This morning I woke up in Black Butte to a couple of inches of snow on the ground. It was a beautiful winter wonderland! To fuel our morning walk, we had a bowl of piping hot oatmeal studded with pecans, walnuts, apples and pomegranate seeds. It was so yummy and satisfying. The pomegranate seeds offered a nice tart crunch to the oatmeal.
I love this time of year when pomegranates start appearing on the shelves. Pomegranates offer amazing health benefits for all who enjoy their tart seeds. Pomegranate seeds (also called arils) get their bright red color from polyphenols, the anti cancer fighting anti oxidants. Pomegranate seeds have three times more antioxidants than red wine and green tea.
The juice from 1 pomegranate has 40% of the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C, making it a great cold fighting weapon.
Pomegranate juice can reduce inflammation in the gut and improve digestion. It may be beneficial for people with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other inflammatory bowel diseases.
Pomegranates could be a natural arthritis treatment since they’re a source of antioxidants called flavonols, which act as anti-inflammatory agents in the body.
Studies have found that consuming pomegranate juice can increase salivary testosterone levels which can lead to increased sexual drive.
With 1/2 cup of seeds containing only 72 calories, 3.5 grams of fiber and only 1 gram of fat, this are a great addition to your diet.
Intimidated about the thought of opening a pomegranate? Watch this video to see a super easy method of harvesting those yummy seeds.
Photo from flickr.
