Diets & Weight Maintenance Support Group
Chat about how well your latest diet is -- or is not -- working. This group is a great place to find support and accountability as well as share success stories and valuable lessons with the community. From where to start to weekly weigh-ins, get help from others to reach your dieting and weight maintenance goals.
The Power of the Pomegranate
Pomegranates not only taste great, but they also have lots of medicinal benefits.
The composition of pomegranates is quite unique, being composed as a mixture of different bioactive compounds. The high levels of bioflavonoids, ellagitannins, catechins and anthocyanins give powerful health benefits to pomegranates.
The Benefits of Pomegranates
Here are 5 benefits of this powerful fruit:
Pomegranates are loaded with nutrients. Pomegranates are high in vitamin C, potassium, fibre, vitamin K and folate. These nutrients are needed for the body to carry out regular functions, like digestion, breathing and preventing illness.
Pomegranates may prevent and be used to help treat certain cancers. Some primary research suggests that pomegranates may help prevent cancer development and slow down the spread of cancer, particularly prostate, breast, skin, lung and colon cancers.
It lowers blood pressure. Pomegranates are considered anti-hypertensives meaning that they can reduce blood pressure. Studies have shown that drinking 1 cup a day of pomegranate juice can reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. We love Pom juice! Available at local grocery stores.
It is anti-inflammatory. Pomegranates are great at reducing inflammation. They have been studied in a number of different inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and cardiovascular disease.
Pomegranates may help with depression. Pomegranate juice contains phytochemical compounds that stimulate serotonin and estrogen receptors, improving symptoms of depression and increasing bone mass in lab animals
The De-Seeding Technique
Taking the seeds out of a pomegranate is no easy task. It can be a messy, sticky scene. When we eat a pomegranate this way, we lose out on some of the nutrition that is in the pomegranate juice.
Luckily, Dr. Mason-Wood ND has a trick for getting pomegranate seeds out while preserving the juiciness and reducing the mess. Cut the pomegranate in half, put the cut half face down into your palm and fingers. Hold your hand over a large bowl. Then, take a wooden spoon and hit the back of the pomegranate. The seeds should fall out of the pomegranate, through your fingers and into the bowl.
Watch the video to see Dr. Mason-Wood’s ND trick for pomegranates in action.
Dr. Michael Opens the Pomegranate
Pomegranate Recipe Ideas 
Because pomegranate seeds are so small, they are easy to add to a number of different dishes. Two of the easiest ways is to throw it into your favourite salad for a burst of flavour or add it to your smoothie. Here are 3 dishes we are excited to try.
Pomegranate and Orange Salmon from Taste of Home
Taken from https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/orange-pomegranate-salmon/
INGREDIENTS:
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 skinned salmon fillet (about 2 pounds)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 medium navel orange, thinly sliced
1 cup pomegranate seeds
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh dill
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375°. Place a 28×18-in. piece of heavy-duty foil in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Place onion slices in a single layer on foil. Top with salmon; sprinkle with salt. Arrange orange slices over top. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds; drizzle with oil. Top with a second piece of foil. Bring edges of foil together on all sides and crimp to seal, forming a large packet.
2. Bake until fish just begins to flake easily with a fork, about 25-30 minutes. Be careful of escaping steam when opening packet. Remove to a serving platter; sprinkle with dill.
Pomegranate Article & More Recipes
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Remember the (4) S's for weighing:
♦ Same TIME of day (on the)
♦ Same DAY each week (wearing the)
♦ Same CLOTHING (and using the)
♦ Same SCALE to Measure Yourself - Remember, sometimes the scale doesn't budge, but the waistline will.
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Hope everyone has a fabulous holiday weekend. We're celebrating the 4th with family and planning on taking a swim today.
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