Pomegranate powder is dried and ground pomegranate seeds. Because it is freeze-dried, it is raw, preserving nutrients and enzymes.
Contents
Uses
1. Superfood smoothies. This is a no-brainer… add a spoonful of pomegranate powder to your smoothies before blending. It ups the nutrient content and adds beautiful flavor. My favorite fruit pairings with pomegranate powder include blueberries, bananas or mangoes.
2. Spiked salad dressing. I’ve found pomegranate powder plays beautifully with balsamic or dijon vinaigrettes. When making your vinaigrette, whisk a spoonful (to taste) of pomegranate powder into the vinegar or mustard base until it dissolves. Then whisk in the oil, as usual.
3. Powder sugar substitute. Use a sifter or mesh strainer to dust pomegranate powder over cakes, pancakes or waffles for a beautiful and comment-provoking presentation. It’s a refined-sugar alternative to dusting powdered sugar.
4. Natural food coloring. Pomegranate powder lends a beautiful pink shade without the artificial coloring agents found in conventional food coloring. I’ve added pomegranate powder to frosting to create a gorgeous pink result. You could also try experimenting and add pomegranate powder to cake batter (I haven’t tried this yet, so I don’t know if the color changes when it is baked, but it sounds promising).
5. Ice Cream. Whisk pomegranate powder, to taste, into the base of ice cream before processing in an ice cream maker. Alternatively, add it to the blender if you are making frozen fruit based ice cream, such as my Banana Chai Ice Cream or Mango Soft Serve.
6. Hot Tea. Stir pomegranate powder, to taste, into hot tea until dissolved. Add milk and sweetener if desired, but the pomegranate powder lends a lovely sweetness. I love it paired with black tea, green tea, ginger, and rooibos.
7. Pomegranate Buttermints. Create a spin on my Sugar-Craving-Busting Buttermints, which is one of the most popular recipes on Empowered Sustenance. Instead of the peppermint extract, add a spoonful (to taste) of pomegranate powder to the base before piping the buttermints. They will turn a beautiful pink shade.
8. Pomegranate honey. Stir pomegranate powder into raw honey for an instant fruit-infused honey.
9. Flavor porridge and oatmeal. Add to your hot bowl of breakfast porridge or oatmeal. No oats for you? Try my coconut-based Paleo “Oatmeal.”
10. Curries, stews, and crockpot meals. To add nutrients and a sweet-tart flavor, finish curries or stews with a hit of pomegranate powder before serving.
Benefits
Pomegranate powder spikes both sweet and savory dishes with the distinct sweet-tart flavor of pomegranate along with the nutrients found in this gorgeous fruit.
Pomegranate powder boasts high levels of phytonutrients including:
- vitamin C
- antioxidants
- potassium
- folate
Rich in Antioxidants
Pomegranates are rich in polyphenols, namely ellagitannins, which are natural antioxidants. Ellagitannins in pomegranates are as effective in powder form as in juice form. Antioxidants protect the body from damage caused by free radicals and toxins. A 2010 issue of “Cancer Prevention Research” stated that ellagitannins from pomegranates demonstrated anti-cancer abilities by stopping the growth and proliferation of breast cancer tumors in an in vitro study.
Heart Health Benefits
The antioxidants in pomegranates also have good anti-inflammatory effects, which can help with reducing the symptoms in people with hypertension and heart disease. A 2011 publication of “Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice” included a review that found that regular consumption of fresh pomegranate juice reduced overall blood pressure levels, as well as reducing the risk of hardened arteries, contributing to overall heart health. However, researchers stated that larger study groups over the long term were needed to further support current research.
Regulates Blood Sugar
A 2012 publication of the “Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders” stated that pomegranate juice, consumed regularly, could help patients with Type 2 diabetes. The human study, conducted on 50 patients over six weeks, included a dietary supplement of 200 milliliters of fresh pomegranate juice per day. Scientists found that blood sugar levels were steadier, and overall cholesterol levels were lower in the study group when compared to the placebo group. Their conclusion was that pomegranate juice’s antioxidant abilities may help with keeping fasting blood sugar levels steady, as well as improving overall blood lipid profiles for diabetics.
No Weight Gain and Less Fat
In a study published in a 2011 issue of the “Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism,” researchers found that drinking fresh pomegranate juice may help with reducing overall body fat content in obese people. In a group of 20 obese adults, pomegranate juice consumption, along with a fasting state, led to no weight or fat gain, even though insulin sensitivity was not changed. This was significant compared to the control group participants, who exhibited significant weight and fat gains over the study period.
Cautions
No side effects.
Interactions
None known.
Other names
n/a
References
Source: LiveStrong, http://www.livestrong.com/article/308379-the-benefits-of-pomegranate-juice-dried-powder/
Empoweredsustenance, http://empoweredsustenance.com/pomegranate-powder-uses/