Happy Valentine’s Day!
If you’re planning to attend a party, why not spice things up by bringing a little Pomegranate Lemonade Spritzer (Food Network)! I’ve never tried this particular recipe, but it’s next on my list: Pomegranate Mojito Mocktail (BBC Good Food)!
If you have a good recipe that contains pomegranates, please feel free to share a link with others through the “comment” section of this post!
Why pomegranates? Pomegranates are one of the oldest fruits known to mankind. Depending on the book you read, you can trace its roots back to Biblical times, Greek mythology, to Persia, Egypt, India, the Han Dynasty in China, Rome, and Italy. No matter where it came from or who ate it first, it’s definitely a healthy favorite in our time!
On the versatile side, pomegranates are a cook’s dream. Pomegranates have been known to show up in some of the most unlikely places, such as: In tea, with lime, with kiwi, in salad, on cheese trays, with red or white wine, with ice cream, as a sauce glazed over chicken, with beef, as vinaigrette, in a molasses marinade, and almost anywhere else you can imagine.
On the healthy side, pomegranates contain Vitamins C, A & E, flavonoids (which help protect blood vessels and cells), and other goodies. A major plus is that they contain a high level of antioxidants.
And antioxidants…? These darling, naturally occurring nutrients are found in the foods we eat. Antioxidants protect our bodies against free radicals that are produced in the body when we use oxygen. Left alone, free radicals can alter cholesterol through a process called oxidation, which is a bad thing. This process promotes aging, contributes to cancer, heart disease, diabetes and speeds the hardening of the arteries.
Perhaps the best health benefits of pomegranates include, they:
- help keep you hydrated
- may help protect against or minimize the effects of certain strains of flu
- fight against certain cancers (e.g., breast, lung, prostate)
- lower blood pressure
- protect arteries
- help people with certain heart conditions (e.g., PAPVR, etc.)
- lower cholesterol
- help those with diabetes
- help prevent obesity
- protect the brains of unborn children
- slow some affects of Alzheimer disease
- help prevent dental plaque
- slow down the aging process
- help prevent dry skin, acne breakouts and the breakdown of collagen
Drink up, have fun and love wonderfully!
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© CJ Spencer, 2016
What...cookies again? 
I love pomegranates (although I’ve never made my own pomegranate juice or cocktail). When I was pregnant with the twins, it was one of only two foods I craved!!! I ate them nearly every night for as long as they were in season.
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They were always my favorite growing up! I wish I had a green thumb and could figure out how to grow them indoors year round. Maybe that’s one of those projects I’ll have to add to my things to try list. 🙂
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I love pomegranates and actually have some right now in the house. Hmm. Will just juice them up with some ice. Lovely 🙂
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🙂
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