Miracle Foods of the Bible: Pomegranates

The pomegranate has been recently gaining attention. However, pomegranate is mentioned several times in The Bible. Here are a few references from scripture:

Deuteronomy 8:6-9 Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and revering him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land-a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey;

Song Of Solomon 4:13 Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, with henna and nard,

Song Of Solomon 7:12 Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom- there I will give you my love.

Song Of Solomon 8:2 I would lead you and bring you to my mother's house- she who has taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates.

The pomegranate is a sweet, seeded fruit from a shrub. Although it is recently being lauded as a "super" fruit, people have been enjoying the benefits of the pomegranate since God placed it here as one of His miracle foods. One of the benefits of the pomegranate includes its high vitamin C content. The juice of one small fruit contains over 15% of the USDA recommendation. It is also rich in vitamin B5, and contains other antioxidant compounds like beta carotene.

Consuming pomegranate and its juice has several potential health benefits, including the ability to reduce blood pressure and aid in preventing heart disease in some people. It contains compounds with also inhibit estrogen synthesis, which may help prevent breast cancer. Clinical trials in 2008 of pomegranate's healing properties were conducted to examine the effects of this miracle food on several diseases.

Pomegranates are seen a lot in Christian culture as decoration. They are sometimes seen in the fabric of liturgical hangings or in some metalwork. Pomegranates are also seen in many religious works of art. Both Leonardo Da Vinci and Botticelli used pomegranates in their works. It is said that the fruit of the pomegranate is a symbol of the fullness of Jesus' suffering and of His rising again.

The pomegranate is yet another of God's many miracle foods placed for the benefit of both our taste buds and for our health.

source: http://www.beliefnet.com/News/2005/11/A-Pomegranate-For-All-Religions.aspx?p=2