Pomegranate(石榴): Still Healthy at 5,000 Years Old

The pomegranate is one of the oldest known fruits. Pomegranates are found in ancient writings and pictured in the ancient art of many cultures and religions. The pomegranate is also a symbol of health, fertility and long life.

Experts   think   the   pomegranate   is    1     to   northern   India,   Pakistan,   Iran     and     Afghanistan. Today it also grows in Southeast Asia, the western U.S., Armenia and parts of Africa, among other places.

The    2     of   a pomegranate   is   strong.   It   can be red,   purple or   orange-yellow. The   inside is filled with beautiful dark red seeds that    3    like rubies( 红 宝 石 ).     It is not easy to get them out. But the    4    is great.

Health benefits

The pomegranate grows on trees. Parts of the pomegranate tree and fruit are used to make medicine.

The pomegranate is used for many conditions. However, the U.S National Institutes of Health says there is not enough scientific evidence to    5    pomegranates as effective for any of them.

Still, in traditional medicine, the pomegranate is used for conditions of the heart and blood vessels, including high blood pressure and “hardening of the arteries”.

The jewel-like seeds of the pomegranate are    6    with many nutrients and chemicals   called antioxidants( 抗 氧 化 物 ). These antioxidants    7    poisons from the body.

Antioxidants   slow   the    8     of   age-related   sickness   and   may   slow   the   growth   of cancer cells. Men who have prostate cancer may benefit from a daily    9    of pomegranate juice.

Pomegranates are used for weight loss and used as a treatment for sore throat. Pomegranates are also high in vitamin K, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, zinc and iron.

Let’s just say pomegranates are loaded with great things for the inside of your body.

Beauty benefits

But let’s not forget the outside, too!

Pomegranates are great for the skin. They protect the skin by    10    new skin growth,     healing wounds and repairing tissue. Pomegranates protect the skin against sun damage as well. They may help skin look younger by providing moisture and elasticity.