Pomegranates are round, red fruits with a white inner flesh rich in crisp, juicy, edible seeds called arils. Pomegranate seeds are edible and can be an excellent source of many essential vitamins.

Pomegranates are best known for their brightly coloured juice, but this unique fruit has much more to offer:

1. packed with nutrients

Pomegranates are low in calories and fat but high in fibre, vitamins and minerals;

2. rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that help protect your body's cells from damage caused by free radicals. High levels of free radicals can be harmful and contribute to many chronic diseases. Pomegranates are rich in antioxidants and polyphenolic compounds, including punicalagins, anthocyanins and hydrolysable tannins. Getting antioxidants from fruits such as pomegranates is a great way to maintain overall health and prevent disease;

3. can help prevent inflammation. Chronic inflammation can contribute to many diseases including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer.

Eating pomegranates can help prevent inflammation associated with these chronic diseases. This is mainly due to compounds called punicalagins, which have been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties;

4. may have anti-cancer properties. A study found that compounds in pomegranates have anti-cancer properties, and animal studies have also found that pomegranate helps to slow tumour growth in the early stages of liver cancer. In addition, according to older studies, pomegranate extract may be beneficial in prostate cancer;

5. may be beneficial for heart health. There is evidence that fruits rich in polyphenolic compounds, such as pomegranates, may be beneficial for heart health. In a study involving people with heart disease, drinking pomegranate juice reduced the frequency and severity of chest pain, as well as certain biomarkers that indicate protective effects on heart health;

6. maintain urinary tract health. Test-tube and human studies have shown that pomegranate extract can help reduce kidney stone formation.

In addition, animal studies have shown that pomegranate extract can help regulate blood levels of oxalate, calcium and phosphate, which are common components of kidney stones;

7. may have antimicrobial properties. Pomegranate compounds may help fight harmful micro-organisms.

For example, they can protect oral health by reducing the growth of microbes that can cause bad breath and tooth decay;

8. can improve exercise endurance, the polyphenols in pomegranates can increase endurance during exercise.

One study showed that pomegranate extract increased the time to exhaustion and improved performance in trained cyclists;

9. Good for your brain. Pomegranates contain antioxidants called ellagitannins, which help reduce inflammation in the body. Some studies have found that ellagitannins may help protect the brain against Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease by reducing oxidative damage and increasing brain cell survival.

The pomegranate was an exotic tree imported to Egypt from Asia during the New Kingdom period. During this period, pomegranates were one of the trees that decorated several royal gardens in Egypt.

In ancient Egypt, pomegranates were buried with the dead to help them pass into the afterlife.

In Christianity, the fruit symbolises the suffering and resurrection of Christ. Islamic tradition commands that every pomegranate aril be eaten because each fruit contains one aril from paradise.

In Egypt, as the winter season begins, the seasonal fruits fill the local markets and people eagerly await them. Pomegranates are deservedly in the lead.

The round shape of the fruit is considered to be one of the Egyptians' favourites. The six-metre tree is mainly planted in Upper Egypt, especially in the Assiut region. The harvesting season starts in September and peaks at the end of the year and ends in March.

Local farmers claim that each feddan in Assiut produces between 19 and 22 tonnes of pomegranates, making Egypt one of the largest pomegranate exporting countries.