Pomegranate (Pumica Granatum) is a delicious fruit that grows on the deciduous tree of the Lythraceae family. It originated in Iran but is now cultivated in many regions of the world like the Middle East, Tropical Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Central Asia, Mediterranean Basin, etc. In Nothern Hemisphere, it gets cultivate from September to February and in the Southern Hemisphere, it gets cultivated from March to May respectively. Being a good source of many nutrients like vitamins,minerals, antioxidants, flavonoids, phytonutrients etc. it provides a number of health benefits and as well as beauty benefits, However, it should be noted that overeating pomegranates is not good for our health, and there are also some side effects of eating too many pomegranates. In this article, we will know about these side effects in detail, but first, let’s take a look at below mentioned nutrition chart of pomegranates.
Nutrition Chart of Pomegranates
Side Effects of Eating Too Many Pomegranates
(1) Effects of Enzymes
Regular and moderate consumption of pomegranate has been found to be very beneficial for our stomach and helps in keeping our digestive system healthy. This benefit is mainly due to the presence of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibers in them.
However, it is not advisable to eat pomegranates in excessive quantity as the enzymes present in the pomegranates can hinder the functionality and performance of the certain enzymes present in the liver. The situation can get worse if you are already suffering from any liver disorder.
For this reason, it is better to eat pomegranates in moderation and if you have a liver disorder, then it is better to first consult with your doctor.
(2) May Cause Allergies
Pomegranate is not at all suitable for the individuals who are allergic to pomegranates. It has been found that in some individuals, eating pomegranates can trigger various symptoms that lead to allergy. Some of these symptoms are painful swallowing, rashes, hives, facial swelling, difficulty in breathing, etc.
Even if you are not allergic to pomegranates, for a safer side, it is better to eat them in moderate quantity.
Sometimes the pesticides and the other chemicals present in the fruits like pomegranates are responsible for the allergies. So, it is better to wash your fruits thoroughly before eating, and as much as possible, go for organic fruits.
(3) Not So Good For Our Digestive System
Eating pomegranates on a regular and moderate basis has been found to be very beneficial for our stomach and helps in keeping our digestive system healthy.
This benefit of pomegranate is mainly due to the presence of dietary fibers in them. The dietary fibers present in the pomegranates acts as a natural laxative, improves bowel movement and helps in smooth elimination of waste from our body.
By doing so, it not only helps in treating constipation but also provides relief from digestive disorders like abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal gas, intestinal bloating, flatulence, etc.
Although dietary fibers present in the pomegranates provides a number of benefits, there are also some side effects of excessive consumption of dietary fibers. Some of the common side effects of eating excessive dietary fibers are stomach cramping, diarrhea, malabsorption, constipation, intestinal gas, and intestinal blockage, etc.
Suggested Read:- 30 Amazing Health & Beauty Benefits of Pomegranates
(4) Too much Iron Is Bad For Us
Consuming pomegranates on a regular and moderate basis has been found to be very beneficial for reducing the anemia which is a condition caused by the deficiency of iron in our body. Some common symptoms of anemia are dizziness, fatigue, tiredness, pale skin, shortness of breath, Insomnia, etc.
Iron present in the pomegranates aids in the production of red blood corpuscles in our body, that carries oxygenated blood to every cell of our organ and thus provide nourishment to them. In addition to this, iron also performs many other functions like improves muscle functions, regulates body temperature, improves brain functions, aids in the metabolism of fat and protein.
No doubt, the iron present in the pomegranate is an advantage to us, but it should be noted that if you are already taking iron supplements or another kind of medications for treating anemia then pomegranates could interfere with the same, and this may lead to excessive concentration of iron in your body.
Just like deficiency of iron, excessive concentration of iron is also bad for our health as it may give rise to problems like abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, seizures, damage to the liver, internal bleeding, etc.
This is another reason to eat pomegranates on a moderate basis.
(5) Not So Good For Diabetic Patients
Eating pomegranates on a regular and moderate basis has been found to be very beneficial for individuals with diabetes or who are at the risk of developing diabetes.
This benefit is mainly due to the low glycemic load of pomegranate which means it releases sugar into the bloodstream at a slow rate and this prevents a sudden spike in our blood sugar level, and thus regulates blood sugar.
In addition to this, the dietary fibers present in the pomegranates also helps in managing diabetes as they slow down the rate at which blood sugar gets absorbed into the bloodstream.
Although this is an advantage of pomegranate, it can turn into a disadvantage if you are eating too many pomegranates. This is because, excessive consumption of pomegranate can lower your blood sugar level to a dangerously low level, and this may give rise to hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia is a condition in which our blood sugar drops down to an abnormally low level and is characterized by the symptoms like blurry vision, rapid heartbeat, mood swings, sudden nervousness, pale skin, headache, etc.
Also, if you are already taking medication for regulating diabetes, then taking pomegranates along with it may interfere with the medication.
Another point to keep in mind is that although pomegranates reduce the rate at which sugar gets absorbed into the blood, they do contains sugar. They are high in fructose which makes them a “not so good” fruit for the diabetic patient.
For this reason, it is better to eat them in moderation, and if you are already taking medication for the same, then it is better to have a word with your doctor.
(6) May Cause Hypotension
Regular consumption of pomegranates has been found to be very effective in controlling high blood pressure or hypertension, and also helps in keeping our cardiovascular system healthy.
This benefit of pomegranate is mainly due to the presence of vital mineral “Potassium” in it. Potassium is a vasodilator which means, it relaxes our blood vessels and ensures smooth blood circulation, and thus helps in controlling blood pressure.
Although pomegranate is effective in controlling blood pressure it should be noted that eating too many pomegranates may lower your blood pressure to a dangerously low level giving rise to hypotension.
Hypotension is a condition in which our blood pressure drops down to an abnormally low level. Some common symptoms of hypotension are fatigue, lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea, depression, blurry vision, etc.
Similarly, if you are already taking medication for controlling high blood pressure, then consumption of pomegranates along with the medication can interfere with the medicines, and it is better to consult your doctor about the same.
Suggested Read:- 7 Major Side Effects of Overeating Prickly Pears
(7) May Lead To Weight Gain
Eating pomegranates on a regular basis has been found to be very beneficial for the individuals who are on a weight loss regime or who would like to get rid of some extra pounds.
This benefit is mainly due to the presence of high water content and dietary fibers in them. The dietary fibers present in the pomegranates keep our stomach satisfied for longer duration and decreasing our urge to eat again and again. As overeating is a major cause of obesity, so by controlling overeating, it helps in controlling obesity.
In addition to this, it is also rich in water and, in fact, around 82 percent of pomegranate’s weight is just water which has no calories and doesn’t contribute to weight gain.
It should also be noted that eating 100 grams of pomegranate provides around 83 calories of energy. This is not bad if you are consuming pomegranates in limited quantity.
However, if you are eating pomegranates in excessive quantity then this calorie can quickly add up and may lead to weight gain.
Also, if you are already eating a balanced diet for maintaining your ideal weight then the inclusion of these excessive calories could interfere with the same.
The information contained in the post is for gen al purpose only and shouldn’t be considered as medical advice or as an alternative to medical advice. Although I’ve tried my best to keep the information contained in this post as accurate and updated as possible, I make no guarantee of the accurateness of the same.
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