Pomegranate is an exotic berry, a member of the berry family, Zeaxanthum family. Pomegranate is cultivated worldwide, most especially in China, India, Egypt, Spain, North Africa and Italy. Pomegranate is a polysaccharide that has high contents of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, sugars and starch. This is the main reason why it is considered as a very good food for a wide range of disease conditions and is highly recommended by physicians.
The pomegranate is round-shaped and it can be eaten sliced, broken or mixed into juices. Pomegranate is rich in vitamin C and iron. This fruit has a high content of protein, fat, carbohydrates and dietary fibers. Some places grow this fruit in the wild; some grow it in special “organic boxes” where they are protected from pests; while some grow the pomegranate in their boxes in the open fields.
Pomegranate contains natural antibiotic chemicals called anthocyanins which prevent bacteria formation in our body; studies say that when grown in the field, pomegranates may contain up to 70% of these chemicals. These chemicals found in the fruits inhibit growth of pathogenic microorganisms causing diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disorders and Alzheimer’s. Pomegranate is also considered to have good mineral and vitamin contents. Pomegranate has a high storage life, hence the fresh pomegranate fruit can be stored for years at a time without spoiling.
In the last century, scientists had discovered that pomegranates contain antioxidants which help in preventing premature aging of the body, protect liver cells from damage and fight several types of cancer. Antioxidants fight free radicals that cause cellular aging and death. These free radicals are produced due to excess consumption of toxic chemicals like tobacco smoke, air pollution and inadequate diet. These antioxidants found in the pomegranates prevent such oxidation, thus preserving the storage life of the fruit and making sure that the nutrients contained inside the fruit are not wasted.
As mentioned earlier, the pomegranate is a seedless fruit which means it consists of arils that need to be removed before consumption. The removal of arils makes the pomegranate fruit unappetizing for many people, however, some people love the taste of the arts. Pomegranate can be either eaten fresh or preserved by freezing it. There are two ways to freeze the pomegranate – one is using liquid nitrogen and the other one is using super-heating which kills all the roots and the seeds of the pomegranate.
Freezing the pomegranate fruit using liquid nitrogen removes the arils and reduces the size of the fruit, but does not remove the valuable nutrients (free radical antioxidants) present in the skin of the pomegranate. On the other hand, the freezing of the pomegranate tree by using super-heating helps in retaining the nutrients present in the pomegranate and retains the quality of the pomegranate. This preserves the pomegranate until it’s time to eat fresh. Whichever way you want to preserve your pomegranate fruit, you’re sure to get a healthy, sweet and nutritious result.