RUBY RED SECRET – The Pomegranate
2008-01-28 01:34:05
By Linda van Doornewaard – Holistic Therapist/Reflexologist
Often mistaken as a native of China (this fruit is also referred to as
a Chinese apple) the pomegranate is a native of Persia. It was brought
to China only in the first century BC during the Han Period.
Popular in the Mediterranean, the Near and Middle East and in some
parts of Asia, it goodness has been acknowledged with credits ranging
from it beinga symbol of fertility, hope and prosperity to one that
promises eternal life. The early Christians saw the pomegranate as a
symbol of hope while to the Jews it was a symbol of prosperity, bounty
and eternal life. In Iran (formally known as Persia) the fruit
signifies immortality and fertility. In ancient Persia, a child being
inducted into the religion of Zoroastrianism was required to chew a
pomegranate leaf.
In the Old World it’s skin was cured to use as `leather’. Pomegranate
juice will stick to your clothes if not washed off immediately. For
this it has been used as a dye on non-synthetic fabrics in the
past. Pomegranates contain ruby red arils that are delicious and heavy
with juice. These glistening seeds add colour, flavour and texture to
appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts.
The ancient Arabs valued pomegranates for the medicinal
properties. Powdered pomegranate peels were used on burns and to treat
infections on cuts and wounds. Soaked peeling was said to be effective
for sore throats, stomach troubles and indigestion. The fruit soaked
in boiled water and taken with honey was believed to ward off heart
trouble
Touted today as the new `super food’ that tastes as good asit looks,
the pomegranate is rich in minerals such as calcium, potassium and
iron plus compounds known as phyto -nutrients that can help protect
against heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. The
powerful antioxidants in the fruit are believed to help slow down
ageing.
It is also believed to neutralize twice as many free radicals as red
win and seven times as many as green tea. Everything about pomegranate
is bursting with goodness, even down to its crunchy seeds that help
flush out fats from the digestive tract. Preliminary tests also show
that it is effective in reducing heart disease risk factors.
And still, the juice has also been found to have antiviral and
antibacterial effects on detail plaque.
_Hua Hin Today_ () Volume 4, Issue 7
Current Hua Hin, Thailand Time: Mon 19:15:42