Garnet for a reason is called the king of fruit. Its useful properties are confirmed by scientific research, and the bright taste and aroma have earned him the fame of the favorite of the dinner table. Today, the titled fruit is also the title of superfood.

Winter source of vitamins

During the reign of the Pharaohs, pomegranate fruits were laid in a sarcophagus for the dead. People considered them sacred and believed that they were able to give a new life. The pomegranate tree was called “the tree of life”. Bright red seeds contain a huge amount of nutrients necessary for health and longevity.

Popular wisdom dictates eating a pomegranate so that the heart works like a clock. Its fruit contains the substance puniclagin – a powerful antioxidant that strengthens the walls of blood vessels and lowers the level of “bad” cholesterol, preventing the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.

Inside each fetus, 15 valuable amino acids can be found, five of which are indispensable. Bright fruit can share   vitamins   A, C, K, B6 and B9, with which it is especially important to enrich the menu in the cold and flu season. Among the minerals worth noting the content of potassium, copper, manganese and phosphorus.

Doctors recommend adding grains and pomegranate juice to the menu of patients suffering from anemia. Juicy grains have the ability to increase hemoglobin in the blood, stimulate the immune system.

In the pomegranate there are also tannins – ellagotanins. Scientists note their useful role in the prevention of breast cancer. In addition, the pomegranate contains   folic acid, which is necessary for a woman during preparation for pregnancy and in the first trimester.

Did you know?

Ancient myths tell us that in Cyprus for the first time the goddess of love and beauty Aphrodite planted a pomegranate. It has many qualities that are useful to the fair sex. So, in cosmetology fruit acids are used – citric, tartaric, oxalic, malic and boric, obtained from pomegranate fruits to combat imperfections of the skin of the face – hyperpigmentation and acne manifestations.

How to correctly choose and store a pomegranate?

The best time to plant the tree of life is mid-February. Flowering tree from mid-May to October. From a distance, its flowers resemble blossoming poppies. One tree can live up to 200 years, each year giving from 440 to 660 kilograms of fruit! The ripe fruits of pomegranate appear in our stores in October-December and delight consumers with bright taste throughout the winter.

Many people choose fruits by color – the brighter and more beautiful they are, the better. But often the most delicious fruit is the one that has a pale pink skin or with a dull orange subtone. Ideally, the shell should be thin and dry. This is a marker that she gave all the juice to the grain. One pomegranate can contain from 200 to 1400 kernels, depending on the variety and size.

If the skin of the fetus is very dense, as if stiffened, it means that the fetus was picked too early, and it dried out. A perfectly smooth surface of the pomegranate also serves as a sign of the immature fruit. The mature fruit is usually embossed.

There should be no dents on the surface of the garnet. If they are, it speaks of signs of damage to the product – it has burned in the sun, or it may turn out to be rotten.

Try to choose heavy fruit – in ripe   grenade   There are no voids, and the grains are filled with juice. Therefore, despite the small size, the fruits are quite heavy.

Pay attention to the proper storage of fruit! So that it does not lose its beneficial properties, it is better to wrap each fruit in paper and put it in a box covered with cardboard. At temperatures up to + 100C, pomegranate can be stored for two months. This time he easily stands in the refrigerator.

Did you know?

Wedding traditions in many countries of the world are connected with pomegranate. So, in Turkey, after the marriage ceremony, the bride throws pomegranates on the floor, how many grains will fall out – so many children she will have. On the Greek island of Crete, when the bride enters a new home, the bridegroom gives her the pomegranate fruit. And in China, ripe fruits are a popular wedding gift, a symbol of well-being, fertility and prosperity.

How to clean the fruit and do not stain hands?  

Akasha Richmond, chef, restaurant owner, California, USA

– What is the easiest way to clean the pomegranate?

– Retreat 1.5-2 centimeters from the top – the “crown” of the fruit and cut the fruit around the circumference, remove the top. Divide the pomegranate into two even halves. Pour cold water into a small container, place half a pomegranate over it and with the help of thumbs remove the kernels and put into water. They will sink to the bottom of the tank. Remove the white films that have surfaced, pour out the water and collect the grains.

Pomegranate and health: 5 interesting facts

1. Researchers from   Johns Hopkins University (USA)   We are convinced that pomegranate fruits can help lower blood pressure, as they contain a high content of polyphenols, which have antioxidant effects.
2. The specialists   University of Wisconsin Madison   proved that the grains of the “king of fruits” increase the protective functions of the skin, helping it cope with the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation.
3. Chinese scientists have concluded that pomegranate fruit is an excellent tool.   prevention of liver damage. They contain flavonoids and polyphenols necessary for her health and normal work.
4. Researchers from   Liverpool University   We are confident that pomegranate extract may be useful for women during labor and delivery, as it stimulates the contraction of the uterus.
5. Due to the ability to increase blood flow, including the genitals, pomegranate can be called a real aphrodisiac. No wonder he is considered an excellent gift for lovers.

Delicious recipes: dishes with pomegranate

We used to eat pomegranate in its natural form – as a sweet dessert. But with it you can cook a lot of juicy and healthy dishes! Chefs decorate baked pomegranate grains, complement their sweet and sour taste with fish and meat dishes, salads, prepare cocktails, tinctures, sauces and smoothies.

Tender Shrimp Salad

Ingredients dishes:

• One grenade,
• 200 g peeled shrimp,
• Half a head of red cabbage
• Lettuce leaves to taste
• 20 grams of butter,
• 1 PC. shallot,
• 3 tablespoons of olive oil,
• 1 tea spoon of wine vinegar,
• Salt and pepper to taste.

Cooking method:

In a deep frying pan, fry the shrimps in butter for five minutes, then add the finely chopped shallots. Put chopped lettuce leaves and chopped cabbage into a bowl, put prepared shallots, shrimps and pomegranate seeds. Season the dish with olive oil, add wine vinegar, salt and pepper.

Milk dessert with pomegranate, nuts and cinnamon

Ingredients dishes:

• 250 ml of natural yogurt without additives,
• 25 grams of walnuts,
• 3 teaspoons honey
• Whisper ground cinnamon,
• Grains ¼ ​​pieces of pomegranate.

Cooking method:

Fry chopped nuts in a dry frying pan, wait until they cool. Pour yogurt into glasses, pour nuts on top, add honey, cinnamon and decorate with pomegranate seeds. Immediately serve.

Chicken thighs with pomegranate seeds and fennel

Ingredients dishes:

• 700 grams of chicken thighs,
• Two heads of fennel,
• 4 tablespoons of sunflower oil,
• Grains гран pieces of pomegranate,
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice,
• Shallots – 2 pcs.,
• 2 tablespoons pine nuts,
• 1 orange,
• Salt and pepper to taste.

Cooking method:

Cut shallots in any shape. Divide into 6-8 parts of fennel. Orange cut into medium-sized slices. Fry the nuts in a dry skillet.

In a large container, pickle chicken thighs and fennel with a mixture of two tablespoons of sunflower oil, pepper and salt to taste, and orange juice. Let stand.

Place prepared hips and fennel in a preheated oven, bake at 200 degrees until cooked. While preparing the dish, prepare the dressing of pomegranate seeds, shallot onions, pine nuts, 2 tablespoons of sunflower oil and lemon juice, season well with salt and pepper.

Serve the hips, putting portions on plates, watering with cooked sauce.