Among the riches of the Promised Land, the Bible names pomegranates on a par with apples, grapes, olives and figs.
Pomegranate is a sweet and sour fruit that is actually a berry. One fruit contains 400-700 edible seeds, divided into segments by thin, milky membranes. Each tiny seed is surrounded by transparent, smooth, bright red pulp. Ripe fruits are the size of a large orange and have a thin, tough skin, the color of which can vary from red to pinkish-yellow. The fruits are crowned with original sepals in the shape of a crown.
In nature, pomegranates grow as dense bushes or low trees of the species Puncia granatum with thorny branches. Pomegranate trees bear fruit every year and do not require much care. For the fruit to ripen, a long hot summer is necessary, while the tree can withstand 9-12 degrees of frost in winter.
It is believed that the birthplace of the pomegranate tree is Persia. Pomegranate is one of the most ancient fruits, known to man. They have always been popular in the Near and Middle East, were well known in Ancient Rome. Since ancient times, in the East, pomegranate has been considered the king of all fruits. Probably due to precisely the original shape of the sepals, which forms the “crown”.
The Russian name pomegranate comes from the Latin granatus (grainy).
Pomegranate is not only tasty, but also extremely healthy. All parts of the pomegranate are useful. The fruits contain vitamins, fiber, minerals and trace elements: calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, sodium. Pomegranate juice contains proteins, fats, carbohydrates, a large set of vitamins, citric acid, phytoncides and a number of other compounds. The pericarp, roots and bark contain up to 32% tannins.
IN folk medicine Sweet pomegranate juice is used for kidney diseases, and sour pomegranate juice is used as a remedy for kidney stones and gall bladder. Pomegranate juice quenches thirst well during fever and acts as an antipyretic. Pomegranate juice contains many antioxidants, so it increases the body's resistance to infectious diseases, tones and strengthens the body. It also regulates digestion, improves appetite, and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Among the Caucasian peoples, pomegranate juice is widely used in the treatment of burns.
Pomegranate is one of the foods that increase potency in men. A glass of pomegranate juice a day will help men improve their sexual performance.
For women, pomegranate juice will help with menstrual irregularities, as well as with hormonal disorders during menopause.
Fruit peel
It has no less valuable properties. It is used in the leather industry for tanning leather and preparing dyes. In folk medicine, the peel is used as an anthelmintic drug that has a detrimental effect on tapeworms.
Leaves and flowers
Tea has long been prepared from pomegranate leaves, which helps with gastrointestinal disorders, and the flowers in the form of poultices are good for relieving pain from bruises and fractures, and treating varicose ulcers and bedsores.
Attention
Like any fruit or vegetable, pomegranate also has some contraindications.
Pomegranate juice must be diluted with water, as it contains many acids that irritate the stomach and damage tooth enamel.
Be careful with pomegranate bark decoctions. It contains toxic substances that, in case of overdose, greatly increase blood pressure, causing dizziness, weakness, blurred vision, convulsions, and irritation of the gastric mucosa. At the first signs of poisoning, you should call a doctor.
Taking pomegranate is harmful for chronic constipation, hemorrhoids and fissures in the anus.
POMEGRANATE IN COSMETICS
Pomegranate will be a good helper in your struggle for beauty. Its juice has a whitening effect and is used in folk medicine to remove freckles and age spots, and also as an astringent, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment of acne.
Pomegranate lotion for oily hair
Helps eliminate excess oil from hair. IN glassware pour a glass of vodka, squeeze out the juice of half a lemon, add 1 tsp. honey and 1 tsp. carrot juice. Mix everything thoroughly, then pour in the pomegranate juice squeezed from one pomegranate. Mix everything thoroughly again. Close the lid tightly and place in dark place for 10 days.
Before washing your hair, use a cotton swab thoroughly soaked in lotion to wipe the entire scalp. Cover your head with a cotton scarf or towel. After 20-30 minutes, wash your hair with mild shampoo and rinse your hair with acidified water (1 tbsp. vinegar or 1 tsp. citric acid on a basin of water). It is advisable to do this rubbing with pomegranate lotion before each hair wash for a month.
Pomegranate mask for any skin type
Mix 1 tsp. pomegranate juice with 1 tsp. sour cream. Apply the mixture to your face for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
MEDICAL USES OF POMEGRANATE
Regular consumption of pomegranate fruits gradually reduces blood pressure in hypertension.
For anemia, use 0.5 tbsp pomegranate juice. 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 2-4 months, then a break, after which the course is repeated again.
Gargle with diluted pomegranate juice for sore throat.
For hormonal disorders during menopause, consuming pomegranate seeds containing fatty oil promotes hormonal activity, restores hormonal balance in the body, relieves headaches, high blood pressure and irritability. Women and men are recommended to eat pomegranate seeds along with the seeds.
For inflammatory diseases of the kidneys, liver, mouth, ears and eyes, for pain in the joints and bone fractures, for uterine bleeding and bleeding gums, for diarrhea and colitis, use a decoction of pomegranate bark: 2 tsp. crushed bark is poured into a glass hot water, boil in a water bath for 30 minutes, filter, squeeze and bring the volume to the original volume with boiled water. Take 50 g before meals 2-3 times a day.
For stomatitis, a decoction of pomegranate peel is used to rinse the mouth: 20 g of dry crushed peel is poured into a glass of hot water, boiled for 30 minutes, filtered and brought to a glass.
For cracks in the skin and scratches, use pomegranate bark powder for sprinkling.
For inflammation of the nail bed, purulent ulcers, diseases of the ear and nose, crushed pomegranate seeds mixed with honey are used as an ointment.
2-3 tbsp. l. Boil pomegranate flowers with boiling water and wrap in gauze. Apply the pads to the inflamed areas.
Choosing the right one
When purchasing pomegranates, you should choose large, shiny fruits that are heavy for their size. They should not be damaged and be brown at the end. To preserve pomegranates, you can freeze them whole in a freezer bag. Fresh pomegranate juice can be stored in the refrigerator for two to three days.
How to peel a pomegranate
Not everyone loves pomegranate just because these delicious seeds are quite difficult to get, and the whole process can take a lot of time. To easily remove pomegranate seeds, carefully cut off the top and cut the peel into slices. Place the pomegranate in a bowl of cold water for five minutes. Then break the fruit into pieces, holding it under water, so the pomegranate will not splash and the seeds will fall to the bottom. The skins will float and you can easily remove them. Then dry the seeds and you can enjoy this magnificent fruit.
Very often, with the onset of autumn or winter, a large number of exotic fruits appear in supermarkets, which differ not only in color and taste, but also in beneficial properties. Since ancient times, the pomegranate has been considered the king of such fruits, which, according to legend, told people what the crown of rulers should look like.
Pomegranate has a healing and rejuvenating effect due to the content of a huge number of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. As for the latter, out of fifteen amino acids, six amino acids are present in pomegranate, which are not found in any other plant products, but is only found in meat. That is, if you are a vegetarian, pomegranate is your best friend.
Rich in vitamins
In addition to its high amino acid content, pomegranate boasts a whole complex of vitamins, such as C, P, B6, B12. Separately, for each vitamin, the following beneficial qualities of pomegranate can be identified: vitamin C is responsible for immune system, vitamin P makes our blood vessels stronger, B12 improves hematopoiesis, vitamin B6 improves activity nervous system. Pomegranate also contains calcium, potassium, iron, silicon, and iodine.
Beneficial properties: from disinfection to cancer prevention
Tannins found in pomegranate bark have a disinfectant effect, which helps with gastrointestinal disorders, dysentery and tuberculosis. As for pomegranate juice, it is a precious liquid that not only contains most of the listed vitamins, but also improves appetite, quenches thirst and stimulates the gastrointestinal tract.
You can boil the peel and get the ideal cure for dysbiosis. Scientists have proven that regular consumption of pomegranate reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The healing properties of pomegranate also include its general strengthening effect on the body during diseases such as atherosclerosis and anemia.
Antioxidants: the champion of champions
If you think that by the number of antioxidants green tea- champion, then this is not so, because here too our royal fruit comes first. Pomegranate has high restorative and cleansing properties for the body. If you drink fresh pomegranate juice, then know that it has antiseptic, diuretic and analgesic properties, in addition, it normalizes the functioning of the stomach and increases hemoglobin.
Careful use of pomegranate for high acidity and sensitive tooth enamel
The only harmful effect that pomegranate can have on the body, again due to its saturation with various acids (citric, tartaric, boric, malic, etc.) is damage to tooth enamel and a strong bonding effect.
That is, if you have increased acidity, you should not drink pomegranate juice. It is better to drink pomegranate juice mixed with others, such as carrot or apple juice, then the concentration of acids will decrease and the beneficial properties of other products will be added. Pregnant women should drink concentrated pomegranate juice very carefully.
Cosmetic properties of the fruit: from tightening pores and lightening pigmentation
In matters of rejuvenation, pomegranate is again one of the leading fruits, since its juice can be used as a cleanser for oily, porous skin. Pomegranate will tighten and reduce the work of secretions. Pomegranate can lighten pigmentation on the face and freckles, and in general have a rejuvenating effect. Diluted pomegranate juice can be used as a conditioner, which will make your hair look shiny.
Pomegranate against poor eyesight
Also, pomegranate is simply a salvation for people with poor eyesight or vision problems. So, with daily consumption of pomegranate juice, you can stop the development of myopia and cataracts.
Since ancient times, too much attention has been paid to this product to not now take advantage of its healing and rejuvenating properties.
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Exquisitely beautiful precious Czech garnet- pyrope - called the “stone of kings”. As if justifying its name, Czech garnet does not change its appearance and qualities even with complex jewelry processing, when it is exposed to high temperatures and pressure, it sparkles more and more brightly, more and more richly, like a true king, seasoned in battles and palace intrigues. Processed Czech garnet shines like a diamond.
But even diamond is not always able to withstand the loads that pyrope can withstand during processing. Therefore, it is no coincidence that it was the kings who made it popular, who fully appreciated these qualities and beauty. One Czech king gave the pomegranate a name, a second Czech king gave it a title.
The strange 16th-century King Rudolf II, who was both King of Bohemia (Czech Republic) and Holy Roman Emperor, is known to be a fan of alchemy. Under him, many alchemists came and settled near Prague Castle, forming the so-called Golden Street (Zlatá ulička). Under low roofs, behind thick walls, under the cover of night, they indulged in their secret alchemical studies, concentrating on the search for the philosopher's stone - a substance capable of turning any material into gold. Not very large in size, but strong, hard, resistant to high temperatures, Czech garnet stones were seriously considered as that very “philosopher’s stone”. “The philosopher’s stone is red, similar to a ruby, clear as glass,” the famous philosopher and scientist Paracelsus wrote about the garnet in Prague at that time. And Emperor Rudolf II himself collected these beautiful stones in his treasury. So the Czech king Rudolf gave the Czech pomegranate a resounding name throughout Europe.
Today, the popularity of Czech garnet among the rich and famous is very high - church patriarchs and royalty, diplomats and top officials of states strive to have jewelry with Czech garnet in their bins. This is also due to the influence on the tastes of the European aristocracy of one of the Czech kings - the King of the Czech Republic and Emperor of Austria-Hungary, Franz Joseph I.
Emperor Franz Joseph had to rule a huge European power during the most difficult, most romantic and most dramatic historical period, which was such not only for European history, but for world history. The 19th - early 20th centuries - it was a time when the world order completely changed, when European empires were torn apart from the inside and finally plunged into the First world war, terrible and senseless. But it was also a time of luxurious balls, intrigues, beautiful dresses and ugly adultery, which were gossiped about with equal pleasure in elegant living rooms and village pubs. There was no shortage of topics for discussion: while some members of the august Habsburg family mercilessly besmirched its reputation, others carefully desecrated it.
For example, Prince Ludwig of Austria, brother of Emperor Franz Joseph, known for his antics in high society and his sharp tongue, gave many reasons for gossip. He did not hesitate to spread rumors about members of his family, mostly fictitious, and he appeared and posed at receptions dressed in women's clothing. And once he overflowed the patience of his brother-emperor, when in the Turkish baths of Vienna he completely shamelessly pestered some young officer with a demand mutual love. Prince Ludwig was not understood by that officer - instead of reciprocity, he responded to the prince with strong manly blows. The police who rushed to the call did not hide the incident, and information about it widely “went to the people.” Emperor Franz Joseph had to expel the discourteous and careless Ludwig from Vienna to Salzburg with a ban on appearing openly at court.
But the beautiful events that supported the high reputation of the royal house, for example, the solemn marriage of Franz Joseph with the Bavarian princess Sisi, received no less attention and discussion, and much more. Their wedding took place on April 24, 1854 in Vienna in the Augustinian Church. Princess Sisi rode through blooming spring Vienna in a carriage painted by Rubens. The wheels and doors of the carriage were inlaid with gold. The princess was dressed in a fluffy pink dress embroidered with silver. Her hair was beautifully tied up in her hair, and her eyes were teary - the day before, the princess had cried almost the entire day, because strict court etiquette and preparations for the wedding had completely exhausted her. All eyes were focused on her, and she was worried, not daring to make the slightest mistake in this solemn, meticulously verified procedure of national importance - her own wedding. The meek Sisi was not used to such intense public attention, and court duties frightened her. Her handsome groom presented her with an expensive gift that day - a cross decorated with shimmering Czech garnets. When, in moments of special excitement, she squeezed it in her hands, the grenades seemed to give her confidence and courage. Every movement of the wedding procession, every fold in the bride’s dress, every excited sigh of the groom - all this was meticulously assessed by “high society.” Of course, this magnificent gift from the emperor did not go unnoticed. Soon, nobles throughout Europe began to buy jewelry with Czech garnet, and Czech garnet ended up in the best European palaces.
The emperor himself, in everyday life a simple and undemanding man with a royal bearing, wore a garnet brooch. Today this royal brooch with garnets is in the National Museum of Prague, and is stunning in its elegance. Thus, with the light hand of the Czech king and Emperor Franz Joseph I, the Czech garnet received its sovereign aristocratic title.
The Russian nobility has always adored the Czech garnet; since the 18th century it has been firmly established at court. Russian empresses, wives of Russian tsars, themselves Germans, had an excellent taste for luxury, which is why they especially valued Czech garnet for its rich purple color and considered it a symbol of royal power. Jewelers created true works of jewelry art for them, combining Czech garnet with pearls and diamonds.
It is known that the Russian autocrat Nicholas I personally ordered a garnet set for his daughter Maria for her wedding with Duke Maximilian of Leuchtenberg (Maximilian Joseph Eugène Auguste Napoleon de Beauharnais, Herzog von Leuchtenberg) in 1839. According to evidence, Maria Nikolaevna is the only one of the three daughters of Tsar Nicholas I, and by her own admission in a letter to Zhukovsky, she was happily married. Her duke husband did not have a dukedom, but was very smart, talented and active. He brought a large collection of works of art to Russia, studied electroplating, electrochemical metallurgy, minerals, and mining. The Duke of Leuchtenberg contributed to the construction of the railway network in Russia, headed the Academy of Arts in 1843-1852, where he opened a mosaic department. He also opened art schools in different cities - Warsaw, Kyiv, Moscow and Saransk.
Russian court ladies did not remain indifferent to this magnificent stone, flaunting garnet jewelry at international receptions and parties, making garnet one of the accessories of the Russian beauty.
Today, Czech garnet has the recognized status of a royal stone. It shines on regalia, hugs necks, sparkles on the fingers and wrists of modern princes and princesses. The royal houses of Belgium and Britain are the official customers of Czech-made products with Bohemian pyrope, because having a rich rich color, purity and transparency, garnet looks great at the most ceremonial receptions.
ABOUT beneficial properties Pomegranate is legendary... It’s not for nothing that this fruit is called royal. And all because of the small crown-shaped cup that is present on its top.
Doctors prescribe healthy pomegranate juice to their patients who suffer from anemia, high pressure and problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Today we will talk about those properties of pomegranate that not everyone knows. We hope our advice is useful to you.
What are the benefits of pomegranate?
- Promotes rapid weight loss
Doctors say that freshly squeezed pomegranate juice promotes weight loss. For these purposes, it is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1. You need to consume this mixture 200 grams half an hour before meals. Also extremely effective means for weight loss is a paste of pomegranate seeds and olive oil. To do this, grind the seeds of 1 medium pomegranate using a blender. Then add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and stir the mixture. The product should be taken 1 tablespoon 2 times a day before meals. The course of use of the product is 1 month.
- An effective facial skin care product
Pomegranate juice perfectly tones and nourishes the skin. To do this, you need to prepare a natural mask from 100 grams of kefir, 2 teaspoons of honey and 3 tablespoons of crushed pomegranate seeds. All components must be mixed, applied to the face and left to act for 20 minutes. This procedure should be done once every 7 days.
- Strengthens the cardiovascular system
Pomegranate juice is extremely rich in potassium, which is so necessary for the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system. The antioxidants contained in the drink prevent processes such as the deposition of lipid plaque on blood vessels. To prevent cardiovascular diseases, you need to drink the juice for 2-3 months, 0.5 cups 3 times a day, half an hour before meals.
- Helps with colds
At the first symptoms of a cold, we often frantically run to the pharmacy for the next widely advertised drug. But few people know that you can get rid of the first symptoms of a cold with the help of pomegranate juice. To speed up recovery, just squeeze the juice out of 1 pomegranate and dilute it with a small amount of boiled water. This drink has an antipyretic effect and also helps get rid of the terrible symptoms of a cold.