The New Year is upon us and we’re getting a head start on our resolution to eat more cancer-fighting foods. We’re starting small with the cute little seeds of a pomegranate! Sweet and tart. Tangy and juicy. Delicious. That’s the pleasure you get when you crack open a fresh pomegranate and suck on the deep red seeds of the luscious fruit. Or when you simply crack open a bottle of pure pomegranate juice and take a satisfying gulp.
Not only are pomegranates tasty, but they’re also full of natural health benefits. The fruit’s rich ruby-red look comes from polyphenols, the potent antioxidants which protect the DNA from oxidative damage from carcinogens and can actually kill cancer cells and inhibit their proliferation. Plus, both the fruit and its outer skin are rich in flavonoids, a group of antioxidants that reduce inflammation and may prevent cancer by helping your body eliminate carcinogens and killing cancer cells. Wow, now that’s what you call a cancer-fighting powerhouse.
As if that wasn’t enough, the benefits don’t stop there. Check out some other ways pomegranates help your body:
- They’re anti-inflammatory —Researchers from Case Western Reserve University discovered that eating pomegranates reduces the production of chemicals that cause inflammation. In other words, they could provide relief of chronic inflammatory conditions and have anti-aging effects.
- They’re good for the heart — As we know, pomegranate juice is rich in polyphenols with high-antioxidant potential. Research from Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing notes that it’s a heart-healthy fruit that can help reduce blood pressure.
- They can assist with weight loss — Chinese researchers found that a polyphenol in pomegranate might help reduce obesity caused by high-fat diets and protect against metabolic disorders.
- They help protect your skin from damage — The strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of pomegranate might help protect skin against sun-induced damage, according to a study from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
- They protect the liver — Chinese researchers also found that polyphenols and flavonoids, the major antioxidant components harnessed from pomegranates, might protect people from liver damage.
- They help fight infection — Pomegranate has been recognized for its antimicrobial effects. For example, the dried powder of pomegranate peel has been shown to strongly inhibit candida and yeast.
- They help with brain health — An international team of researchers led by the University of Huddersfield discovered that a natural polyphenol compound found in pomegranate can inhibit inflammation in specialized brain cells, to help prevent or slow down Alzheimer’s development.
Impressive resume for such little seeds! If you need a little help getting started on your healthy eating resolution, we’ve got you covered! We’re sharing with you one of our favorite recipes featuring pomegranate. Our friends over at Goofy Foot Foods are the BEST when it comes to health foods and this recipe is no joke. Check it out!
ROASTED SWEET POTATOES WITH POMEGRANATE
Ingredients:
- 3-4 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon high-quality sea salt
- fresh cracked pepper to taste
- juice of 1/2 – 1 lime
- 1/4 cup shelled hemp seeds
- 1/4 cup pomegranate arils
- 1/4 cup roasted pistachios
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Prepare sweet potatoes.
- In a large bowl, toss together diced sweet potato, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, sea salt and pepper.
- Place sweets in an even layer on a large baking pan. Roast 30-40 minutes. Should be fork tender when done.
- Let cool slightly.
- Combine roasted sweets, pistachio nuts, pomegranate arils and hemp seeds. Squeeze a little lime juice over the bowl and toss lightly.
- ENJOY!
Enjoy this dish? We’ve got SO MANY more for you in our Quick and Clean Salads & Smoothies recipe that we created with Goofy Foot Foods. For a $5 donation, you can download the book and start cooking your way to better health in 2016!
Sources:
Goofy Foot Foods
Mind Body Green
SF Gate
Cancer Active
