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Since ancient times, the pomegranate has been known as an “Ayurvedic pharmacy;” playing a rich part in the cuisine and culture of many countries around the world. Pomegranate has inspired many comparisons of beauty in texts and other legends. Yet, as beautiful and delicious as it is, its healing properties are even more so!
While the mysterious shape and coveted seeds are typically what most people recognize about the pomegranate, the bark, roots, and rind are used in medicinal foods, home remedies, and many Ayurvedic formulations.
Pomegranates are great for maintaining balance of the three doshas (vata, pitta, and kapha) in the body. Sour pomegranates balance vata and kapha while increasing pitta. Sweet Pomegranate is rich in iron, Vitamin C, and many micronutrients; it is Tridosha pacifying, cleansing, and immunity-boosting.
The seeds, called arils, are low in calories and fat; packed with fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B9; and are rich in antioxidants. They even have a bit of protein! Very few fruits are as nutritional—they’ve been used for their health benefits for thousands of years.
Here are just a few of the applications of the pomegranate according to the National Library of Medicine:
Pomegranate has even been proven to have a therapeutic effect on depression, osteoporosis, asthma, dysentery, obesity, and Alzheimer’s disease.
De-seed a pomegranate in one minute!
Ingredients
2 oz pomegranate juice
1 oz freshly squeezed orange juice
½ oz fresh lime juice
2 oz sparkling water or seltzer
Ice
Directions
Fill an 8–10 ounce glass halfway with ice. Add pomegranate juice, orange juice, and lime juice to your glass. Stir well to combine.
Pour seltzer/sparkling water over the juice mixture and garnish with any desired garnishes such as pomegranate seeds, lime or orange slices, frozen cranberries, fresh mint, or fresh rosemary.
Banyan Botanicals writes about this recipe, “The merger of chocolaty, chewy goodness with heart-healthy oats and pomegranate created this divine bar—a taste of bliss in every bite. All doshas should eat it in moderation. This recipe is gluten-free, soy-free, and vegetarian.”
Ingredients
Makes 16 bars.
½ cup coconut sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
¼ teaspoon Himalayan salt
¾ cup almond butter
¼ cup unsalted butter
1 tablespoon pomegranate syrup
1 large egg, beaten
¾ teaspoon baking soda
1 ½ cups quick-cooking gluten-free rolled oats
¼ cup gluten-free dark chocolate chunks (70% to 85% cacao)
Directions
A delicious and easy way to incorporate pomegranate with our daily meals is by using it in chutney. Healthyayurveda.com says this recipe is simple yet divine!
Ingredients
4 teaspoons of dry pomegranate seeds
½ cup fresh cilantro
¼ cup of fresh mint leaves
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
¼ tsp fennel powder
¼ tsp cumin powder
½ onion chopped
Salt to taste
4 tablespoons of water
Sugar and/or chili powder to taste
Directions
This chutney can be kept for up to 3-5 days in the fridge. There are many variations that can be used according to one’s taste or preference. Different spices can be added or removed to create your own perfect pomegranate chutney. Also, feel free to adjust the amount of water to create the desired texture of the chutney.
Ingredients
2 large cucumbers
3 cups chopped fresh cilantro
1 cup pomegranate seeds
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 scallion, thinly sliced
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
Directions
Pomegranates, especially their seeds, are a nutritional and flavorful addition to both sweet and savory dishes. Incorporate them into your heart-healthy diet today!
