How to eat pomegranate correctly (with or without seeds): life hacks for easy peeling of the fruit

“Small, round, and inside there are red beads” - this is how the Armenian riddle describes the king of fruits. Another name for the titular berry fruit is the heavenly, or grainy, apple, and not just an apple, but precisely the one because of which Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden. All this is said about the ordinary pomegranate and for good reason, because it is a real elixir of health. We will tell you how to eat pomegranate - with or without a seed, and share ways to peel it from the tightly attached peel.

Who can eat pomegranate?

Pomegranate Everyone can eat it, except people who have dietary restrictions for health reasons.

Are children allowed

Pomegranate is given from the first year of life only if the child has no predisposition to allergies. Due to the high concentration of acids in the berry, it is introduced very carefully into the children's diet in the form of juice, diluting it with water 1:1. It is recommended to give from 30 ml, but not more than 100 ml of diluted juice per day, 2-3 times a week.

A 2-3 year old child can independently taste the seeds or drink 250 ml of juice, a 7 year old child - up to 400 ml of undiluted berry juice per day.

If your baby accidentally eats a piece of peel, which contains strong alkaloids that affect all body systems, give him plenty of fluids or seek advice from your pediatrician. It’s okay if a child swallows a few seeds without chewing them; they won’t cause any harm, but a large amount will cause disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract, constipation and bloating.

Important! Children, pregnant women and people with hypersensitive teeth are given the juice to drink through a straw, as the acids contained in the berry damage the enamel. Before eating pomegranate For food, brush your teeth or chew cheese. This helps form a protective layer on the teeth. Always rinse your mouth with water after eating pomegranate - this will keep the enamel strong for a long time.

Is it possible during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

If the expectant or nursing mother’s body is normal, pomegranate will become an additional source of nutrients, increase appetite, quench thirst, prevent swelling, and help with:

• colds and coughs;
• iron deficiency anemia;
• high blood pressure.

This highly effective, natural, immune-supporting remedy has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and analgesic effects.

It is better to refrain from eating pomegranate during pregnancy if:

• proneness to allergies;
• heartburn;
• constipation;
• low blood pressure.

Nursing mothers should carefully introduce sweet and sour fruit into their diet. This is done when the baby is 3-4 months old. It is best to eat a small portion of pomegranate at lunchtime and monitor the child’s body’s reaction to the new product after feeding. Eat pomegranate needs no bones, otherwise they will cause colic and constipation in the baby.

What are the benefits of fruit?

Useful properties of pomegranate known to people for a long time. Regular consumption of fruit has a beneficial effect on the following body systems:

• immune (vitamin C);
• vascular (vitamin P);
• nervous (vitamin B6);
• hematopoietic (vitamin B12).

Pomegranate contains:

• tannins with strong disinfectant properties - help with tuberculosis, dysentery, intestinal viruses;
• nicotinic acid – with regular use, improves vision and destroys cholesterol plaques;
• vitamins B1 and B6 – help cope with physical and emotional stress;
• iron – increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood;
• amino acids – contribute to the construction of protein cells;
• the most powerful antioxidant punicalagin – neutralizes free radicals and helps cleanse the body;
• vitamins F, E, A – rejuvenate skin cells;
• dietary fiber – normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
• alkaloids – help remove helminths from the body;
• phytohormones - help to properly build hormonal levels during menopause in women and improve potency in men.

Dried and crushed pomegranate peel contains a large amount of tannin, which helps to cope with diarrhea after the first use. This powder heals scratches on the skin if you lightly sprinkle it on the wounds.

Pomegranate has a powerful whitening effect, so it is used in the fight against freckles and age spots. Regular consumption of the fruit prevents the development of stomach cancer, and the pulp and juice remove radioactive elements from the body.

Pomegranate seed juice increases appetite, has an antiseptic and diuretic effect, normalizes blood pressure, and has a beneficial effect on the body in diseases of the liver, kidneys, and lungs.

Reference. To make their voice strong, singers drink a glass of pomegranate juice before performing. It also replaces women's lipstick if you wet your lips with it properly.

Ground seeds relieve headaches, lower blood pressure and promote hormonal activity in the body. Essential oils are made from pomegranate seeds, which are widely used in cosmetology, and the peel of the fruit is used to make paints.

A decoction of pomegranate peel helps cope with colds, stomatitis, bleeding gums and hangovers.

Tea made from dried pomegranate septa normalizes the nervous system, has a calming effect, and relieves insomnia.

How to choose a quality pomegranate

Signs of a ripe pomegranate:

• thin, moderately dry, hard, tightly fitting peel of a bright brown color with a pink or orange tint without any visible damage;
• the fruit is hard and dense, without voids, and the grains are filled with juice, so the fruit should be heavy;
• the crown is dry, clean and colored to match the peel;
• when you tap on a ripe fruit, the peel makes a ringing sound, and when you press, you can hear the crunch of the grains;
• The ripe fruit is odorless, its grains are juicy and sweet.

If the pomegranate skin has brown spots, is too dry, too smooth, or leaves indentations when pressed, it is a poor quality fruit.

How to properly peel a pomegranate

There are several simple ways to peel a pomegranate.

Method 1 (classic):

1. Place the clean fruit on a cutting surface and use a sharp knife to cut off the top where the crown of the fruit is.
2. Make longitudinal cuts on the peel, following the white lines of the partitions.
3. Take the fruit in your hands, cut side down, and gently press down the center with your fingers. The pomegranate should be divided into equal-sized pieces.
4. All that remains is to turn the resulting slices out over a bowl, where the grains themselves will fall freely.

Method 2 (in water):

1. Take the washed fruit and very carefully cut the peel lengthwise with a knife in four parts.
2. Place the cut fruit in a bowl of clean water and leave it there for 10-15 minutes.
3. After the allotted time, begin to separate the pomegranate into individual slices directly in the water.
4. Continue to disassemble the fruit into pieces under water, separating the partitions from the grains and freeing them.
5. Without draining the water, leave the disassembled pomegranate for a few more minutes so that the grains settle to the bottom and all the debris floats to the surface of the water.
6. Carefully remove all debris, drain the water and transfer the grains to a prepared container.

Method 3 (with a spoon):

1. Using gentle movements, cut off the cap of the pomegranate.
2. Make longitudinal cuts on the peel in those places where there should be membrane veins.
3. Open the pomegranate slices slightly.
4. Turn the pomegranate over a bowl, seeds side down, and gently tap the peel with a tablespoon or wooden spoon. The grains will fall out freely, and those that remain will be easy to reach with your hands.

How to eat it

Pomegranate is eaten fresh and culinary products are prepared on its basis. First of all, this is the healthiest pomegranate juice made from the pulp of fruit seeds. They make sauces and smoothies with it. Pomegranate seeds are added to salads, desserts, and roast meats. Punches, wine and grenadine are also prepared using pomegranate.

Is it possible to eat with bones?

Pomegranate seeds contain a whole cocktail of beneficial substances. The bones are thoroughly chewed so that the nutritional elements combine with saliva and enter the digestive tract in a prepared form. If you swallow the seeds whole, all the useful part of the product will remain in them. In addition, if you swallow unchewed bones in large quantities, they will complicate the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Daily consumption rates

Norms per day:

• for men – 3 pomegranate fruits or 150 ml of natural juice every day;
• for women – up to 2 fruits or 75 ml of natural juice daily;
• for children from 3 to 7 years old – up to 250 ml of juice or ½ fruit 2-3 times a week;
• for children from 7 to 14 years old - no more than 400 ml 2-3 times a week.

On average, the daily intake of pomegranate juice is 100 ml, but per week should not exceed 400 ml. You should not eat fruit in the morning on an empty stomach or before bed. The best option is 30-40 minutes before or after meals during the day.

Contraindications

It is better to avoid eating pomegranate if:

• gastritis, increased acidity of gastric juice, gastrointestinal ulcers;
• chronic constipation;
• weakness of tooth enamel, untreated caries;
• low blood pressure;
• under the age of one year.

Children with allergies are allowed to eat pomegranate only from 4 years of age.

Conclusion

The healing properties of pomegranate have been known to people since ancient times. This time-tested remedy maintains vitality, strengthens the immune system, and improves physical and emotional well-being. All you need is to gratefully accept the gift of nature and use it wisely for your health.