very high in fiber and it is recommended to eat them along with drinking the fruit’s juicy pulp. Two of the most beneficial properties of the fruit are in the prevention of both heart disease and some forms of cancer. Pomegranate juice contains high levels of Punicic Acid and Allegic Acid which help to reduce cholesterol levels as well as the condition known as Arterial Sclerosis; or hardening of the arteries. The two mentioned acids help prevent saturated fats from accumulating in the arteries which could lead to eventual heart attacks.
The fruit also helps prevent prostate cancer as well as cancer of the colon. Drinking at least 8 oz. of pomegranate juice daily may help prevent these cancers from developing and for this reason, many people drink pomegranate juice on a daily basis. This practice is especially evident in Russia and Eastern European countries, where it is accustomed to eat a lot of fatty foods. Pomegranates or pomegranate juice is recommended to patients who have undergone either colon or prostate surgery to help prevent cancers from reoccurring.
Pomegranates are also found to be beneficial in women who may have breast cancer or hormonal conditions that could lead to breast cancer. The fruit has also been found to be good for women reaching menopause, as enzymes in pomegranate juice appear to be a substitute of the estrogen hormone, often taken by elderly women to prevent heart attacks and osteoporosis.
Taking all of this into consideration, it’s no wonder that many people are now agreeing that a glass or two of pomegranate juice a day keeps the doctor at bay.
Picture by Gernot Katzer