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Living in Brooklyn, pomegranates don't exactly fall under my local fruits list. They do however, fall under my juicy and sweet, super fun-to-eat fruits list. So when I found out that November is National Pomegranate Month, I let myself make a non-green exception (yes, I know, guilty as charged!) and purchased two, organic ruby red bulbs grown in California.
As I re-kindled my long lost flame with the exotic fruit over breakfast this morning (wearing a stain-worthy sleep tee because yes, the red nectar will stain)--and researched a bit about its health benefits--I was blown away. Not only by its bursting flavor but just how beneficial the fruit could be in my adulthood. The red pom boasts a long list of health boosting properties. Here are just a few:
- As a natural aphrodisiac, they promote fertility by boosting libido and sexual vigor
- They contain almost half of the daily dose of recommended Vitamin C, the antioxidant that helps protect from free radical damage and promotes good circulation
- They boast stress relieving Vitamin B5 and heart disease reducing Vitamins A and E
- They can help reduce and/or minimize menopause symptoms
So if you, like me, love pomegranates but your eco-conscious has you by the green grip, make the rare splurge this month--when they are at least in season. (If you live where they're grown directly, like Cali, lucky you!)
Its nutrient-dense, superfood properties could leave you re-considering fancy, often over-packaged, anti-aging crèmes and potions and/or reduce your chances of having to rely on a libido-boosting prescription--Viagra, perhaps?
Choose organic and eat one whole by severing the skin around the middle and prying the fruit open in half. (I don't like to slice down the entirety of the fruit as cutting the seeds can get messy.) Or sprinkle the seeds over salad, cereal, or yogurt.
::Care2 via Green Options
More on Pomegranates:
Emeril's Jicama and Dandelion Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
Emeril's Acai, Blueberry, Pomegranate White Sports Tea
Locavores Lament No More: Top 10 Superfoods for Fall
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