| The Jewel of Winter, The Jewel of Persia | |
| Nov - Dec 2006 By Paul Widerburg |
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Today I would like to take you on Journey and a treasure hunt back in time. We search for one of the most incredible jewels in the world, the jewel of winter. Its beauty is unlike any other seen in nature, sparkling to the eyes, and an unbelievably deep burgundy in color. Its value is increasing by the minute. To find it we must travel to the cradle of civilization itself, crossing unbelievably hot deserts, though winds and dust storms past high desert mountains and across the Iranian plateau into ancient Persia. Here is where our treasure lies hidden within its leather case of protection. When you find this jewel you will find 839 more just like it. This treasure is one of the oldest fruits know to man — the incredible pomegranate. |
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At first the pomegranate was thought to be native to China. Pomegranates were actually brought to China about 100 B.C. The pomegranate found its way to Italy and the Romans called it the Punic apple. In Ancient Rome, they tanned the pomegranate skin and used the rinds as a form of leather and used it for clothing and as a fabric pattern because of its beauty. Chaucer, Shakespeare and Homer have all extolled the virtues of the pomegranate in literature. King Henry VIII planted the first pomegranate in Britain. His wife Catherine of Aragon's coat of arms was made from the skin of pomegranates. The Moors who brought the seedy fruit to Spain round 800 A.D. Granada was named for the pomegranate, which became their national emblem. The French named their hand-tossed explosive a grenade after the seed-scattering properties of the pomegranate fruit. |
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The Jewel of Winter is a mysterious fruit, with leathery purple skin and spongy white flesh, revealing their complex interiors once you break it open to expose seeds covered in juice sacs. Taking out the seeds is not complex, just slice off the top, cut the fruit into sections, place in a bowl of water, roll out the arils and discard the rest. Its rich, flavorful juice is tangy and sweet and is great used in sauces, drinks, desserts and many other dishes. The seeds are wonderful eaten fresh, used as a garnish, added to salads. |
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The pomegranate contains high amounts of fiber, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and potassium. The juice of the pomegranate, say researchers at University of Wisconsin Medical School, shows major promise to combat prostate cancer the most common invasive cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men. Research at Wisconsin and elsewhere has shown that the pomegranate is rich in anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and is effective against tumors in mouse skin. The research team then progressed to tests in mice that had been injected with prostate cancer cells from humans and developed malignancies. The 24 mice were randomly divided into three groups. The control group received normal drinking water, while the animals in the second and third groups had their drinking water supplemented with .1 percent and .2 percent pomegranate extract respectively. The doses for the mice were chosen to parallel how much pomegranate juice a typical healthy human might be willing to eat or drink daily. The results were dramatic: the mice receiving the higher concentration of pomegranate extract showed significant slowing of their cancer progression and a decrease in the levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a marker used to indicate the presence of prostate cancer in humans. The animals that received only water had tumors that grew much faster than those in the animals treated with pomegranate extract. “Our study — while early — adds to growing evidence that pomegranates contain very powerful agents against cancer, particularly prostate cancer,” says lead author Dr. Hasan Mukhtar, professor of dermatology in the UW Medical School. |
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Pomegranates have been nutritional gems for thousands of years. It has anti-oxidant properties nearly three times that of green tea or red wine. The juicy pomegranate is a powerful fruit that contains significant amounts of antioxidants to offset at least some of the free radicals that occur in our bodies. Free radicals occur naturally in the human body when worn out bonds that hold molecules together split apart. Polluted environments contribute to the acceleration of this process. Free radicals eventually destroy healthy cells. Normally, a healthy body can fight the process and repair damaged tissue, but requires constant and adequate supply of vitamins C and E which pomegranates provide. |
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So step back in time, slice though that beautiful leathery skin and enjoy the wonder Jewel of Winter the amazing pomegranate, truly one of the most valuable treasures in the world. |
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Wilt thou be gone? it is not yet near day. |
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| It was the nightingale, and not the lark, | |
| That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear. | |
| Nightly she sings on yon pomegranate-tree. | |
| Believe me, love, it was the nightingale. | |
Romeo and Juliet, III, 5 |
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