A major factor behind pomegranate's popularity in the health world is the high contents of vitamins, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients. These nutrients are resonsible for pomegranate many health benefits.
Pomegranate contains approximately 15% of the average adults recommended daily consumption of Vitamin C per 100ml serving. It is also a great source of vitamin B5. A single pomegranate fruit can yield over 40% of an adults recommended vitamin C. Pomegranate contains large amounts of vitamin E, which helps the body absorb other vitamins.
The vitamins contained in an average sized pomegranate, is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the fruits nutrional value. The thing that really makes pomegranate remarkable is the high potency of antioxidants.
The specific polyphenols, or antioxidants, are known as punicalagins which are have many free radical eliminating qualities. beta-carotene, catechins, gallocatechins, prodelphinidins, delphinidin, cyanidin, and pelargonidin are also found in large quantities. As a result, pomegranate ranks very high on the ORAC scale which rates various foods on their Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.
Pomegranate is an excellent source of essential nutrients such as protein, iron, phosphorus, and potassium.
Compared to many fruits, pomegranate also has high fiber content making it a popular ingredient in many colon cleansing products. Higher fiber combined with incredibly high levels of antioxidants makes this particular fruit a powerful cleansing agent, that cleanses from multiple angles. Pomegranate can effectively cleanse the colon while simultaneously cleansing the body of free radicals.
Many pomegranate supplements contain added vitamins and other nutrients making them even more effective. By providing a naturally healing fruit and combining it with any number of natural vitamins, minerals, and fibers, pomegranate makes for an excellent nutritional supplement.
In addition to all these vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, and other nutrients, pomegranate is also very high in sugar, as many fruits are. This lowers its weight loss effectiveness, which is why many people choose supplements over eating the fruit or processed pomegrante juices.