The lovely fruit called the pomegranate is the stuff of legends.

If you remember your Greek mythology, you will recall the story of the beautiful maiden, Persephone, whom Hades kidnapped and took to his dark realm in the underworld. Persephone’s mother, Demeter, was frantic over her disappearance. Demeter was the goddess of the harvest, and in her distress she neglected her duty of keeping the earth green, so nothing grew. The highest-ranking Greek god, Zeus, Hades’ brother, ordered Persephone to be returned to her mother. Hades struck a deal: If the girl had eaten any food while in the underworld, she would have to stay with him. It turned out she had eaten six pomegranate seeds, and so it was decreed that she would live six months of each year with Hades and six months with her mother. When Persephone is with Demeter, the earth is alive and green and growing, reflecting Demeter’s joy. But when she is in the underworld, Demeter mourns and the world goes stark and barren. This is how the Greeks explained the turning of the seasons.

Persephone picked a good treat to eat. The myriad of seeds, called arils, in a pomegranate are the fruit’s best-known traits. Its name is derived from the Latin word for “having a deep red color.” It was well known in ancient times. Spanish settlers introduced the pomegranate to California in 1769, and its juice is gaining popularity these days.

Preliminary laboratory trials indicate pomegranate juice may help reduce risk factors for heart disease and lower blood pressure. According to the POM Council (www.pomegranates.org), pomegranate juice is high in three different types of polyphenols, a potent form of antioxidants. The council says tannins, anthocyanins and ellagic acid are present in many fruits, but fresh pomegranate juice contains particularly high amounts of all three. Antioxidants are often credited with helping to prevent cancer, and pomegranates are particularly touted for fighting breast and prostate cancer. The more antioxidants you have, the better, and if you can get them through something delicious and healthy for you, that’s the pomegranate icing on the cake. They are also good in a tea, smoothie or jam. Pomegranates are positively powerful and popular. They are also very important in helping your immune system and fighting common colds and diseases.

Pomegranates have been shown to lower levels of LDL cholesterol in some clinical trials. There are indications that the fruit helps promote anti-aging properties, keeping your skin looking young and supple. That may be a result of the way pomegranates help your blood flow more smoothly through your arteries.

The POM Council says pomegranates are the new super food. They are high in vitamins C, A and E and potassium, and are a good source of fiber. Pomegranates also have folic acid, which is often recommended for expectant mothers. If you’re looking for ways to boost your health and hygiene in 2012, maybe you should pop open a pomegranate – and eat more than just six of its seeds.

By Tanya J. Tyler, Staff Writer