Pomegranates protect the heart
As background information, pomegranates are regarded super-food which can protect the heart. Scientists in Israel have shown that drinking a daily glass of the pomegranate juice can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Pomegranate juice contains the highest antioxidant capacity compared to other juices, red wine and green tea.
Antioxidants are naturally occurring substances in plants that protect the body from free radicals — "bad" chemicals in the blood. Free radicals alter cholesterol in a process known as oxidation, which is though to speed up the hardening of the arteries. In studies at the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel, it was found that pomegranate juice slows down cholesterol oxidation by almost half and reduces the retention of low-density lipoprotein.
Low-density lipoprotein is the "bad" cholesterol which forms atherosclerotic lesions, the fatty deposits which narrow the arteries and lead to heart disease.
Per studies at the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel, antioxidants can protest us against the oxidative stress in our industrialized world, such as pollution, chemicals, viruses and bacteria and consequently cardiovascular disease and cancer.
As summery, free radicals are the products of normal cell process. They wreak havoc in the body and are constantly controlled by the production of anti-oxidants. There is a fine balance between the oxidants and the anti-oxidants. Certain diseases tip the balance in favor of the free radicals. When cholesterol is oxidized by free radicals, it produces a type which triggers thickening of the arteries.
Pomegranate juice has many vitamins
Pomegranate juice is abundant with vitamins A, C, E and iron.
Pomegranate fruit in mythology
Thought to be native to Persia, the fruit is now grown everywhere from Spain to California. It features richly in mythology as a symbol of birth, eternal life and death, owing to its abundance of seed and ability to "bleed". The deep red skin of the pomegranate was though to be link it to the blood of the earth, a taboo color. Hence the fruit’s association with forbidden desire.
Iranians believe that Eve was tempted with a pomegranate in the Garden of Eden, per Margaret Shaida, culinary historian and author of The Legendary Cuisine of Persia.
The Prophet Mohammed is said to have urges his followers to eat the fruit in the belief that it purges the system of envy and hatred.
Pomegranate fruit in Ancient Egypt
The ancient Egyptians were buried with pomegranate in the hope of re-birth, while in Green mythology, Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, was offered a seed of the fruit by Hades. Hades and his brothers Zeus and Poseidon defeated the Titans and claimed rulership over the universe ruling the underworld, sky and sea, respectively. Persephone, tempted by its jewel-like appearance, took it, thereby condemning herself to spending a portion of every year with Hades in the underworld.
These days, Greeks traditionally break a pomegranate at weddings, as a symbol of fertility. In China, a sugared version of the seed is eaten on the day of wedding to bless the newlyweds.
The fruit has long been used in folk medicine in the Middle East, Iran and India. Healers have used the bark, leaves, skin and rind as well as the edible bits of the fruit to cure everything from conjunctivitis to hemorrhoids.
A boiled infusion of the rinds is said to soothe a sore throat.
Pomegranate juice is recommended for pregnant mothers as it is rich in iron. It's also cooling and good for cleansing the system.
Pomegranate juice is made in Azerbaijan, which is the only pomegranate sort suitable for juice manufacturing. Hyson pomegranate juice is freshly squeezed, not from concentrate, without any sugar and flavors.