The pomegranate has recently been booted up to superfood status. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as the antioxidant content in pomegranates is at least three times the levels present green tea and red wine. The refreshing and tart or sweet taste of this fruit would have been enough to make it popular, but the health benefits have made it an essential for fitness enthusiasts as well. If we do
Additionally, pomegranate is also known to lower inflammation, which directly leads to an importance in one’s general health. With this amazing nutritional content, it’s no wonder that pomegranates can serve to enhance our health inside and out. Skin health, in particular, is a hot topic these days. More and more skincare and beauty gurus are now eschewing the importance of natural beauty instead of heavy coats of makeup. Organic products and above all, a plant-based healthy diet are now touted as two of the main factors in attaining a glowing, clear complexion.
Pomegranate seems to be a favorite ingredient when it comes to DIY and organic masks, creams, lotions, and other beauty-enhancing options. Not all of these claims might be true or accurate, so we need to take them with a pinch of salt. A bit of knowledge never hurts either, so let’s see which of the skincare belief about this fruit are true and to what extent:
Vitamin C in Pomegranates
It’s common knowledge that there’s a lot of vitamin C in all pomegranate varieties. We’ve seen face washes and creams using Vitamin C as an ingredient, so it’s logical that using pomegranate will get us similar benefits. The main role of Vitamin C in skincare is to reduce the cellular damage in our bodies.
Other Important antioxidants in this regard are ellagitannins, anthocyanins, and tannins. While it’s still best to complain about the right foods that contain these compounds, applying them topically on the skin might give us some of the benefits as well.
Anti-aging Effects
In one study with mice as the subjects, it was found that using antioxidants might prevent wrinkles and age spots to a certain extent. We’d have to wait for the study conducted on human participants to draw a logical and final conclusion, though. However, it makes sense that with the increase in cell regeneration, our skin will also be better able to do away with old skin cells and rejuvenate new cells.
Lowered Inflammation
When there’s little free radical damage in the skin and body, this means that the skin has less inflammation as well. This means that the antioxidants we’re getting from pomegranates could reduce inflammatory skin issues and their symptoms, especially conditions such as eczema and acne.
Antimicrobial benefits will also serve to fight off bacteria and even fungus.
Exfoliation
We might be able to slightly crush the pomegranate seeds and use them as a face scrub. Regularly using this or any other scrub to clean our faces will help to do away with dead skin. From this cleaning, we also get less visible signs of skin aging and acne.
How to Get the Most Out of Pomegranates
If we do want to gain the most benefit from having pomegranates ona regular basis, there are certain precautions and instructions to follow. Below are a few steps to get started:
- Eating the seeds of the pomegranate is what will benefit us the most. If we can get our hands on raw, unprocessed pomegranate juice, that’s probably the most enjoyable way to get your antioxidants. However, eating the seeds will make sure you get all the nutrients from the pomegranate flesh. At all events, it’s much more preferable to consuming processed fruit juices.
- If we do mean to have a lot of pomegranates while they’re still in season, it might be a good idea to change things up every now and then. You need to add more antioxidants in your diet, and pomegranate ideally won’t be providing all of them.
- At all events, basic skincare is and will always be important if you want a natural glow. This means taking off your makeup before going to sleep, having a cleansing, toning, and moisturizing routine, and not touching the face if you can help it.
Probable Myths About Pomegranate Benefits
With so many upsides of using pomegranates, we may think that there’s nothing left. However, there are certain limitations to just how many benefits we can get by using pomegranate for our skincare routine. Below are just a few examples of claims that might have been circulated on the internet but aren’t true:
- Preventing skin cancer: Skin Cancer is among the most common types of cancer in the United States. There’s no proper guarantee that simply stopping consuming or applying for a new grant will lower the chances of cancer cell formation. While the anticodons are there to help in achieving our goals, we also have to adopt certain skincare habits like putting on sunscreen and avoiding the sun at its harshest.
- More collagen: Collagen is what keeps our skin elastic and young-looking, so many people would have high hopes of shedding their years by consuming pomegranate. However, the components of this fruit mean that we might be belt to reduce the aging of the skin. If more college does get developed, that’s probably due to the vitamin C in the fruit and not the fruit itself. We may also like to look at how pomegranates might be able to help out with anti-cancer and eye health-related problems.
Possible Side Effects of Pomegranates
When we’re consuming pomegranates, we generally don’t; have to worry too much. Up until now, there have been no strong reactions documented or reported in the world of science. Some people might be allergic to the fruit, but such cases are quite rare.
It’s best to discontinue the topical use of pomegranate for a while if we notice the following:
- Itching
- Inflammation or swelling
- Hives
- Welts
- Redness anywhere
Such side effects may also be possible if we use pomegranate essential oil without the dilution of a carrier like almond or jojoba oil. If we’re still confused it might be best to consult a professional before you try this at home.
Conclusion
While there might be limits to how beneficial topics pomegranate might be, this doesn’t mean that the fruit is just meant for eating. Experiment a bit, add some pomegranate juice to your mud mask and carry on with your skincare routine. However, make sure to read up on fascinating fruits like the pomegranate and see whether it contains most of the essential minerals and vitamins required by a human body.