Sure, there are a lot of nutritious fruits out there. But if you are looking for one of your healthiest fruit options on Earth, then look no more. Pomegranates are beneficial for the body for various plant compounds that are said to be one of the richest among fruits. This wide range of rich vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can combat many health risks and concerns.
It is then safe to say that despite the delicate care needed to take care and grow pomegranate fruits, its benefits are definitely worth it.
Its flowers are a beautiful red-orange hue that can be a great decorative element in your garden, orchard, or even indoor.
So, what are pomegranates?
Punica granatum, or commonly known as pomegranate, is a fruit-bearing shrub. Its fruit resembles an apple – red and round – with just an additional flower-shaped stem. The skin of the pomegranate is quite thick and is inedible. But what lies beneath it are hundreds of seeds that are edible. Pomegranate seed is surrounded by a red, juicy, and sweet layer of covering called an ‘aril.’ These arils can be turned into a delicious pomegranate juice that you can enjoy with its sweet taste and its health benefits. You can also use a great Juicer Blender Combo to make wonderful drinks.
Where did pomegranates come from?
These have been growing for thousands of years in the Mediterranean regions of Asia, Africa, and Europe. Although the pomegranate tree is a native from the areas of Iran up to the northern Himalayas, this healthy and beautiful fruit tree reached other countries as people brought it with them to Egypt, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, India, Burma, and Saudi Arabia. It reached the Americas in the 1500s brought by Spanish missionaries.
If you’re ever wondering how this fruit became of the world’s most renowned beneficial fruit, then here are 5 most significant health benefits you can get from consuming pomegranates.
1. Full of important nutrients
Single pomegranate fruit contains the following vitamins and minerals: fiber, protein, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, potassium.
Its sweet arils specifically contain grams of sugar and calories that can also be beneficial for your body if regulated.
2. Antioxidants
Pomegranates are red, not only for aesthetic but also for an important chemical called polyphenols that are powerful antioxidants. It’s royalty among beneficial plants because it contains higher levels of antioxidants than other fruit juices. For instance, it has three times more antioxidants as compared to red wine and green tea. These antioxidants remove free radicals, as well as protect cells from damage and reduce inflammation.
3. Fights prostate cancer cells
If you want to deal with prostate cancer cells, you should consider consuming pomegranate as multiple studies show that the fruit fights these cancer cells.
4. Alzheimer’s disease protection
The pomegranate fruit’s nutritional value is believed to slow down the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and even provides additional protection to memory.
5. Heart disease
As of writing, the delicious pomegranate fruits are the most heart-friendly juice as it specifically protects the heart and its arteries.
HOW TO GROW POMEGRANATE TREES IN CONTAINERS
Pomegranates can be grown from seeds. They best survive in warm areas, particularly in dry conditions. Growing pomegranates in a pot are also possible for people living in the typically cold or wet regions. Pomegranate plants must be placed in such locations that receive enough sunlight.
Avoid irregular or over-irrigation or placing your pomegranate plants in locations that might expose them to heavy summer rains or high humidity. This could result in fruit cracking, minimal fruit production, and other problems.
Pomegranate trees usually take around 3 to 5 years to produce fruit its valuable fruit. What you can do is provide additional nutrients to the soil where it’s growing by putting compost or fertilizers. You should also watch out for pests and learn these organic pest control methods.
HARVESTING
You know your pomegranate fruits are ready for harvest and consumption when they are already bearing their mature skin color, whenever the fruit already feels heavy, and when a metallic sound is heard upon tapping the fruit.
You need to note that pomegranate fruits might split open when left ripe in the tree for a long time, especially when exposed to heavy rain.
Harvest your pomegranate fruits using pruning snips instead of pulling them from the branch. Using pruning snips, carefully pull them off to ensure the fruit’s quality as it is being harvested.
After harvesting the fruits from their trees, you can maximize storing these by de-seeding them and freezing the arils whole. If you opt to make pomegranate juice from these freshly picked fruits, you can then extract the juice from the arils using a food strainer or a blender. You may also freeze the juice for a maximum of 6 months or turned into canned foods, like jelly and syrups.