Currently we are aware of the importance of consuming fruits and vegetables in our daily diet. Intake of five servings a day of these foods is recommended, since they provide us with essential nutrients that our body needs to perform various types of functions and that, without these nutrients, we could suffer a wide variety of diseases and alterations in our body.
But, in addition to the importance of consuming fruits and vegetables on a daily basis, we can also take advantage of another part of these products that at first may seem of little use and that we throw away without thinking. Surely you have ever heard that, if possible, it is better to take the skin of fruits and vegetables because it also contains properties, instead of discarding it. But there are certain cases, such as orange, kiwi, banana or pomegranate, which is not possible. Even so, you can also take advantage of the latter’s skin to help your body. Here we tell you the medicinal properties of the pomegranate peel.
What is the pomegranate and what is it for?
Although not a fruit that we usually consume in our day to day, such as apples or bananas, surely you have seen it many times. With a hard shell, inside it is a large number of small red seeds (very similar to the corn kernels we use in salads), separated by very thin yellow membranes and a part of juice.
Including it in the daily diet brings many benefits to our body. Being a fruit, it contains a large number of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals that help the proper functioning of our body. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, so it helps fight certain diseases and increase defenses. Thanks to its high antioxidant content, it intervenes in the delay of cellular aging and, therefore, in the appearance of wrinkles and skin problems, keeping it hydrated. It also helps in the treatment of diseases of the digestive system such as diarrhea and colic.
But not only is the consumption of the seeds it contains well for health. Its shell, always discarded, also contains properties that benefit our well-being.
Healing properties of pomegranate peel
Like the seeds inside it, the pomegranate peel also has great medicinal properties, such as the following:
- Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties: so its use is very common to help fight diseases such as arthritis and osteoarthritis, or more acute pathologies such as a cold or flu, alleviating some symptoms such as cough or throat inflammation.
- Increases defenses: the shell of the pomegranate also has the ability to improve our immune system, so its consumption is highly recommended, especially if we are sick.
- Antioxidant properties: it is necessary to add, as in the case of its content, its high concentration of antioxidants in the shell. These help maintain well-hydrated skin, with less tendency to crack and age.
- It helps absorb calcium: on the other hand, it should be mentioned that the pomegranate peel helps in the absorption of calcium, so our bones benefit.
- Relieves diarrhea: it is also very important to take into account its great benefits when we suffer from diarrhea, since it helps to cut it and improve our intestinal transit.
How to prepare the pomegranate peel for consumption
Although it seems difficult to prepare the shell for consumption, it is very simple. There are two ways to benefit from its medicinal properties: in tea and in powder.
Pomegranate tea
First, you can make yourself a pomegranate peel tea.
- First, wash the shell well and place it in a saucepan with 300 ml of water.
- Bring the water to a boil, keeping it for 10 minutes.
- When they have passed, turn off the heat, wait for it to rest a bit and use a strainer so that there is no piece of shell in the tea.
- To get a pleasant taste, we recommend that you use a splash of orange juice or the pomegranate seeds themselves or even a little honey.
- You can take this infusion once a day, better at night.
How to dry the pomegranate peel
Another way, not to consume the peel directly, but to be able to use it topically for the skin , adding it to your creams or to your exfoliating gels or homemade masks, is to dry it out.
- Dry the pomegranate peel in a safe place, where it is slightly sunny, but not too much, otherwise its properties could be lost.
- When all the water is lost, you should crush it in a mortar until you get a very fine powder.
- Then you can add it to your cosmetics or to the preparation of homemade masks.
- Always put a pinch, so that the properties of the product to which you add it are also maintained.
