Pomegranate

A ripe, ready-to-eat pomegranate is a luscious jewel of a fruit, capable of transforming any meal into an extraordinary experience. And although this delicious fruit may seem exotic, it's wonderfully easy to enjoy. Pomegranate is a small tree up to 5 meter in height. The bark of the pomegranate tree is light brown with red buds and young shoots. The leaves are small, opposite, glossy and almost evergreen. The large and attractive pomegranate flowers are orange-red. The characteristic large pomegranate fruits are crowned with a calyx and contain numerous seeds in juice containing sacs. The fall season brings the harvest of one of the oldest fruits as well as richest in history and folklore: the pomegranate. Once you get past the multitude of seeds, its juice is tangy, sweet, rich and flavorful. This juice becomes the base for sauces and flavorings for drinks, savory dishes, and sweets, while the whole seeds are a simple delight eaten fresh or used as a colorful garnishing accent. As pomegranates are rich in antioxidants, it can keep bad cholesterol (LDL) from oxidizing and hence prevents atherosclerosis. Regular intake of pomegranate juice is highly beneficial for people suffering from heart disorders. It has been noted that pomegranate avoids clumping of blood platelets and also formation of unnecessary clots. Researchers have found that pomegranate compounds can eliminate prostate cancer.