Ask the Expert: Pomegranates and Your Health

Candy Cumming
Candy Cumming, a registered dietitian at Sharp, discusses how to add pomegranates to your diet and benefit from their antioxidants.

Are pomegranates really that good for you?
A lot of people are talking about pomegranates these days; it’s like the new healthy food that’s in the spotlight, in terms of protecting us from heart disease and cancer.

What’s the best way to get the benefits of a pomegranate into my diet?
If you’ve ever eaten a pomegranate, they’re really messy. Try to peel one and get the seeds out, man that’s a messy affair. Probably the best way to get the benefits of pomegranate would be to drink pure pomegranate juice. I wouldn’t drink something mixed with tea or with another juice if I wanted to get a good amount of pomegranate.

How much pomegranate juice should I drink?
With juices, probably a small glass a day is fine. I don’t think anybody should drink a lot of any kind of fruit juice. If you buy pomegranate juice, you get a lot of the antioxidants.

How else can I incorporate pomegranates into my meals?
You can actually buy pomegranate seeds in the market and put them on salads and add them to your vegetables and things. But I wouldn’t start eliminating all the other fruits and vegetables either. So it’s just part of an overall healthy plan.

For More Information
To learn more about Sharp's nutrition services or to find a Sharp-affiliated physician, search for San Diego doctors or call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. To find general information about nutrition, read the Nutrition News archive.