Apple and Pomegranate Cider

By Hklbrries

By Seanne Safaii-Fabiano

"Tis the season for Pomegranates. These colorful fruits have always been a bit messy and patience is required to peel away the skin and pop those ruby red kernels into our mouths.

The goal of course is to suck out the juice and spit out the seeds. Part of the allure of eating these fruits for children is the pink hands and pomegranate juice stains left behind. Recently pomegranate juice is making it's way into the juice aisles of most grocery stores and has been touted as the miracle fruit for anti-aging.

Recently they have been touted as a 'super food' preventing some cancers, heart disease and arthritis.

One Pomegranate provides three times the antioxidant properties of red wine or green tea and is high in Vitamin C, folic acid, Vitamins A and E.

Recent studies have looked at pomegranates in preventing the formation of plaque build-up in the arteries of patients with atherosclerosis.

Antioxidants are the naturally occurring substances in plants that protect the body from free radicals, which are unstable molecules that cause damage to cellular components, including RNA/DNA, which can potentially lead to cancer. They can also alter cholesterol in an oxidation process in the arteries. This process appears to speed up the onset of atherosclerosis, a type of arteriosclerosis, or "hardening of the arteries."

Specifically, the polyphenols (a type of antioxidant) found in pomegranates have anti-inflammatory properties. Some promising studies published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry and the Journal of Medicinal Food, have looked at the effects of using pomegranate juice for prostate cancer, colon cancer and breast cancer.

The National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Health have several clinical trials underway studing the effects of pomegranate juice on cancer and heart disease and the amounts needed for positive effects.

As for other possible health benefits, more studies are needed.

Pomegranate juice lends great color and flavor to drinks and smoothies.

Try mixing it with mineral or seltzer water. Better yet, try adding it to your holiday hot ciders. Here is a great recipe that will fill your house with holiday scents and tastes fabulous!"

Ingredients

• 6 whole cloves
• 2 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
• 1 (3-inch) strip lemon rind
• 1 (3-inch) strip orange rind
• 8 cups unfiltered apple cider
• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• 3/4 cup fresh orange juice (about 3 medium oranges)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 large lemons)

Preparation

Step 1

Place first 4 ingredients on a double layer of cheesecloth or in a tea strainer ball. Combine cheesecloth bag, cider, and remaining ingredients in a large pot or crockpot; bring to a simmer. Cook 30 minutes. Discard cheesecloth bag before serving.