Pomegranate seeds: uses and nutritional benefits

• Cardiovascular protector (fiber, punic acid, vitamin B9): pomegranate seeds act on different cardiovascular risk factors. Their fibers limit hyperlipidemia by reducing the absorption of cholesterol and triglycerides. Vitamin B9 helps manage inflammation that can encourage the development of atherosclerotic plaques. Indeed, vitamin B9 is involved in the conversion of homocysteine: a pro-inflammatory amino acid. Finally, punic acid turns out to be a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. The latter is a polyunsaturated fatty acid specific to Pomegranate.

• Control blood sugar (protein, fiber, lipid): Pomegranate seeds have a low glycemic index. They provide proteins, lipids and fibers, and almost no carbohydrates. Pomegranate seeds alone do not affect blood sugar levels. Accompanied, they reduce the glycemic load of the meal, which balances blood sugar levels. Additionally, punic acid modulates the secretion of insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar.

• Appetite suppressant (fiber): due to their low glycemic index, pomegranate seeds do not induce strong variations in postprandial blood sugar. This balance of blood sugar reinforces the feeling of satiety.

• Immunomodulating (vitamin B9, punic acid): pomegranate seeds stimulate the synthesis of white blood cells (immune cells) thanks to their vitamin B9 intake. Vitamin B9 helps maintain the production of immune cells. Additionally, punic acid provides pomegranate seeds with antimicrobial power.

• Anti-oxidant (polyphenol, punic acid): Pomegranate seeds neutralize free radicals by providing punic acid, a fatty acid which exerts antioxidant activity. Also, a study notes the protective effects against oxidative stress of pomegranate seeds through the presence of polyphenols. However, the antioxidant effectiveness seems to be better in the zest than in the seeds of Pomegranate.

• Anti-inflammatory (vitamin B9, punic acid): Pomegranate seeds fight against the inflammatory process. They provide vitamin B9 which neutralizes homocysteine ​​by converting it into methionine. Furthermore, punic acid would be beneficial in various inflammatory diseases.

The pomegranate tree is a shrub of 2 to 5 m, belonging to the Punicaceae family. Originally from Iran and Afghanistan, it is now common to come across pomegranate orchards around the Mediterranean and in Central Asia. Which is not surprising given its needs: a bright, warm and dry climate.

It is a tree appreciated for its decorative appearance, because at the end of its branches grow beautiful and large scarlet red flowers. Its fruits, Pomegranates, are red with firm skin. Inside is a white mesocarp which forms a nest containing edible arils. The arils have a reddish, translucent, juicy pulp that contains seeds. A pomegranate can contain more than 400 arils. The pomegranate tree is one of the oldest domesticated crops.

The fruit of the pomegranate tree, Pomegranate, is the source of many beliefs and superstitions. In Greek mythology, Pomegranate is associated with Hades, the god of the underworld; in the Bible, it symbolizes love, immortality and fertility; in the Koran, suras mention it as a fruit of paradise. There are many varieties of Pomegranate, each linked to its producing country: Wonderful in Israel, Mollar and Tendrar in Spain, and Hicaz in Turkey.