MEDIA
4 Your Health - Pomegranates
Monday, 11 Dec 2006, 5:34 PM CST
DALLAS -- We all know that fruits are good for us, and some are better than others. One fruit, especially, has emerged as a front runner in popularity.
Just a few years ago, very few people had ever eaten a pomegranate. Now, it's on store shelves, in juices, salad dressings, teas and even supplements.
Workers at the Whole Foods Market in Dallas confirm that shoppers are looking for juices.
But hold on: the pomegranate's new popularity may go too far.
Just one 8-ounce serving of juice has 39 to 40 grams of sugar. That's like having a candy bar.
But pomegranate juice and the fruit itself are selling like hotcakes -- as are the pomegranate hot cakes!
Jillian Buettner calls herself a health nut. She eats well and stays fit. And one main staple in her diet is Pom juice. She doesn't go a day without a glass of it.
"I really like the color of it. I like colorful things but most of all, I like the taste of it," she said.
Studies have shown that the pomegranate is chock full of Vitamins A, C, and E.
"A lot of studies have shown they actually help against heart disease and arthrosclerosis, which is hardening of the arteries," said Candyce Speidel of Whole Foods Market.
Pomegranates are in season right now. Look for a smooth fruit without any brown areas. The heavier the fruit, the more juice you'll find inside. Just eat the red, juicy seeds (they're officially called "arils" – the sweet juice sacs surrounding the small edible seeds). Yum!
