Pomegranate

Scientific Name: Punica granatum

Common Names: Pomegranate, Granada (Spanish), Grenade (French).

Pomegranate juice contains some of nature’s most powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants help prevent cell and tissue damage that leads to disease and premature aging.

The pomegranate fruit juice is rich in natural antioxidants called polyphenols and bioflavenoids. These compounds have protective effects on the arterial blood vessel walls. Polyphenols are responsible for the brightly colored pigments of many fruits and vegetables. They also protect plants from diseases and damage from ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Epidemiologic studies have shown a relationship between high dietary intakes of these antioxidants and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

The apple-size fruit, which grows on rounded plants 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6 meters) tall, contains a sack of seeds. These seeds are called arils and contain the pomegranate juice.

History

The pomegranate is native from Iran to the Himalayas in northern India and has been cultivated since ancient times. It later spread to the Mediterranean area and now grows in most of the United States.

The fruit has long been a religious and artistic symbol. It is described in ancient Asian literature, and has become a symbol of longevity in China. Because of its role in the Greek legend of Persephone, the pomegranate came to symbolize fertility, death, and eternity. Some biblical experts even believe a pomegranate may have been the forbidden fruit that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden. In Christian art, it is a symbol of hope.

Organic Evaporated Cane Juice

Organic evaporated cane juice is a wholesome alternative to refined sugar and is a natural source of sweetness that can be a part of a healthy diet.

While both sweeteners are made from sugar cane, evaporated cane juice does not undergo the processing that refined sugar does. Therefore, unlike refined sugar, it retains more of the nutrients found in the sugar cane. Since it is considered to be more wholesome, it is also used as a sweetener in a host of natural foods.

It may also be known by a variety of other names including dried cane juice, cane juice crystals, milled cane sugar and direct consumption sugar. In Europe it is known as “unrefined sugar.” Evaporated cane juice is available in a variety of forms that vary in texture and flavor, although they all share the characteristic of being darker in color than white refined sugar.