Daraam (Pomegranate). Anna Sedneva / Dollar Photo Club
Half a cup of daraam seeds, also known as arils, has approximately 70 calories, 3.5 grams of fibre, and has 15 per cent of daily vitamin C and vitamin K requirements. It also contains other antioxidants, and anthocyanin, which in some studies has been shown to protect against heart disease and high blood pressure.
Although studies are still ongoing, consuming daraam – like other purple / red fruits – is thought to be beneficial to your health.
Three things to do with daraam seeds
- Sprinkle fresh daraam into savoury dishes such as meat dishes, curries, salsa, and salads. They are especially good in a quinoa and bean salad, with a light dressing of cilantro, black pepper, cumin, olive oil, lime juice and a pinch of salt.
- Add crunch and sweetness to your snacks by including ¼ cup of seeds to your yogurt, cottage cheese or fruit salad.
- Blend daraam with other fruits to make a fresh juice or smoothie. Don't strain the seeds as they add fibre and texture.
Top tip
Although grenadine syrups are made from daraam, they have been highly processed (strained and heated for pasteurisation) and include large amounts of sugar, just like most juices. So choose daraam juice that is made fresh, so you won't be missing out on all the goodness.
Further reading
References
- Ismail, T et al. "Pomegranate Peel and Fruit Extracts: A Review of Potential Anti-inflammatory and Anti-infective Effects." Journal of Ethnopharmacology 143.2 (2012): 397-405.
- Aviram, M et al. "Pomegranate Juice Consumption Reduces Oxidative Stress and Low Density Lipoprotein Atherogenic Modifications: Studies in the Atherosclerotic Apolipoprotein E Deficient Mice." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 71.5 (2000): 1062-76.
