The Powerful Health and Beauty Benefits of Pomegranate (Plus a Pom-licious Body Lotion Recipe!)
This article will likely convince you to grow a pomegranate tree in your backyard and pray to the pomegranate gods on the daily. It’s just that good for you, and not just for your health – for your skin, too! Learn the benefits of pomegranate and an easy homemade pomegranate body lotion recipe.
Pomegranate is a fruit native to Iran and the Himalayas in Northern India and has ancient roots. It is a prominent ingredient in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern diets. While it is widely available in the U.S., it’s not necessarily a diet mainstay.
Benefits of Pomegranate
Pomegranate protects the body from disease, and the healthier you are on the inside, the more naturally radiant and glowing you’ll appear on the outside. I could write a book just by listing all of pomegranate’s health benefits, but here’s an abbreviated summation that is just as compelling:
- Pomegranate fights inflammation, and thus may protect against cancer. (It also may prevent tumors from obtaining a blood supply, thus hindering tumor growth).
- Pomegranate stops the production of estrogen, which may reduce the risk of breast cancer.
- Pomegranate reduces LDL (bad) cholesterol.
- Pomegranate reduces blood pressure.
- Pomegranate improves memory.
While all of those perks are most certainly welcome, in the realm of beauty, it is pomegranate’s antioxidant content that takes the cake.
The Beauty Benefits of Pomegranate
Pomegranate contains punicalagin, a powerful antioxidant that is makes up more than half of the fruit’s antioxidant activity. Researchers analyzed various antioxidant-rich foods and found that pomegranate juice has greater antioxidant capacity than red wine, grape juice, cranberry juice, green tea, or acai. Many studies point to this basic fact: consuming pomegranate juice reduces oxidative stress. This essentially means that pomegranate juice protects the body from free radical damage, or the effects of stress, cigarette smoke, alcohol, toxins, pesticides, radiation, viruses, germs, fungi, and general aging, among many other things.
For beauty purposes, this is excellent news. Pomegranate juice is one of the most naturally-occurring antioxidant-rich substances out there. To reap the benefits of pomegranate’s disease-fighting and beauty-enhancing power, consume its juice or seeds regularly. For a topical solution, stir up the following homemade pomegranate body lotion recipe.
Pomegranate Body Lotion Recipe
Makes about 1 ½ cups
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup almond oil
- ¼ cup aloe vera gel
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup beeswax
- 1 cup pure pomegranate juice
Directions
In a double boiler over low heat, add the almond and coconut oil. Stir until the coconut oil is melted and they are well combined. Add in the aloe vera and beeswax. Stir until the beeswax has completely melted. This will take about five minutes. Add the pomegranate juice and mix until thoroughly combined.
Remove the double boiler from the heat and continue to stir until it cools and thickens. Transfer the mixture to a plastic container and store in a cool dark place. Use as your go-to body (and face) lotion!
* This article was originally written and published on http://www.organicauthority.com/the-health-and-beauty-benefits-of-pomegranate-plus-a-pom-licious-body-lotion-recipe/
