By Mariette Abrahams [email protected]
Mariëtte Abrahams has more than 10 years experience within the NHS and in the Medical Nutrition industry. She holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and is a certified Nutrigenomics practitioner. She runs a Nutrition and Wellness clinic at Quinta do Lago Family Medical Centre and Vale De Lobo medi-spa.
The Pomegranate season is here and the Algarve roads are filled with the red antioxidant-rich super fruit.
The powerful health benefits are due to the high phenolic compounds and antioxidant content which has been evaluated to be three times higher than that found in cranberries,red wine and green tea.
A recent study conducted at Queen Margaret’s University in Edinburgh found that volunteers who drank 500ml of 100% pure Pomegranate juice experienced a reduction in blood pressure in just two weeks and a reduction in abdominal fat at four weeks.
Drinking Pomegranate juice has also been associated with reduced stress levels. But before you rush out to pluck fresh pomegranates from the nearest tree, these studies were done in a small study group and drinking 500ml of pure juice also contains a lot of sugar albeit natural.
Therefore as part of a health diet, include at least one small glass of pure juice as part of your recommended 5-a-day.
Remember the peel also contains important nutrients so be sure to include the whole fruit when making juice.
For fun ways to include Pomegranates into your diet this season, try:
• Serving Pomegranate halves to your kids; get them to eat the kernels with toothpicks (under supervision of course)
• Making Pomegranate Vinaigrette for use in salads
• Serve breakfast Pomegranate pancakes
• Mix juice and/or kernels into yoghurts
• Serve Pomegranate kernels on top of goat’s cheese and baby leaf spinach
Mariëtte is a Dietitian with more than 10 years experience within the NHS and in the Medical Nutrition industry. She runs a Nutrition and Wellness clinic at Quinta do Lago Family Medical Centre and Vale do Lobo Spa. For more information or to arrange an appointment, please email [email protected] or visit http://marietteabrahams.com.
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