Pomegranates The Super Fruit in More Then one way

I drink pomegranate juice every day one or two 8 ounce glasses.
I have notices the juice becoming more affordable compared to two years ago.
That's great news.

Pomegranates could kill off Afghanistan’s opium trade
EXCERPT

POMEGRANATES are the key to eliminating heroin, a pioneering charity founder has claimed.

James Brett is spearheading a campaign to persuade farmers in Afghanistan to switch from growing poppies to growing the super-fruit.

He was in Cardiff yesterday as a guest speaker at the annual conference at City Hall of Cymorth Cymru, the organisation that represents people in supported housing.

“I recognised that Afghanistan not only grew the best pomegranates in the world,” said James, who founded the charity Pom 354.

“They also produced more than 90% of the world’s heroin.

“From research I undertook I came to realise that sales of pomegranates on the global market could outstrip the value to Afghanistan of the opium industry.

“With Pom 354 we are putting in place something that is completely viable for the farmers, and that’s vital to the sustainability of the project in Afghanistan.”

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Afghanistan Promotes Crop More Profitable Than Poppy

Excerpt:

William Phillimore is a businessman whose company's "Pom Wonderful" branded juice has enjoyed a surge in sales from health-conscious consumers in the United States. He was invited to Kabul's International Pomegranate Fair to try the local fruit.

"The Kandahar pomegranate in particular is darker in color than most of the stuff you get in India, which tends to be lighter and sweeter with not as much acid. I think the quality is excellent," Phillimore said. "And I think that they've got a little work to do with the packing and sorting and grading and sizing for the international market because that's what the international market expects."

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NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF POMEGRANATES

Health & Nutrition Benefits of Pomegranates/Pomegranate Juice

• Being rich in antioxidants, pomegranate can keep LDL (bad cholesterol) from oxidizing and thus, prevents atherosclerosis.
• Pomegranate has been found to help keep blood platelets from clumping together and forming unnecessary clots.
• Regular consumption of pomegranate juice is said to be beneficial for those suffering from heart diseases.
• Researches have indicated that pomegranate compounds might prevent prostate cancer and even slowdown its growth.
• Pomegranate juice has also been associated with reducing the risk of breast cancer.
• Pomegranate juice is pretty good for those suffering from diarrhea, but it over-consumption can lead to constipation.
• Pomegranate is said to be good for reducing plaque in the arteries and raising levels of HDL (good cholesterol).
• It has been seen that pomegranate juice helps prevent heart attacks and even stroke.
• Studies have shown that maternal consumption of pomegranate juice might protect the neonatal brain from damage after injury.
• Pomegranate is believed to help prevent cartilage deterioration and thus, keep osteoarthritis at bay.
• Consumption of pomegranate might prevent and even slow down Alzheimer's disease.
• Pomegranate juice is associated with lowering of blood pressure as well as better oral health. SOURCE