Pomegranate & Diet

The pomegranate has become a very popular fruit, and 450 different products containing pomegranate were for sale in 2006, according to an article on the Minnesota Public Radio News website. This is thanks to, in part, all the attention the fruit has gotten regarding its high levels of antioxidants and the possible health benefits that may result from consuming pomegranate.

Nutrition Facts

The seed and juice sacs, called arils, are the only parts of the pomegranate that you eat. A 1/2 cup serving of these arils contains 72 calories, 3.5 g of fiber, 8.9 mg vitamin C, 205 mg potassium and 14.3 mcg vitamin K. One cup of pomegranate juice has 134 calories, 0.2 g fiber, 0.2 mg vitamin C, 533 mg potassium and 25.9 mcg vitamin K. Most of the benefits of eating the fruit are said to come from the polyphenols it has in abundance, including anthocyanins, ellagic acid, flavenols and tannins, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center website.

Significance

Consuming pomegranate arils is better than drinking the juice, because you get more fiber and vitamin C for fewer calories, though you can get more potassium and vitamin K through the juice than through the fruit.

The polyphenols in pomegranate are thought to have an antioxidant effect as well as anti-atherosclerotic properties, according to the Sloan-Kettering website.

Theories/Speculation

There is an abundance of research on the possible health benefits of the pomegranate. Potential benefits include inhibiting prostate cancer, reducing atherosclerosis, inhibiting breast cancer, inhibiting sunburn, lessening the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, inhibiting colon cancer, improving heart function and anti-viral effects, according to a 2007 article by Dr. Paul Gross on the NPI Center website.

Amount

Many of the studies on pomegranate involved subjects consuming 8 ounces of pomegranate juice per day. Drinking this amount didn't cause adverse effects in men over a two-year study period, according to the Sloan-Kettering website.

Warning

Like grapefruit juice, pomegranate juice might interact with some medications, such as statins and Warfarin, making them less effective, according to the Sloan-Kettering website. Diabetics also should consume pomegranate juice with care, as it is high in sugar.