Origin: Pomegranate seeds are the seeds of the fruit pomegranate. Pomegranate natively belongs to Iran and then later came to the Himalayas in Northern India.
Pomegranate seeds have been an important ingredient in the whole mediterrean region since ancient times. Pomegranate has been widely cultivated throughout India and the drier parts of southeast Asia, Malaya, the East Indies and tropical Africa for the fruit and the seeds. Pomegranates are curious fruits - apple-sized, red in color, and containing hundreds of pitch-red juicy seeds. The word pomegranate is derived from the medieval Latin “pomum granatum,” which means apple of many grains or seeds.
Scientifically: Pomegranate is the prolific seed clusters and the seeds are dried later and used in several cuisines. The pomegranate tree is a fruit-bearing tree.
It is a deciduous shrub from the family Lythraceae,of the subfamily Punicoideae. The pomegranate tree grows between 5 and 10 m tall. The pomegranate seeds are also called arils which contain sweet, juicy nectar that surrounds a white seed in the middle. Pomegranate seeds are edible seeds and it is believed that there are about 613 seeds in the fruit. The seeds comprise around 3% of the weight of a pomegranate fruit.
Usage: Pomegranate fruit is one of the best fruits in the world. It is used in desserts, eaten raw or is consumed as juice. It is also used in different cuisines across the world. It is known for its delightful sweet taste. Pomegranates are rich Trusted Source in vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. The majority of that fiber is found in the white seeds hiding beneath the pockets of juice. It contains 48 percent of the recommended daily vitamin C intake, important for a variety of health functions.
Pomegranate seeds contain a high number of antioxidants, which help protect the body against inflammation and free radical damage. There are also antioxidants in the peel, though few people eat pomegranate peels. These antioxidants, referred to as polyphenols, include tannins, flavonoids, and anthocyanin. Two studies claim that pomegranate juice has the ability to fight prostate cancer. Pomegranate seeds also has the ability to reduce inflammation.
Below are some DIY with pomegranate seeds:
- Take a teaspoon pomegranate seed powder, teaspoon of lemon juice and some honey. Mix them together and use it as a natural scrub. Gently massage the skin and rinse it off. This helps in removing dead skin.
- Soak one tablespoon of pomegranate seeds in half a cup of milk. Once completely soaked, grind them into fine paste, add a pinch of turmeric and a teaspoon of milk cream. Mix this well and apply on the face. Leave it on for 15 minutes. Rinse once dry. This mask helps in giving clear fair skin.
- Take a teaspoon of gram flour, a teaspoon of pomegranate seed powder and add lemon juice to this to make a thick consistency. Apply this paste on to the face and leave it on for 10 minutes. This mask helps in cleansing the skin.
- Take a teaspoon of pomegranate seed powder with a teaspoon of sandalwood powder. And make a paste by adding rose water to it. Apply this to your face and let it dry for 20-30 minutes. This helps in clearing of pimples.
- For exfoliation, take a teaspoon of pomegranate seed powder and a teaspoon of dried rose petals, mix them together with some water. Apply this mask on the face and leave it on for 5- 10 minutes. Gently massage when slightly damp.
- Take a few drops of pomegranate seed oil with few drops of almond milk. Apply on the blemishes and scars. Leave it on for 30 minutes or overnight. This helps in fading them.