Blog

By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

When I’m not writing articles to post on the Fill Your Plate blog, you will usually find me making coffees, teas, lemonades, and other drinks over at the Dutch Bros stand here where I live. I absolutely love working there, as it is always fast-paced, there are so many different flavor combinations to challenge myself to memorize, and it is always interesting to see what customers like to order.

One flavor, in particular, that is incredibly popular is pomegranate, and rightfully so. Pomegranates as a fruit have such a crisp, sweet, and refreshing flavor, not to mention, are fun to eat. While our pomegranate-flavored syrup at Dutch has absolutely no nutritional value other than an outrageous amount of sugar, real pomegranates are actually highly nutritious and can be used in so many different ways.

So, what are the nutritional benefits of pomegranates? According to an article by Shape, pomegranates are actually considered to be a superfood, as they are loaded with antioxidants, vitamin C, iron, calcium, phosphorous, and riboflavin. In addition to all of these nutrients, pomegranates also boast the following health benefits.

• Disease reduction potential
• Provides immune system support
• Aids in healthy digestive function
• Promotes brain health
• Helps manage blood pressure
• Can help athletic performance

Not only are pomegranates incredibly healthy for you, but they are also very versatile and easy to use in many kinds of dishes. Pomegranate seeds can be used as a salad topping, in baked goods, they can be juiced, served with different grains, or used in a drink from Dutch Bros! Better yet, they can always be eaten fresh!

Looking for some inspiration? Check out these two recipes that use pomegranates from Fill Your Plate!

• Fill Your Plate – Search recipes – Acorn Squash with Pomegranate Seeds
• Fill Your Plate – Search recipes – Golden Beet & Pomegranate Salad