Calorie content and composition of pomegranate
Pomegranate is a favorite fruit of many, which has a lot of useful properties. It is eaten alone or included in various dishes. But, despite the frequent use of the fruit, not everyone knows about the components that it contains and about its calorie content. Nutritionists recommend studying such characteristics so that the fetus brings maximum benefits and does not have unnecessary effects on the body. All the necessary information about calories and other elements in the composition of the product will be discussed in detail in this article.
What is this fruit?
Pomegranate is a fruit native to Asia, but it came to Europe mainly through modern Tunisia. The fruit of the pomegranate tree has gained immense popularity over time and has spread throughout the world. They have a bright red, burgundy or brown color, depending on the characteristics of the variety and the degree of ripeness of the fruit.
Under the skin of each pomegranate there are many bright red grains of small size, they have juicy sweet and sour flesh with a characteristic aftertaste and a stone inside. These small grains are located inside the fruit in small groups, separated from each other by a white film. In total, the number of grains is approximately 1000 pieces. It is this part of the pomegranate that is eaten.
The fruit itself has a symbolic meaning in the culture of some countries. It is considered a symbol of fertility. Also, pomegranate is often associated even with biblical stories.
Useful ingredients
A grainy fruit includes a fairly large supply of nutrients that can benefit the body. Among the main components are the following:
- B vitamins (B9, B5, B6, B2);
- vitamin C;
- magnesium;
- iodine;
- calcium;
- potassium;
- iron;
- phosphorus;
- tannin;
- vitamin PP;
- tannins;
- glucose;
- manganese;
- vitamin H;
- fructose;
- sodium.
Each of these elements performs a specific function in the body. Together, they represent a whole vitamin complex that can alleviate or even eliminate many ailments.
The benefits and harms of fruit
The components that make up the pomegranate have the following beneficial effects.
- Due to its high vitamin C content, the fruit provides tremendous immune benefits. It is especially recommended to use it during the flu season and colds.
- Vitamin B6, which is part of the fruit, will help get rid of anxiety and stress.
- Thanks to tannin, you can cure such an unpleasant ailment as diarrhea. For this purpose, a decoction made from the peel of the fruit is used.
- The fruit helps cleanse the body of various toxins. This action is especially effective if you eat fresh fruits or drink pomegranate juice.
- With the help of a beneficial effect on the digestive system, the fruit helps to improve appetite.
- Pomegranate improves blood circulation and thus prevents the development of certain diseases such as erectile dysfunction in men.
- In diseases such as atherosclerosis, or in the postoperative period, when the body needs to restore and replenish the supply of missing nutrients, pomegranate must be introduced into the diet. It helps to increase the tone and improve the general condition.
- Vitamin PP is necessary for the normalization of vascular function.People suffering from hypertension will benefit from eating pomegranate fruits as they reduce blood pressure.
- Thanks to tannins, pomegranate is effective for disinfecting the body. It neutralizes intestinal, tuberculosis and dysentery bacillus.
- Also, the fruit is useful for people with low hemoglobin levels. Thanks to the iron in the composition of the product, it is able to increase the amount of hemoglobin in the body.
- Pomegranate fruit can help in the treatment of cough. It has a beneficial effect, diluting sputum and facilitating its removal from the bronchi.
- Ellatoghanin, which is part of the pomegranate, is able to protect the body from the occurrence of cancerous tumors.
- The fruit has a positive effect on brain activity. This is especially evident in children.
- Natural fruit juice helps the female body successfully overcome the difficult stages of the menstrual cycle, and also normalizes the production of hormones by the ovaries.
But, including pomegranate in your diet, it should be remembered that, in addition to benefits, it can also harm the body.
- Since the fruit contains concentrated acids, frequent consumption of juice can adversely affect tooth enamel. To prevent this effect, you should rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after eating a pomegranate.
- If you have increased stomach acidity, as well as problems such as gastritis or pancreatitis, then you should not consume large amounts of pomegranate fruits. Exposure to citric acid can exacerbate existing digestive problems.
- It is not recommended to eat the bones and the peel, since the bones can worsen the condition of the body with ulcers and gastritis, and the peel contains a number of harmful elements, such as isopelletierine.
- If you are allergic, eat pomegranate with caution, as this fruit can cause allergic reactions.
- If you suffer from hemorrhoids or chronic constipation, it is best to eliminate pomegranate from your diet, as it can aggravate such conditions or cause discomfort.
In order to avoid harm to the body to the maximum, it is recommended that, before introducing pomegranate into the diet, you learn everything about the state of your body and determine the degree of individual tolerance of the fruit. Even if you do not have any contraindications to its use, still remember that any product should be eaten in moderation.
According to the recommendations of nutritionists, the recommended daily intake of pomegranate for adults is 250 grams, for children - no more than 150 grams. If you prefer to drink fresh pomegranate juice, then it is permissible to drink a maximum of 300 ml per day.
Calorie content
The number of calories in a pomegranate largely depends on the form in which the fruit is consumed. The most common type is fresh pomegranate. One hundred grams of peeled fruit can contain approximately 52 kcal. If you calculate the calorie content of one whole fruit, the mass of which will be in the range from 250 to 500 grams, then the number of kcal will vary from 130 to 260 kilocalories. Also keep in mind that 100 grams of fresh, peeled pomegranate contains 0.9 g of protein, 0 g of fat and 13.9 g of carbohydrates.
If you prefer to use pomegranate in the form of fresh juice, then its energy value will be 64 kcal per 100 ml. The juice contains proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the amount of 0.3 g, 0 g and 14.5 g, respectively.
Some people like to cook a dish like pomegranate sauce.It is created by boiling pomegranate juice to a thicker state and adding a certain ratio of herbs and spices to it. 100 grams of this product contains 270 kcal.
How is it used in weight loss
Pomegranate fruit is quite acceptable to include in the diet of people on a diet. The fruit will not contribute to weight gain, but on the contrary, it will replenish the supply of elements and iron missing in the body in the process of losing weight. The fetus is even able to prevent the development of anemia. You can eat fruit by adding it to a salad. It also goes well with some meat dishes, helping to prevent heaviness in the stomach after eating meat products.
There is a special pomegranate diet, during which such a fruit should be eaten on a special schedule. An example menu looks like this:
- in the morning you need to eat 150 mg of boiled buckwheat without salt and drink a glass of pomegranate juice;
- as a snack for lunch, you can eat an apple or a pear, depending on personal preferences;
- at lunch, 100 grams of buckwheat is combined with lean meat or steamed fish, a glass of pomegranate juice is also drunk;
- it is permissible to eat a banana for an afternoon snack;
- in the evening, 150 grams of buckwheat can be eaten with celery or other herbs.
The peculiarity of such a diet, which should last 7 days, is the use of pomegranate juice after a meal. It promotes a more active metabolism, and also does not cause a feeling of hunger.
Another way to lose weight with pomegranate is the blitz diet, which allows you to lose up to 4 kilograms in a week. It is the following diet:
- one glass of juice is drunk in the morning; alternatively, one whole medium-sized fruit can be eaten;
- for lunch, eat 0.2 kg of boiled chicken, drink a glass of pomegranate juice;
- 100 grams of low-fat cottage cheese is eaten as the last meal, as well as a large pomegranate.
For such a diet to be truly effective, you must have a healthy body before starting it. Also, if you follow such a strict diet, it is recommended to drink more water during the day.
For information on the calorie content and composition of a pomegranate, see the following video.