The Miracle of Pomegranate Peel

The POMEGRANATE is one of winter's greatest gifts — its benefits seem endless. But today I want to draw attention to the peel that most people discard after eating the fruit. Pomegranate peel is, in a sense, the newest member of what we call "superfoods" — a group of foods whose benefits are backed by research and grow more impressive by the day. Yes, you heard that right: the peel of this antioxidant-rich fruit has a remarkably powerful impact on your health.

Among the benefits of pomegranate peel: lowering bad cholesterol, strengthening the immune system, and offering protection against many types of cancer stand out. The ellagic acid found in pomegranate peel possesses antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, and anti-cancer properties. Ellagic acid works by binding to cancer-causing molecules and neutralizing them at a highly significant rate.

Especially here in our country, many people are unaware of the benefits of pomegranate peel and simply throw it away — yet the nutritional value found in the peel has been found to be at a truly miraculous level.

Pomegranate peel contains flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, and phenolic compounds — powerful antioxidants capable of reducing the risk of many diseases and lowering bad cholesterol levels. Thanks to this composition, it makes a major contribution to the prevention of heart disease in particular.

As the rate of fatal heart disease outcomes has risen in the United States, studies aimed at reversing this troubling trend have found that pomegranate peel reduces the mortality rate caused by heart disease.

Some of the other advantages of pomegranate peel include its use as a natural dye in fabrics, face creams, cosmetic products, and certain dental products.

Combined with a healthy diet and adequate exercise, anyone who regularly incorporates this miraculous fruit — peel and all — into their daily nutrition will feel a real difference in their quality of life.

Looking back through history, it has been found that people living in India in particular would chop pomegranate peels into small pieces, dry them in the sun, and consume them to protect against illness. In India, pomegranate peel is known as the most prized home remedy found in every mother's medicine cabinet, and discarding the peel was once considered something close to a wrongdoing.

Early studies highlighted the calming effect of drinking boiled pomegranate peel tea, and this preparation has also long been recognized as beneficial for dysentery, diarrhea, intestinal worms, and many other conditions.

How to Dry and Use Pomegranate Peel

After removing the seeds from the pomegranate, you can use a paring knife to cut the peel lengthwise. You can then dry the cut peels in the sun and, once completely cooled, store them in a resealable bag or an airtight container.

If you'd like to keep it in your medicine cabinet as a remedy for diarrhea, colitis, and hemorrhoids, the following formula is just right for you:

Ingredients

 • ½ water glass (about 200 ml / ¾ cup + 1 tbsp) sun-dried pomegranate peel
 • 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
 • ½ water glass (about 200 ml / ¾ cup + 1 tbsp) kefir or probiotic yogurt
 • Rock salt, to taste

Instructions

Soak the pomegranate peels in hot water for 30 minutes, then blend all the ingredients together until you have a smooth, homogeneous mixture. You may optionally add rock salt to taste.

Dosage:

You can use this mixture in cases of diarrhea, dysentery, colitis, hemorrhoids, and stomach pain — three to four times a day, in a serving size of ½ water glass (about 200 ml / ¾ cup + 1 tbsp).

Thanks to its tannin content, pomegranate peel is a very powerful astringent (a substance that stops bleeding) — it reduces inflammation in the intestines, prevents hemorrhoidal bleeding, and has the ability to stop all bleeding within the intestinal system.

In short, to reduce the risk of intestinal diseases, heart disease, and many types of cancer — and/or to enhance the effectiveness of treatments — I recommend incorporating pomegranate peel tea into your daily nutrition alongside green tea. Studies show that drinking 2–3 cups of pomegranate peel tea per day has positive effects on overall health that deserve to be taken seriously.

Specialist Dietitian Merve TIĞLI