What is a pomegranate?
Pomegranate is the fruit of the Punica granatum, a species belonging to the family Lythraceae. Its origin is placed in Persia, but now the pomegranate is cultivated for commercial purposes in vast regions of India, Iran, the Caucasus and the Mediterranean.
What are the nutritional properties of the pomegranate?
100 g of pomegranate (edible portion) provide 63 calories broken down as follows:
- 94% carbohydrates
- 3% protein
- 3% lipids
In particular, 100 g of pomegranate contain:
- 1.67 g of protein
- 1.17 g of lipids
- 18.70 g carbohydrates
- 10.2 mg of vitamin C
- 4 g of fiber
- 0,293 mg of niacin
- 0.135 mg of pantothenic acid
- 0.075 mg of pyridoxine
- 0,067 mg of thiamine
- 0.60 mg of vitamin E
- 0.053 mg of riboflavin
- 38 micrograms of folate
- 16.4 micrograms of vitamin K
- 236 mg of potassium
- 36 mg of phosphorus
- 12 mg of magnesium
- 10 mg of calcium
- 3 mg of sodium
- 0.35 mg of zinc
- 0.30 mg of iron
- 0.158 mg of copper
- 0.119 mg of manganese
- 0.5 micrograms of selenium
The pomegranate is a source ellagitannin.
When should you NOT eat pomegranate?
Pomegranate can interfere with carbamazepine, with drugs metabolized by cytochrome P450 2C9, 2D6 and 3A4, with ACE inhibitors, with antihypertensive, rosuvastatin, tolbutamide and warfarin.
Seasonality of the pomegranate
The pomegranate is an autumn fruit that ripens in October.
Possible benefits and drawbacks of pomegranate
Pomegranate is a good source of soluble and insoluble fiber, useful for good digestion and to protect the intestinal health. Pomegranate fruit is also associated with benefits in terms of weight reduction, cholesterol management, improvement of the immune system and circulation and protection against cancer (particularly from the prostate and lymphomas). Its regular consumption was also associated with benefits against benign prostatic hyperplasia and diabetes. Taking ellagitannin like grenadine B and punicalagin present in pomegranate juice may reduce cardiovascular risk by counteracting the effects of free radicals.
The pomegranate can trigger allergic reactions and may be contraindicated in case of surgeries scheduled in the next two weeks.
