Heart shaped boxes of chocolates, bouquets of roses, and Valentine’s Day cards are all dressed up in the signature rose colored hues of February. More red is showing up on Atlanta restaurant menus as winter pomegranates celebrate their season. Slightly sweet and citrus-like fresh pomegranate seeds (called arils) are added to a mixed green and goat cheese salad at Metrofresh in Midtown. There’s pomegranate ketchup at Flip Burger, pomegranate barbecue sauce at the Sundial restaurant, pomegranate vinaigrette at the Cheesecake Factory and pomegranate juice being whisked into cocktails all over town. The ruby red arils, which resemble little jewels, are low in calories while being rich in nutrition. Fresh pomegranates are an excellent source of dietary fiber (you can tell by chewing the crunchy seeds).
“At just 105 calories each, a medium pomegranate is a good source of potassium and vitamin C,” says Atlanta registered dietitian Marisa Moore. Pomegranates, with botanical origins in the Mediterranean region are known for their antioxidant content linked to heart health benefits; so pair perfectly with Valentine’s Day menus.
Moore says, “The juice concentrates the nutrients and phytochemicals making it more potent than the seeds. Preliminary evidence suggests drinking pomegranate juice may reduce blood pressure and hardening of the arteries.” Count 140 calories for a cup of pomegranate juice.
As long as we’re seeing red, pomegranates aren’t the only stars in the produce section.
“From cherries to strawberries, tomatoes and red cabbage, red fruits and vegetables are a great source of heart healthy components,” says Moore.
Color Me Healthy
Red, blue, green, purple and orange pigments of foods indicate phyto- chemicals or plant nutrients lie within. Phyto is the Greek word for plant. Red pigments are a sign that plant foods contain lycopene, beta-carotene and anthocyanin. These antioxidant dietary good guys are associated with promoting heart health, protecting cells from damage, improving memory function, aiding blood sugar control and a lowering risk of certain cancers including prostate cancer.
Generally foods with darker pigments are richer in plant nutrients. So, a ruby red grapefruit would be higher in antioxidants than a white grapefruit. Moore says, “While all grapefruit varieties contain pectin, a fiber that helps reduce blood cholesterol levels, red grapefruit gets its signature color from lycopene. Lycopene is a carotenoid that helps prevent heart disease, vision loss and lowers the risk of some cancers.”
So this Valentine’s Day rather than buying a box of calorie-laden candies for the object of your affection tempt their taste buds and boost their health with a selection of dark chocolate covered strawberries. And toast to your love’s heart with a pomegranate martini?
