by Svetlana Konnikova

Do you feel unhappy, depressed or fatigued? Make fresh pomegranate juice or buy a bottle of 100% natural Pom juice from California in Whole Foods. Add one teaspoon honey to eight ounces (one cup) and drink it. This is my Grandma’s recipe tested by many people including me, and it works. Try it, boost your energy, and treat your depression or fatigue naturally.

Pomegranate juice is high in three different types of polyphenols, a potent form of antioxidants. These three types–tannins, anthocyanins, and ellagic acid can be found in many fruits, but pomegranate juice contains particularly high amounts of all three. As antioxidants, they are credited with helping in the prevention of cancer and heart disease.

Lately pomegranates are being recognized as a new, hot “super food.” No surprise! Pomegranates are not only delicious and beautiful gifts of Mother Nature, they are also the most nutritious fruits you can eat.  Researchers confirm that pomegranates are high in vitamin C and rich in minerals –calcium, potassium, iron, and phytonutrients–compounds helping the body protect itself against heart disease, arthritis, cancer, diabetes and rheumatoid.

This nutrition-rich fruit contains powerful antioxidants helping you also to delay the aging process and neutralize almost twice as many free radicals as red wine and seven times as many as green tea. Some researchers also suggest that the crunchy  seeds of the pomegranate help to flush fats from the digestive tract.

What can you do with these tantalizing seeds? Sprinkle them over your salads, pop them into your mouth, add into your fruit desserts, cakes, pudding, marinades or just sqeeze them on a top of your veal cutlet. Here are two healthy recipes  for you to try and test your tastebuds.

Pomegranate Kefir  Appetizer

  • 1 large pomegranate
  • 1/3 cup pomegranate juice
  • 2 cups chilled organic plain kefir (regular,no low fat)
  •  1/3 cup fresh organic Italian parsley
  • 1/3 cup fresh organic dill
  • 2 scallions, finely chopped
  • 1 small organic red onion, finely chopped
  • a pinch of sea salt
  • Fresh basil leaves

Separate seeds from the pomegranate and place them in a small glass bowl. Put aside. In a glass medium mixing bowl combine kefir, pomegranate juice, scallions, onion, parsley, dill and salt.  Sprinkle on a top of this mixture two tablespoons of the crunchy pomegranate seeds. Garnish with fresh basil leaves. Chill for 30 minutes and serve. Makes 2-3 cups.

I love avocados. So, very often I experiment with this amazing creation of Nature containing fat that is good for us, and our bodies crave it. You definitely know an original recipe for quacamole. Now try this delicious and nutritious Pomegranate Guacamole. I always make huge portions, but if you need smaller just use instead of three–two, etc.

  • 3 large ripe avocados (or 2)
  • 1 large organic yellow onion, grated (or 1/2 onion)
  • 2 medium size organic tomatoes, chopped (or 1)
  • 4 organic garlic cloves, chopped (or 2_
  • 3 fresh organic small bell peppers (red, yellow, orange), chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh organic Italian parsley leaves, chopped (or 1)
  • 1 freshly sqeezed lime or lemon
  • 2 tablespoons pomegranate juice (or 1)
  • 3 tablespoons pomegranate seeds
  • a pinch of seasalt
  • a pinch of Hungarian mild paprika

Finely chop the onion, tomatoes, garlic, small bell peppers and parsley leaves. Place all ingredients in a clear glass, medium size bowl. Add lime or lemon juice, mix ot and set aside. Peel and pit the avocados, cut on cubes, and place them in another glass bowl. Mash the avocados with fork and slowly add pomegranate juice. When yougot a smooth mixture, empty this bowl contents into a bowl with other ingredients. Mix it well, then sprinkle  the pomegranate crunchy seeds on the top of guacamole. Serve your Pomegranate Guacamole with fresh organic rye, 5 grains bread, whole wheat French muffins or with organic blue corn chips, warm tortilas or tostadas.

 Fresh pomegranates are available in September through January, but the juice is available throughout the year. So, whether you crunch fresh pomegranate seeds, drink the rich, dark burgundy color juice or make with pomegranates delicious meals, enjoy them in all variations, and do your body a favor of keeping it healthy and vital.

Source: Mama’s Home Remedies: Discover Time-Tested Secrets of Good Health and the Pleasures of Natural Living by Svetlana Konnikova MA, AN, Aurora Publishers, 2008, 2009 Mom’s Choice Gold Award Winner; http://www.pomegranate.org

Copyright 2010