Pomegranate at night for weight loss: can you eat it on a diet, reviews

Pomegranate improves health, helps maintain beauty, youth and, of course, get rid of excess weight. Find out how to use pomegranate for weight loss, get 3 effective diets and lose up to 5 kg per week!

Author: Kristina Lobanovskaya, doctor, practicing nutritionist Article updated: 11/10/2020

Pomegranate is a unique fruit, under the skin of which there is a large number of seeds covered with juicy, tasty pulp. Their healing properties were highly valued in ancient India and Greece. Nowadays, they not only have not lost their relevance, but have also been supplemented with new features that have significantly expanded the scope of application of the plant. In the East, this crowned fruit is called the king of all fruits and is believed to be able to kindle the fire of love and keep the body in shape. Based on the experience of ancient healers and the latest research by scientists, modern nutritionists actively use pomegranate for weight loss, recommending it as an aid during fasting days and effective dietary techniques.

Useful properties of pomegranate for weight loss

When used correctly, pomegranate fruits can bring very tangible benefits not only for weight loss, but also in terms of improving health. Their main value lies in their rich composition, thanks to which they have a number of positive effects on the body:

• vitamins C, E, A, PP, group B, as well as microelements (calcium, magnesium, iodine, iron, potassium, phosphorus, sodium) - strengthen the immune system, ensure the normal functioning of all organs and systems, stimulate the regeneration of skin cells;
• a unique set of 15 amino acids, 6 of which are present only in pomegranate and meat - they represent an indispensable building material for cells, especially necessary when following a vegetarian diet;
• punicalagin is another unique substance in pomegranate pulp, which is a powerful antioxidant, which, along with ellagic acid and a large amount of water-soluble polyphenols, gives this fruit a stronger antioxidant effect than citrus fruits, green tea and blueberries;
• tannins - improve digestion and eliminate diarrhea.

These fruits can be included in almost any dietary diet, since the daily calorie content remains almost unchanged when consumed: the energy value of 100 g of product is 50 kcal. Against the backdrop of the beneficial properties listed above, using pomegranate for weight loss significantly accelerates the loss of excess weight, allowing you to get rid of an average of 5 kg in 1 week and at the same time significantly improve your overall health.

The pulp of the fruit improves the functioning of the digestive system, eliminates diarrhea and compensates for the lack of animal proteins in vegetarian diet options. At the same time, the amount of fatty acids decreases, which prevents the formation of new fat cells, and also removes everything harmful and unnecessary from the body.

At the same time, there are different opinions among nutritionists as to whether pomegranate helps you lose weight and whether pomegranate is generally useful during a diet. Some experts argue that the fruit has no effect on lipid metabolism and is practically useless in terms of combating excess fat. First of all, it should be noted that both the harm and benefit to the body when consuming pomegranate for weight loss depends on proper use and compliance with the recommended dosage of the product. In any case, you need to listen to your body and follow the golden rule: eat rationally and sparingly, and move more often and more.

It is also important to know how pomegranate is useful for women for weight loss during menopause or during hormonal imbalance. Including the plant in the diet helps:

• restoring the natural balance of hormones;
• elimination of negative menopausal manifestations;
• relieving excessive irritability;
• neutralization of headaches and menstrual pain.

Men also receive many benefits when they include this fruit in their diet, the beneficial properties of which help them increase potency by activating blood circulation and improving the condition of blood vessels.

In general, the advantage of using pomegranate for weight loss is that it provides high-quality cleansing without a laxative effect and at the same time replenishes the lack of substances necessary for the body in conditions of limited nutrition. In addition, during the period of following such methods, it is recommended not to increase physical activity, but, on the contrary, to avoid it due to the lack of proteins and fats in the diet. If active sports activities are necessary, the menu must include additional portions of meat, fish, and cottage cheese.

Regarding whether pomegranate promotes weight loss if eaten at night, nutritionists answer in the negative. This is due to the fact that the pulp, especially together with grains, is difficult to digest and creates a burden on the digestive system. Therefore, such weight loss cannot be called healthy and harmless to the body. Also, the pulp and fresh juice from the fruit increases appetite, so you should consume them only after meals.

Composition and value of pomegranate

Pomegranate is an extremely healthy and tasty fruit that is often included in the diet of people who want to lose weight. It consists of 80% water. It also contains fiber, which improves the digestion of food. Among the useful components in the composition are:

• monosaccharides;
• amino acids;
• phytohormones;
• organic acids;
• minerals (sodium, iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium);
• alimentary fiber;
• tannins;
• antioxidants;
• vitamins of groups B, C, P and A;
• fatty acid.

Attention! To avoid damaging your tooth enamel with pomegranate juice, you need to drink it through a straw.

Calorie content of pomegranate and pomegranate juice

When losing weight, pomegranate has become popular due to its low calorie content. There are 80 kcal per 100 g of product. Pomegranate juice contains only 58 kcal.

Harm

Negative side effects when consuming pomegranate for weight loss most often occur when the recommended amount is significantly exceeded. It is especially unsafe to use the peel, which has a high content of alkaloids. Symptoms of poisoning may include:

• headaches, dizziness;
• blurred vision;
• clouding of consciousness;
• convulsions;
• stomach colic and cramps.

In addition, due to the presence of a large amount of acids, the juice can damage tooth enamel. Therefore, it must be drunk through a straw or diluted by half with water or other drinks before use.

Excessive indulgence in pomegranate diets can also cause a number of negative consequences, the most common of which are:

• allergic reactions;
• relapses of gastrointestinal diseases;
• chronic constipation;
• inflammation of the appendix;
• exacerbation of hemorrhoids.

Important! When using pomegranate juice for weight loss, you should not consume it on an empty stomach due to the very high concentration of organic acids that have an irritating effect on the gastric mucosa. The last intake of fresh juice should be at least 3 hours before bedtime, as it can lead to swelling of the face in the morning.

It is best to take freshly squeezed pomegranate juice 30 minutes after eating. It should be borne in mind that the drink retains its beneficial properties only for 15 minutes after spinning. It then oxidizes and can be harmful to health.

Advantages and disadvantages

Diets

The easiest way to use pomegranate for weight loss is to consume one such fruit daily or freshly squeezed juice from it, half diluted with water. You should take such products only after meals and preferably in the first half of the day. Their active substances speed up digestion and enhance metabolic processes, which will contribute to weight loss. For this purpose, it is useful to add the fruit to the diet of any diet to increase its effectiveness. In addition, you can use ready-made versions of pomegranate diets lasting from 5 days to 3 weeks.

For 5 days

With proper nutrition and simultaneous consumption of pomegranate, weight loss on a five-day diet is usually about 3 kg. A sample menu should be as follows:

• breakfast – seeds of one medium pomegranate or freshly squeezed juice from it, diluted with water in a ratio of 1:1;
• lunch - boiled chicken, 1 glass of diluted pomegranate juice;
• dinner - low-fat cottage cheese with fruit grains.

Important! Drinking pomegranate pulp or juice on an empty stomach can harm the gastric mucosa, cause heartburn, and even provoke the development of gastritis or ulcers. Therefore, the first diet option must be followed with caution and closely monitor your health.

To prevent increased stomach acidity, you should drink at least 2 liters of water daily while losing weight. If unpleasant symptoms appear, the diet should be stopped immediately.

For 10 days

If the previous version of the diet seems too harsh or the amount of pomegranate consumed is excessive, you can use a softer version of the diet, designed for 10 days. Its menu is built according to the following scheme:

• in the morning on an empty stomach – 1 glass of warm water;
• breakfast (after 20 minutes) – buckwheat porridge, 1 glass of fresh pomegranate juice;
• lunch – a glass of natural yogurt or 1 apple;
• lunch – buckwheat porridge with boiled chicken breast;
• afternoon snack - 1 banana;
• dinner – buckwheat with green leafy vegetables;
• at night - a glass of kefir or a handful of dried fruits and green tea.

The results of such nutrition are very individual, but usually the weight is at least 4 kg. If desired, you can reduce the duration of the diet to 7 days, but then the loss of kilograms will be somewhat more modest. If severe weakness, apathy, or a sharp deterioration in health occur, this method of losing weight should be abandoned.

For 3 weeks

There are two varieties of the three-week pomegranate diet. In both cases, there is no specific menu option, you just need to adhere to any low-calorie diet during this period and at the same time consume a pomegranate-olive mixture or drink fresh pomegranate according to one of these schemes, respectively:

• a mixture of crushed grains with olive oil should be taken 2 times a day - 1 tbsp. l. half an hour before breakfast and dinner;
• fresh juice is taken half a glass after main meals: in the first week - 3 times a day;
• in the second week - 2 times (after breakfast and lunch);
• on the third - only after breakfast.

The indicated duration of such a diet is minimal. If you choose a balanced healthy diet and there are no contraindications, you can introduce pomegranate into your daily diet as a source of beneficial microelements. But the amount of product consumed should not exceed the indicated dosages.

Every diet has its downsides

The main rule of pomegranate weight loss is short-termism. Nutritionists recommend not following it for more than 7 days, otherwise you can harm your health by exacerbating chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

It is important to consume the red fruit only after the main meal, since a side effect of use is a sudden feeling of hunger.

During the diet, you should forget about your favorite high-calorie foods, since losing weight in this case will not bring the desired result if you do not give them up.

Contraindications

Despite all its usefulness and low energy value, pomegranate should be limited in the diet:

• pregnant and breastfeeding women;
• for allergy sufferers;
• people with dental ailments.

It is known that pomegranate juice in large quantities can harm enamel. That is why people with particularly sensitive teeth should think about how to prevent the negative impact of the drink on dental health. Dentists recommend using a thin cocktail straw or diluting the juice with boiled water.

Before you start losing weight, do not forget to visit a specialist to make sure there are no contraindications.

Peeling

The most common method of external use of pomegranate for weight loss is peeling. The pomegranate peeling procedure is carried out in almost all professional beauty salons, since it very effectively removes the stratum corneum of the epidermis, improves cell regeneration, increases natural metabolic processes, preventing the appearance of wrinkles and sagging after reducing body weight and volume.

For peeling, pure pomegranate juice is used, which is applied to problem areas of the body in 7-10 layers as it dries. You can make some changes to this classic recipe:

• if the skin is too sensitive, the fresh juice must be diluted with kefir or milk;
• If the peeling effect is well tolerated, it is recommended to enhance the peeling effect with lemon juice in a 1:1 ratio.

The procedure is carried out 2-3 times a week, preferably in the evening before bedtime.

Is it possible to drink pomegranate juice while losing weight?

Freshly squeezed pomegranate juice contains all the beneficial substances present in ripe fruits, but the concentration of vitamins and minerals becomes even greater. If you take pomegranate juice daily, you can significantly speed up the burning of fat reserves and slow down the new deposition of fat.

The juice has diuretic and choleretic properties, therefore it removes excess fluid from tissues and relieves swelling. Pomegranate juice for weight loss is responsible for the rapid absorption and processing of nutrients. Drinking a drink while on a diet helps to restore your figure to slenderness and at the same time do without harm to your health; there will definitely not be a shortage of useful elements when losing weight.

Scrub

If desired, peeling can be replaced with a scrub, which has the same effect, but gives faster exfoliation results. The following compositions are used to carry out the procedure:

• mix crushed pomegranate seeds, honey and almond oil in equal proportions;
• to 2 tbsp. l. fresh pomegranate add the juice of 1 lemon, ½ tsp. fine salt and olive oil;
• mix 2 tbsp. l. ground oatmeal with 1 tbsp. l. honey and the same amount of pomegranate juice.

The prepared mixture is applied to cleansed skin, massaged for 10 minutes, then washed off with warm water.

In order to constantly maintain good skin tone while losing weight, it is recommended to wipe the body with fresh pomegranate daily. You can also add it to mixtures for masks and wraps to increase their lifting effect.

Mechanism of action for weight loss

100 g of fruit grains contain dietary fiber (3.5 g), which:

• saturate,
• normalize insulin and blood sugar levels,
• carry part of the fat received from food through the digestive system before they are absorbed and deposited in fat depots.

It is recommended to consume grains with seeds, since they are not digested, but are excreted completely, thereby cleansing the intestines.

The fruit has the following positive qualities for weight loss:

• the amino acids it contains accelerate metabolic processes and regulate the activity of the digestive organs, which activates fat-burning properties,
• cleanses the body of harmful substances,
• has a diuretic effect, which helps remove excess fluid from the body,
• juice, seeds and peel contain many vitamins and microelements that prevent the appearance of subcutaneous fat,
• juice reduces the concentration of fatty acids in the body, preventing fat from being deposited,
• increases hemoglobin levels, fills the body with energy,
• good for a snack.

Including fruit in the diet:

• restores hormonal balance,
• relieves negative symptoms during menopause,
• eliminates excessive irritability,
• neutralizes pain (headache, menstrual).

Using the product when losing weight has a high-quality cleansing effect without a laxative effect and replenishes the supply of substances the body needs in case of an unbalanced diet.

Due to the insufficient amount of fat and protein in the diet, it is recommended not to increase physical activity. If necessary, you can additionally include portions of fish, meat, and cottage cheese.

Negative points:

• the acidity of the juice is high, it can destroy tooth enamel and gastric mucosa,
• the peel contains poisonous alkaloids that can increase blood pressure, cause convulsions, dizziness, blurred vision,
• increases the production of gastric juice, can cause heartburn,
• may cause constipation
• if consumed in large quantities, it can cause allergies.

Recipes

Before using pomegranate for weight loss, you must first peel it and remove the grains covered with juicy pulp. This can be done in several ways:

• cut off the top, make shallow cuts along the skin along the veins, turn the fruit over a deep plate and, tapping it with a spoon, knock out the grains;
• in the same way, cut off the top and cut the fruit into shallow slices, then immerse it in a deep bowl of water, separate the grains from the peel, collect the floating pieces of the core and film, strain the grains that have settled to the bottom through a colander;
• Cover a deep bowl with a mold for making dumplings, cut the fruit in half and place one half on the dumpling maker, cover it with a silicone baking mold and knock out the grains by tapping with a hammer.

The resulting grains can be eaten on their own, added to dishes, or freshly squeezed using the recipes below.

Pomegranate juice

Juice from pomegranate seeds can also be obtained in several ways. The most practical of them would be to use a centrifugal juicer, with which you can very quickly get clean fresh juice with a minimum of waste. If you don’t have a juicer, then other options will do:

1. Wrap some of the grains tightly in a piece of gauze, leaving the edges to hold in your hand. Place in a wide saucepan, crush with a rolling pin and then squeeze out the remaining liquid by twisting the cheesecloth. Clean the gauze from the used seeds, add a new portion and repeat the procedure.
2. Grind the seeds in a blender. Strain the resulting mass through a mesh filter or squeeze it out, wrapping it in gauze.
3. Place the grains in a strong plastic bag and beat with a hammer. Make a small hole in the bag and drain the fresh juice. If desired, you can filter using the above methods.

The resulting liquid must be diluted with water or another drink to reduce the concentration of organic acids and drunk immediately.

Pomegranate-olive mixture

The combination of pomegranate and olive oil is the only remedy that is recommended to be taken before meals during the weight loss period. The useful composition is prepared according to the following scheme:

• the grains of one fruit are crushed in a blender;
• add 4 tsp. olive oil;
• stir;
• transfer to a jar with a lid;
• stored in the refrigerator.

The pomegranate-olive mixture significantly reduces appetite and speeds up metabolism. It should be taken before meals.

general information

Pomegranate is a spherical fruit of the tree of the same name, growing in the Middle East, Caucasus, Africa, Asia and the Mediterranean. It has a fairly thick and durable peel, under which there are many juicy bright red grains, tightly adjacent to each other and divided into segments by thin filmy partitions. When ripe, it tastes quite sweet, which is why many people doubt whether it can be eaten while losing weight.

About calorie content

Calorie content - 72 kcal. However, you need to keep in mind that this is an average figure and is not a standard. Fruits grown in different regions and picked at different ripening periods have different caloric content. It can range from 52 to 79 kcal.

Calorie content of pomegranate juice is 58 kcal (average value). Varies between 42-65 kcal.

Compared to many other fruits, pomegranate seems high in calories: grapefruits have only 35 kcal, oranges - 43, nectarines - 44, pears and apples - 47. Therefore, the question arises whether or not you can eat it while losing weight. By definition, dietary foods are those whose calorie content does not exceed 100 kcal. So from this position there should be no doubt: both fruits and juice will fit into the framework of any diet.

About the glycemic index

The glycemic index of pomegranate and its juice is 35 units. And again, the most suspicious people doubt whether such a borderline indicator is dangerous when losing weight. After all, the next group of products, starting with GI = 40 units, already requires restrictions for diabetics and overweight. But our king of fruits, as they call him, does not fall into it, so eat it for your health with any diet.

About nutritional value

The BJU ratio is 0.7/0.6/14.5. There is nothing prohibitive in these indicators for losing weight.

About the chemical composition

It’s not for nothing that pomegranate is often called the vitamin bomb. The chemical composition of the fruit explains its second name:

• sugar (up to 20%);
• organic acids - mainly citric and a little malic;
• minerals: magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, aluminum, silicon, nickel, calcium, chromium, copper;
• vitamins: ascorbic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, niacin, retinol, folacin, B12;
• tannins;
• tannins.

The amount of organic acids and tannins in pomegranate juice increases.

Contraindications

Consuming pomegranate for weight loss in recommended quantities without exceeding the dosage has virtually no contraindications. The presence of the following pathological conditions may limit the use of fruit:

• gastritis or ulcer in chronic and acute form;
• pancreatitis;
• hypotension;
• frequent constipation.

But even in the absence of contraindications, it should not be abused. Only moderate consumption can provide health benefits and help normalize body weight.

How to choose grenades?

You need to know how to choose grenades. The freshness and ripeness of a fruit is assessed by its peel and color. A ripe pomegranate has a burgundy or bright red skin without defects or cracks. Unripe fruits are very light. Overripe pomegranates have cracks and spots.

You can check the elasticity of the fruit by gently squeezing it. A good fruit will be firm and elastic. But excessive hardness or softness indicates an unripe or overripe pomegranate. A good piece of fruit will have a metallic sound when you tap it with your knuckles. Large pomegranates are always juicier.

Reviews and results of losing weight

Veronica, 29 years old, Samara

I love pomegranates very much, but usually I rarely buy them because of the high cost. When the question arose about the need to lose weight, and all the diets I tried did not bring the expected results, I began to look for other options to solve the problem. I accidentally read about how useful pomegranate is for weight loss - reviews indicated that with the help of this fruit, kilograms disappear much faster. Then I decided to combine business with pleasure and chose a pomegranate diet lasting 3 weeks. During this period I lost 6 kg. Now I spend a weekly fasting day on a pomegranate, which also helps a lot - the weight continues to slowly decrease.

Elena, 47 years old, Arkhangelsk

I had long heard about losing weight with pomegranates, but I didn’t really believe in the effectiveness of this method. But one day I went on vacation to Greece, where these fruits are very affordable. Throughout my vacation, I ate pulp or drank fresh juice after every meal, and I didn’t really limit myself in food. True, the local cuisine is distinguished by a healthy diet with a predominance of plant foods, olive oil and cheeses. This combination provided wonderful results - in 3 weeks I lost almost 7 kg. At the same time, complexion, mood and well-being have significantly improved. Now these miracle fruits are always present on our table, but without abuse.

Olga, 34 years old, Kerch

Losing weight on pomegranates not only didn’t help me, but it almost ruined my health. I didn’t check whether it was possible to eat these fruits in the evening, so I ate them for dinner and before bed to curb my appetite. As a result, I woke up in the morning with a puffy face and heaviness in my stomach, but I did not immediately understand the reason for these phenomena. Then the abdominal pain began, especially after drinking freshly squeezed pomegranate juice. Then I immediately abandoned this technique and treated my stomach for several more months. I recommend using these products carefully, especially in large quantities.

Nastya, 28 years old, Kolomna

I have my own principle of losing weight using pomegranates. I drink freshly squeezed juice three times a day after meals, and in between I eat grains to get rid of hunger. Of course, I’m switching to proper nutrition without fried, flour and sweets. In one week on such a diet you lose 3-4 kg. Then you need to take a break and repeat in a month, if necessary. You should drink fresh juice through a straw and or brush your teeth every time to protect your tooth enamel. The diet is quite easy to tolerate, and after it your health and appearance significantly improves.

Does pomegranate help you lose weight?

The most valuable property of pomegranate for use on a diet is the high content of dietary fiber in the red seeds of the fruit. If you eat pomegranate in moderation but regularly, the fruit will help improve intestinal motility.

In addition, pomegranate helps get rid of the feeling of heaviness in the stomach and speeds up the process of digesting incoming food. Small portions of healthy fruit saturate the body with vitamins and improve the functioning of the metabolic system. If you follow daily dosages, it is almost impossible to gain weight on pomegranate, but excess weight begins to disappear very quickly.