Edited by Cathy Tylka, for Let’s Talk Plants! December 2024.
Sharing Secrets question –
November is pumpkin time and fall colors. Do you have anything in your garden that reminds you of the Thanksgiving Day celebration?
Susi Torre-Bueno of 92084 says…
… Mandarin Satsumas! If the weather cooperates, our yummy easy-peel tangerines are usually ripe for Thanksgiving. I write the names of each guest on the peel and use them as place cards.
Ellen Bevier of 92115 only has this to say…
… Pomegranate tree.
So, in that case, did you know? That, according to healthline.com, pomegranates are ...
... Packed with nutrients.
Overall, pomegranates are low in calories and fat but high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Below is the nutrition for the are average pomegranate:
Calories: 34
Protein: 4.7 grams (g)
Fat: 3.3 g
Carbohydrates: 52 g
Fiber: 11.3 g
Vitamin C: 32% of the Daily Value (DV)
Folate: 27% of the DV
Magnesium: 8% of the DV
Phosphorus: 8% of the DV
Potassium: 13% of the DV
Keep in mind that the nutritional information is from that of pomegranate juice, which won’t provide much fiber or vitamin C. Pomegranates in their whole fruit form are low in calories and fat and high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
They are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that help protect the cells of your body from damage caused by free radicals. High amounts of free radicals can be harmful and contribute to a number of chronic diseases.
Getting antioxidants from fruits such as pomegranates is a great way to support overall health and prevent disease. Pomegranates are rich in an array of antioxidants that help protect your cells from free radical damage.
Chronic inflammation may contribute to many conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Eating pomegranates may help prevent the inflammation associated with these chronic conditions.
While more research is needed, literature shows that consuming pomegranate juice can reduce certain markers of inflammation. Although more research is needed, pomegranates contain compounds that may help prevent chronic inflammation associated with disease.
Some research also found that compounds in pomegranates may have anti-cancer properties. They have also found that pomegranates help slow tumor growth in the early stages of liver cancer. Additionally, pomegranate extract may be beneficial for prostate cancer.
Pomegranate has been observed to have anticancer effects. It may slow tumor growth and spread and reduce inflammation, although more research is needed to learn more.
There is evidence that fruits rich in polyphenolic compounds, such as pomegranate, may benefit heart health. Compounds in pomegranate may reduce blood pressure, decrease plaque buildup, and reduce chest pain.
Test-tube and human studies have found that pomegranate extract may help reduce the formation of kidney stones. In pomegranate extract was found to inhibit the mechanism associated with stone formation in people with recurrent kidney stones.
Additionally, it has been found that pomegranate extract can help regulate the concentration of oxalates, calcium, and phosphates in the blood, which are common components of kidney stones. Certain compounds in pomegranate may help prevent kidney stones. Pomegranate compounds fight harmful microorganisms. For instance, in oral health by reducing the growth of germs that can contribute to bad breath and tooth decay.
Pomegranates contain compounds that help fight off potentially harmful bacteria, fungi, and yeasts, particularly germs in the mouth that can cause bad breath and tooth decay.
The polyphenols in pomegranates may increase exercise endurance. One small study found that use of pomegranate extracts increased time to exhaustion and improved performance in trained cyclists.
It has been found that pomegranate supplements may improve both endurance and muscle recovery. However, using pomegranate juice has found no benefit for recovery after exercise, indicating that more studies are needed.
Pomegranates contain compounds that may improve endurance and recovery.
Pomegranates contain antioxidants which may help the brain against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease by reducing oxidative damage and increasing the survival of brain cells.
Eating pomegranate supports the health of your gut microbiome, which plays a key role in many aspects of health.
Testing has found that pomegranate can increase levels of beneficial gut bacteria, suggesting that it may have prebiotic effects. Prebiotics serve as fuel for the beneficial bacteria in your gut and support a healthier gut microbiome.
Additionally, pomegranates are rich in fiber, which is for digestive health and may protect against some digestive conditions. Pomegranates are also rich in fiber, which serves as fuel for probiotics and helps prevent certain digestive health conditions. It shows that consuming pomegranate juice can reduce certain markers of inflammation.
Although more research is needed, pomegranates contain compounds that may help prevent chronic inflammation associated with disease.
Gerald D. Stewart of 92084 shares…
… The only plant I have that reminds me of Thanksgiving is a Toyon that germinated at the low end of my property shortly after I moved in 47 years ago. When I used to entertain one to two dozen friends for dinner on Thanksgiving, the tables were decorated with Toyon berries among fall colors of chrysanthemums. The plant is now about 10' tall, and 15' across. It has never been irrigated. A good example of the value of plants native to our climate.
Karen England, 92084, is reminded daily of (my favorite day of the year) Thanksgiving because…
… of the Cleveland Sage, Salvia clevelandii, growing in my yard. Thirty-four years ago when I was at work at Sunshine Gardens in Encinitas bemoaning the fact that the common sage, Salvia officinalis, that I was trying to grow for seasoning (one of my favorite foods) turkey stuffing kept croaking in my Cardiff-by-the-Sea garden, succumbing serially to some kind of yukky fungal wilt, when I was asked, “why didn’t I use the native Cleveland sage in the recipe instead?” What? I asked. You mean that Cleveland Sage is edible? Since then, I renamed Cleveland Sage as the “plant that saved Thanksgiving!”
Cathy Tylka from 92026 shares…
… Yes, pomegranates are wonderful, and some animals think so too. I have to get out and harvest because I have some rivals for the fruit. Mine is an Ambrosia Pomegranate Tree. I won it at an Auction from the Vista Garden Club about 10 years ago, and it is a producer.
I also have lovely Native California Grape Vines. They are grown to feed our turtles.
The color is fab at this time of year. The native California grapevine is Vitas californica, also known as the California wild grape, Northern California grape, or Pacific grape.
Now the Question for next month…
What would you like to ask? Do you have a burning question, or do you just want to know what’s going on in our fellow members’ gardens?
I’ll start. Did you add a new item, structure, or even receive something from another - something new that you are excited about, and why?
Remember, all who answer the Sharing Secrets questions get their name thrown into a hopper to win a SD Hort logo hat every quarter!
Just like member Jim Booman, the most recent winner!
Cathy Tylka, RN, retired Emergency Nurse, found her love of plants and the SDHS merge many years ago. Cathy acted as Treasurer for the organization and volunteers for many activities. Now, she is more than happy to assist in gathering questions to ask you in the Sharing Secrets area of the Newsletter.
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