Is it possible to eat pomegranate seeds and are they harmful?

Pomegranate is an exotic fruit, which is still considered a very outlandish delicacy in many countries.Moreover, it has long been known that it possesses not only a pleasant taste, but also a mass of healthy properties.

The benefits of eating pomegranate fruits have been known for a long time. For example, this fruit is mentioned in the Bible as a symbol of royal power and health. The seeds of this plant were used as ingredients for medicines in ancient Greece, when medical art was just emerging.

The name of the fruit comes from the Latin word “granautus” and translates as “granular”, which directly emphasizes the peculiarity of the structure of these fruits. The fact is that the seeds, that is the bones, make up the bulk of the pomegranate, which should be eaten. The kernels of the seeds themselves are dense and solid, but their shell is enclosed in a thin capsule and contains a delicious juice inside.

There is no doubt that the name "royal fruit" pomegranate got deserved. The stones of this fruit contain a huge concentration of nutrients, most of which are indispensable for both adults and children. Also, doctors note the fact that all bioactive substances in the composition of pomegranate are in a form that makes them as accessible as possible for our body to digest during the digestive process.

Today it is authentically known that the following components are a part of pomegranate fruits.

• Fatty Organic Acids, which are unique compounds to strengthen and stimulate the immune system. They also have a pronounced antioxidant effect.
• A nicotinic acid. Stimulator energy centers of the human body. It improves the functioning of the central nervous system, helps both to concentrate on intellectual activity and to achieve relaxation, emotional stability.
• Various phosphorus compounds, useful both for strengthening bone tissue, and for the work of nerve cells.
• A large amount of vitamins. Among them, the bulk falls on B, C, A, E. All of them are necessary to maintain normal health, strengthen immunity, metabolism, recovery processes and regeneration. In addition, pomegranate contains a large amount of vitamin B12, which is necessary for the normal absorption of iron.
• Trace elements and minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium, iron and zinc. Pomegranate fruits contain especially many iron ions, which makes them a unique treatment for anemia.
• Folic acid, which contributes to the rapid absorption of most trace elements, especially iron. It is also used by the body to create interferon cells necessary for the normal functioning of the immune system.
• Adequate Carbohydratewhich are the simplest source of energy for a person.

However, any ripe pomegranate fruit can be used as a medicine for many diseases.

• First of all, red pomegranate seeds in a short time increase the level of hemoglobin. This is especially useful for pregnant women, who often suffer from a lack of iron, folic acid and vitamin B12, which is the main reason for the development of hidden anemia. Ripe pomegranate or fresh juice from its fruits contain all these substances in excess.
• It is useful to swallow pomegranate grains or to use a decoction based on the rind of the fruit if you have a bowel disorder. The fact is that the pulp of the grains has a good astringent property, and the peel contains enough fiber, due to which the motility of the intestinal tract is normalized.
• Disinfectant quality. The rind of the fruit contains components such as tannin and some organic acids that help protect the seeds from harmful bacteria. Many doctors recommend decoctions and infusions of pomegranate for rinsing the mouth during stomatitis and some other inflammatory diseases.

• Despite the carbohydrate content, with proper use of pomegranate can reduce the level of glucose in the blood. It is often recommended by doctors with diabetes mellitus as a dietary supplement and sweetener substitute.
• It has a pronounced antioxidant property. Pomegranate is the most useful supplement to the diet for those who live in regions with increased water and air pollution, as well as in the case of exposure risks.
• Helps to heal wounds on the skin, and also contributes to its overall recovery. Due to the high content of acids and vitamins, grains have become a favorite ingredient of masks among cosmetologists. The pulp from the bones not only nourishes the skin, but also eliminates excess sebum, activates the natural regeneration processes.
• The rind and seeds of ripe fruit contain a sufficient concentration of alkaloid substances, due to which elimination of worms and some other parasites from the intestines is possible;
• Most doctors agree that natural pomegranate juice is very useful for the prevention of diseases of the urogenital system in men, as well as to reduce the risk of developing oncologists and breast diseases in women.

• Produces a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. Pomegranate can be successfully used in many inflammatory diseases of internal organs.
• Also, pomegranate seeds are known for a long time as a means to combat high blood pressure. This fruit gently lowers the effect of blood flow on the walls of blood vessels, strengthens them, makes them more resilient and resistant to sudden pressure drops. Thus, it is not only an excellent medicine for hypertensive patients, but also an effective prevention of hypertensive crises and heart attacks.
• The high content of potassium, which thanks to vitamin complexes is well absorbed by the body, strengthens the heart muscle.
• Increases the activity of hormones in our body and normalizes their ratio. This property of pomegranate seeds is especially important for women during periods of pregnancy and lactation. Also, ripe fruit or pomegranate juice can be regularly consumed during a cycle violation or menopause.

Not always pomegranate fruits are extremely useful. The fact is that a large amount of nutrients makes these fruits practically full-fledged medicine, so they have their own contraindications, as in some cases they may be harmful to the health of an adult or a child.

Before you eat a pomegranate, it is best to consult a doctor if you have at least one of the following problems.

• Diseases of the tooth enamel, including caries, the presence of damaged carious tooth. The high content of organic acids in the juice of pomegranate with excessive use can easily destroy the structure of enamel.

• Weakened natural immunity. Indeed, fruits contribute to the strengthening of the natural protection of our body, but decoctions and tinctures of pomegranate peel can seriously harm health. They include a fairly large number of substances such as alkaloids and pellitorein. Although they are used as anthelmintics, they are rather toxic, therefore, their dosage should always be strictly selected, and such substances are strictly prohibited for children under a certain age.
• In chronic constipation, the use of pomegranates should also be very careful. The astringent effect is weak, but it can aggravate the problem.
• It is strictly forbidden to consume juice or fruit seeds if you have acute inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. This applies in particular to people who have been diagnosed with gastritis or peptic ulcer.
• In case of individual intolerance to seeds or pomegranate peel, it is best to refuse to eat these fruits for food.

As a rule, when eating pomegranate seeds, only the soft shell is eaten, and the hard core spits. At the same time, their sizes are so small that very often adults are faced with a problem when a child swallows a bone as a whole.

However, do not panic when this happens. Most importantly, the seeds do not fall into the respiratory tract. If a child has swallowed one or even several pieces, it will not harm his health. The soft seed coat is easily digested, as if the baby chewed them. Solid kernels can also be digested in the intestines over time, or they can be released along with feces due to their small size. Children under 2 years old may experience side effects such as an upset stomach and intestines, since their digestive system has not yet fully adapted to such foods, but pomegranate seeds are not at all toxic or poisonous to them.

The food is used peeled fruit grains. Usually they eat only their soft part, and hard kernels spit. In order to quickly and easily clean the pomegranate, a deep X-shaped incision is made on it, then it is placed in a container with water and the entire skin is removed, with a little stretching of the grain, thereby separating them from each other and from the core. Ripe seeds settle to the bottom, and the "husk" can be poured with water.

Ripe grains of pomegranate have long been used in medicine and cosmetology. Today, they still have not lost their relevance.

Also, this red and sweet fruit has earned popularity in obstetrics and gynecology. Today it is a well-known natural remedy to combat cystitis and inflammation of the female genital organs. Also pomegranate juice and the periodic use of the seeds of the fruit is recommended for pregnant women. This allows you to avoid depletion of the body, since ripe seeds contain a large concentration of all the necessary minerals, trace elements, vitamins, as well as useful substances such as tocopherols, amino acids, riboflavin. In addition, pomegranate helps eliminate edema, significantly reduces the risk of developing toxicosis, normalizes hormonal balance.

Of course, such a tool can also be eaten as a preventive measure. Regular consumption of pomegranate juice or grains of ripe fruit helps strengthen the immune system and reduce the risk of infectious diseases. Fruits can be consumed even by children from 2 years old, whose body is strong enough to assimilate all bioactive substances. It is recommended to give babies 4-5 grains up to 3-4 times a week as a vitamin supplement to food.

For example, a very simple and effective hair mask. For its preparation you will need glycerin, corn starch, linseed oil, vitamin D, ripe pomegranate fruit. The recipe is as follows.

• Pomegranate must be thoroughly washed and cut in half. Crush one half in a blender with the peel.
• In the resulting mixture pour in one teaspoon of flaxseed oil and glycerin, add the same amount of corn starch and 10 drops of vitamin D, which can be purchased at any pharmacy.
• Mix everything thoroughly. To do this, you can reuse the blender, then let it stand for no more than 5-10 minutes.
• Mask should be applied to the hair with soft movements. Put on a shower cap and warm your head with a towel. Wash off after 40 minutes with warm water. Additionally, you can use shampoo.

This mask not only restores the hair to a pleasant shine, but also cleans and strengthens them, helping to eliminate the problem of split ends, brittleness and loss.

It is also very actively used pomegranate seed oil for skin care. Typically, this tool is not used in its pure form, but is mixed with grape or peach seed oil. For one procedure, it is enough to take 5-6 drops of each oil, mix and apply on the skin with a cotton pad with light movements. After that, you must wait until the product is absorbed. It is important not to wash off the remnants of the oil, and remove them with another clean cotton pad.

These simple procedures are recommended in the case when the skin of the face suffers from an obvious lack of nutrients, which is characterized by excessive dryness, peeling, cracking and rashes. Pomegranate seed oil quickly saturates with vitamins and minerals, retains moisture in the upper layers of the dermis, activates the processes of recovery and regeneration. Pomegranate can also be used when there is a problem of excess sebum and inflammation, as a large amount of organic acids gently cleanses the pores and produces a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect.

Today, science has gone far enough for humanity to create various hybrid and unique varieties of vegetables, fruits and berries. Of course, this fate has not bypassed the pomegranate, as the scientists really brought out such an unusual look of this useful plant.

About why it is worth eating a pomegranate with stones, see the following video.