Pomegranate bijoux (jewels)
Pomegranates are one of my favorite fall and winter delights. A cherished fruit from childhood, the romance does not seem to fade. Something about that leathery, weathered skin and the little gemstone fruits obscured within… gut-wrenchingly beautiful. Admittedly, pomegranates do require more labor then your garden-variety apple. The peeling apart of the skin and gentlw nudging of seeds out of their cozy little chambers takes patience. For me, this process is part of the experience of eating the fruit. Anticipation and effort enhance the exquisite taste. I have always enjoyed pomegranate seeds ( by which I mean the red fruit and seed(aril) within), but I have encountered a few pomegranate eaters who spit out the seed. This struck me as a very tedious way to enjoy a fruit that is, let’s face it, at least slightly labor intensive.
I understand that everyone has their preferences, but I started to research the fruit (particularly the seed), and it turns out that the seed is teeming with good-for-you lipids.
Historically, pomegranates have been used for respiratory issues, parasitic and bacterial infections, diarrhea, ulcers, canker sores, and hemorrhage. There are multiple healthful constituents of the pomegranate including the bark, leaves, and root of the plant, the fruit, the juice, the seeds, and the peels. Ellagic acid is the most acclaimed antioxidant found in pomegranates. It has strong antioxidant and anticancer properties. However the synergistic action of multiple pomegranate constituents is thought to be superior to ellagic acid alone, specifically in prostate cancer suppression.
The peel of the fruit has the greatest level of antioxidant activity. Punicalagin and punicalin are ellagitannins found in the peel that are unique to pomegrantes. Ellagitannins can be hydrolyzed by the body to ellagic acid, a renowned antioxidant.
Pomegranate juice is replete with Vitamin C, Vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, and other antioxidants.
Pomegranate seeds have less antioxidant activity then the fruit or the peel, but they are teeming with good-for-you lipids. They have a unique fatty acid profile distinguished by high levels of linoleic and linolenic acid. Linoleic acid is involved in the production of PGE1 (the anti-inflammatory prostaglandin). Punicic acid is a fatty acid unique to pomegranates and makes up 70-76% of the seed oil. Punicic acid is thought to be an essential component in insulin regulation, blood sugar homeostatis (balance), and obesity related inflammation. ( Warning: about to geek out)
A Golden Elixir for the Common Cold
As daylight ebbs and fades and shadows lengthen and stretch, the unfolding of winter is upon us. The season can evoke a gorgeous quietude – a period of inner reflection. For many of us, however, it is teeming with stress (holiday- related and otherwise). This sets the stage for one of the most ubiquitous ailments: the common cold.
I find myself coming back to his elixir time and time again. The individual spices each on their own confer astounding health benefits . Together, they are an salutary force of staggering proportion. (Please note, this recipe contains honey and honey is not to be given to children under the age of one year). I hope this special brew helps you feel better.
Emu oil for Eczema: Just thank the bird
Photo credit: Richard Gifford
My oldest son has suffered egregiously with eczema for many years. A particularly harrowing bout was when he was 2½ years old. His skin had gotten leathery, parched, and mottled. I recall one evening when we went to change his diaper and clothes, his pajamas and diaper were full of with mysterious little black flakes. My husband thought he had soiled himself and his entire body with poop. The dark shavings, were everywhere, but his diaper was completely dry and the telltale scent was absent. I slowly realized that the black flakes were dead skin cells that had fallen off. I remember that moment with equal parts horror and despair.
At that instant, I decided to try the Emu oil. So many products promised the rapture of soft, supple skin and we only knew too well than to put all of our hopes into a bottle (as organic and chemical free as it might be). The next morning when he awoke, I was shocked to see that his skin looked moist and dewy. His skin had not been this resplendent since he was a newborn babe!
Photo Credit: Geoff Reynolds
Historically, emu oil has been prized for its anti-inflammatory properties in aboriginal medicine. It has been used topically for inflammatory arthritis, pain, and wound healing for centuries in aboriginal culture. Emu oil is rich in omega-3, omega 6, and omega 9 fatty acids. It is a potent anti-inflammatory. In animal studies, emu oil has been found to decrease inflammation and promote wound healing in superficial stage 2 burns. It actively decreases pro-inflammatory chemicals such as tumor necrosis factor- alpha in the healing tissues. Because eczema is a condition of chronic skin inflammation, it makes sense that emu oil can provide therapeutic benefit.