Pomegranate: Still Healthy at 5,000 Years Old

This file photo taken Sept. 3, 3009 shows sliced pomegranate. The ruby red fruit, which resembles a large apple but only its seeds are edible, is in season in September. (AP Photo/Larry Crowe)

五千年来，石榴仍然是健康食物
From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
这里是美国知音英语学习的健康生活报道。
The pomegranate is one of the oldest known fruits. Pomegranates are found in ancient writings and pictured in the ancient art of many cultures and religions. The pomegranate is also a symbol of health, fertility and long life.
石榴是人们所知的年代最久远的水果之一。古代的很多文化和宗教艺术中都有关于石榴的文字记载和图画记载。石榴是健康、富庶和长寿的象征。
Experts think the pomegranate is native to northern India, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Today it also grows in Southeast Asia, the western U.S., Armenia and parts of Africa, among other places.
专家认为石榴的原产地是在印度北部、巴基斯坦、伊朗和阿富汗。今天，石榴在东南亚、美国西部、阿美尼亚、非洲部分地区以及其它一些地区生长。
The skin of a pomegranate is strong. It can be red, purple or orange-yellow. The inside is filled with beautiful dark red seeds that shine like rubies. It is not easy to get them out. But the reward is great.
石榴皮各色各样，纷繁不同，有红色、紫色或者橘黄色。石榴里面的果实是深红色的种子，就像红宝石一样闪闪发亮。把这些果实取出来不太容易，但是石榴很有营养。
Health benefits
健康好处
The pomegranate grows on trees. Parts of the pomegranate tree and fruit are used to make medicine.
石榴长在树上，一些石榴树和水果能够用来制药。
The pomegranate is used for many conditions. However, the U.S National Institutes of Health says there is not enough scientific evidence to rate pomegranates as effective for any of them.
很多情况下可以使用石榴。但是美国国家卫生局表示没有足够的科学证据来评估石榴对所有情况都有效用。
Still, in traditional medicine, the pomegranate is used for conditions of the heart and blood vessels, including high blood pressure and "hardening of the arteries."
但是，在传统的医药学中，石榴用在心血管病方面：包括高血压和动脉硬化。
The jewel-like seeds of the pomegranate are loaded with many nutrients and chemicals called antioxidants. These antioxidants remove poisons from the body.
如宝石般的石榴籽富含营养和抗氧化的化学物质。这些抗氧化物质能够排除人体内的毒素。
The antioxidants found in pomegranates may help remove build-up of damage in blood vessels. So, it is a very heart-healthy fruit.
石榴中发现的抗氧化剂也许能够消除血管中堆积的有害物质。所以，石榴是对心脏健康十分有益的水果。
Antioxidants slow the progression of age-related sickness and may slow the growth of cancer cells. Men who have prostate cancer may benefit from a daily serving of pomegranate juice.
抗氧化成分能够减缓衰老引起的病症，也许海货减缓癌细胞的生长。患有前列腺癌症的人也许会从每天喝一杯石榴汁中受益。
Pomegranates are used for weight loss and used as a treatment for sore throat. Pomegranates are also high in vitamin K, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, zinc and iron.
吃石榴有助于减肥，还能够用来治疗嗓子痛。同时，石榴还富含维他命K、磷、镁、钙、锌和铁。
Let's just say pomegranates are loaded with great things for the inside of your body.
石榴含有你体内所需的很多微量元素。
Beauty benefits
美容功效
But let's not forget the outside, too!
不要忘记石榴的外用功效。
Pomegranates are great for the skin. They protect the skin by encouraging new skin growth, healing wounds and repairing tissue. Pomegranates protect the skin against sun damage as well. They may help skin look younger by providing moisture and elasticity.
石榴对皮肤很好。石榴能够促进皮肤新陈代谢、愈合伤口和修复组织。石榴能够保护皮肤防止太阳损伤。同时还能够让皮肤水润、有弹性，看起来更加光泽。
Recipes for pomegranates
石榴的食谱
But how does one eat a pomegranate?
但是应该怎样吃石榴呢？
Pomegranates seeds are both sweet and tart. A thick liquid, or syrup, from the pomegranate tastes great with lamb, pork or chicken dishes.
石榴籽酸甜，浓稠的石榴汁搭配羊肉、猪肉或者鸡肉味道非常不错。
Pomegranate seeds provide extra flavor to salads and other vegetable dishes. The seeds are also delicious in rice and grain dishes. And, of course pomegranates make great desserts. In the U.S., pomegranate juice is often added to sparkling drinks, drinks called smoothies and alcoholic drinks.
石榴籽还能够给沙拉和其它的菜肴提味。石榴与米饭和谷物类饭相搭配时味道也非常不错。当然，石榴也可以用来做美味的甜品。在美国，石榴汁通常会加入气泡饮料中，这种饮料叫做冰沙或者酒精饮料。
Fresh pomegranates are only available in the United States from September to January. They can keep, or remain good to eat, in the refrigerator for about two months if kept in a plastic bag.
在美国，从九月到次年一月才有新鲜的石榴供应。如果装在塑料袋子放在冰箱里，石榴就可以保持新鲜两个月。
I'm Anna Matteo.
我是安娜·马特奥。
Are pomegranates popular where you live? Share recipes or other health and beauty benefits in our comments section!
_____________________________________________________________
Words in this Story
ruby - n.a deep red stone that is used in jewelry : a dark red color
moisture - n. a small amount of a liquid (such as water) that makes something wet or moist
elasticity - n. the quality or state of being elastic
elastic - adj. able to return to an original shape or size after being stretched, squeezed, etc.
tart - adj. having a sharp or sour taste. For example, lemonade without enough sugar is tart.
 

Pomegranate: Still Healthy at 5,000 Years Old

This file photo taken Sept. 3, 3009 shows sliced pomegranate. The ruby red fruit, which resembles a large apple but only its seeds are edible, is in season in September. (AP Photo/Larry Crowe)

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

The pomegranate is one of the oldest known fruits. Pomegranates are found in ancient writings and pictured in the ancient art of many cultures and religions. The pomegranate is also a symbol of health, fertility and long life.

Experts think the pomegranate is native to northern India, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Today it also grows in Southeast Asia, the western U.S., Armenia and parts of Africa, among other places.

The skin of a pomegranate is strong. It can be red, purple or orange-yellow. The inside is filled with beautiful dark red seeds that shine like rubies. It is not easy to get them out. But the reward is great.

Health benefits

The pomegranate grows on trees. Parts of the pomegranate tree and fruit are used to make medicine.

The pomegranate is used for many conditions. However, the U.S National Institutes of Health says there is not enough scientific evidence to rate pomegranates as effective for any of them.

Still, in traditional medicine, the pomegranate is used for conditions of the heart and blood vessels, including high blood pressure and "hardening of the arteries."

The jewel-like seeds of the pomegranate are loaded with many nutrients and chemicals called antioxidants. These antioxidants remove poisons from the body.

The antioxidants found in pomegranates may help remove build-up of damage in blood vessels. So, it is a very heart-healthy fruit.

Antioxidants slow the progression of age-related sickness and may slow the growth of cancer cells. Men who have prostate cancer may benefit from a daily serving of pomegranate juice.

Pomegranates are used for weight loss and used as a treatment for sore throat. Pomegranates are also high in vitamin K, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, zinc and iron.

Let's just say pomegranates are loaded with great things for the inside of your body.

Beauty benefits

Iranian women in Tehran prepare pomegranates to serve at a celebration for Yalda, the longest night of the year, December 20, 2008. (FILE PHOTO)

But let's not forget the outside, too!

Pomegranates are great for the skin. They protect the skin by encouraging new skin growth, healing wounds and repairing tissue. Pomegranates protect the skin against sun damage as well. They may help skin look younger by providing moisture and elasticity.

Recipes for pomegranates

But how does one eat a pomegranate?

Pomegranates seeds are both sweet and tart. A thick liquid, or syrup, from the pomegranate tastes great with lamb, pork or chicken dishes.

Pomegranate seeds provide extra flavor to salads and other vegetable dishes. The seeds are also delicious in rice and grain dishes. And, of course pomegranates make great desserts. In the U.S., pomegranate juice is often added to sparkling drinks, drinks called smoothies and alcoholic drinks.

Fresh pomegranates are only available in the United States from September to January. They can keep, or remain good to eat, in the refrigerator for about two months if kept in a plastic bag.

I'm Anna Matteo.

Are pomegranates popular where you live? Share recipes or other health and beauty benefits in our comments section!

_____________________________________________________________

Words in this Story

ruby - n.a deep red stone that is used in jewelry : a dark red color

moisture - n. a small amount of a liquid (such as water) that makes something wet or moist

elasticity - n. the quality or state of being elastic

elastic - adj. able to return to an original shape or size after being stretched, squeezed, etc.

tart - adj. having a sharp or sour taste. For example, lemonade without enough sugar is tart.