The best time to drink pomegranate juice

Love the taste of pomegranates but hate eating the fruit itself because of the pesky seeds? So drinking pomegranate juice is the best way to get all the benefits of this delicious fruit without any hassle.

But what is the best time to drink pomegranate juice?

It is best to drink pomegranate juice in the morning. This way you get the most out of the vitamins, minerals and healthy compounds in fresh pomegranate juice. Plus, it gives you the burst of energy you need to start the day. 

But morning is not the only time when you can drink pomegranate juice.

Read on to learn about the benefits of pomegranate juice and when to drink it, including drinking pomegranate juice before bed, before and after workouts, and much more!

The health benefits of pomegranate juice

Pomegranates have been known for their health benefits for thousands of years.  They are full of vitamins like C, K and E.

It is also rich in folate and potassium . And it’s no wonder that pomegranate juice is among the healthiest juices you can drink.

Here are more benefits of pomegranate juice:

High antioxidant content

Pomegranate juice is said to contain 3 times more antioxidants than green tea. In fact, it contains a higher level of antioxidants than most fruit juices.

Polyphenols, responsible for the red color of the fruit, are compounds that enhance the antioxidant properties of pomegranates. 

Punicalagins, which are polyphenols, are powerful antioxidants found in pomegranate juice. Punicalagins, along with punicic acid, are the main compounds responsible for the health benefits of pomegranate juice.

Drinking pomegranate juice regularly helps protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals and oxidation, thus protecting you from a number of diseases.

Healthier skin

No matter how good fruit juices make us feel, it is always good that they also positively affect our appearance.

Pomegranate juice is said to help make the skin look healthier. It works from the inside out and can make wrinkles appear less noticeable.

By fighting free radicals, pomegranate juice helps renew skin cells and improves its texture. It is especially useful for people with dry skin.

Anti-inflammatory properties

The anti-inflammatory effects that pomegranate juice has on your body are truly impressive. They have to do with the high antioxidant content of the fruit and can protect your body from diseases as serious as cancer and diabetes.

According to recent studies, pomegranate juice can slow down the reproduction of cancer cells. Pomegranates have also long been used as a remedy for diabetes.

Although researchers aren’t sure about the effects of pomegranate juice on diabetes, they have found that the sugars in this fruit do not worsen blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

So, although certain effects of pomegranate juice are not fully proven, incorporating pomegranate juice into your diet will not harm you at all.

Improves digestion

Thanks to its strong anti-inflammatory properties, pomegranate juice also reduces inflammation in the intestine. The latter can be caused by a poor diet, food allergies, or the wrong bacteria in the gut. 

Thus, pomegranate juice is a good addition to the diet of people with ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and anyone who wants to improve their digestion.

What is the best time to drink pomegranate juice?

Thus, the pomegranate is very healthy. But when is it better to drink it? Should you drink it in the morning or is it better to enjoy a glass of fresh pomegranate juice later in the day?

Since pomegranate juice contains natural sugars, that is, carbohydrates, it is best to drink it in the morning. So you feed your body and provide it with the necessary nutrients that your body absorbs more easily in the morning.

So if you’re trying to skip your morning coffee, replace it with a glass of fresh pomegranate juice. It will give you the energy boost you need to start the day.

Can you drink pomegranate juice after eating?

You can drink pomegranate juice after eating. In fact, pomegranate juice that does not contain added sugar helps control blood sugar levels after meals.

You may not want to drink pomegranate juice after having a late dinner. But drinking it after meals that you eat earlier in the day is quite acceptable.

You can replace taking pomegranate juice after dinner by taking some pomegranate seeds. Unlike juice, the seeds are high in fiber, making them suitable for dinner.

Can you drink pomegranate juice on an empty stomach?

Studies have shown that drinking unsweetened pomegranate juice on an empty stomach is the best way to get the full benefits of the juice and improve digestion.

Can you drink pomegranate juice at night?

Drinking pomegranate juice late at night, while not dangerous, may not be the best idea to ensure restful sleep.

Eating pomegranates can help you improve your sleep thanks to the large amount of vitamin C they contain. In case you didn’t know, vitamin C is essential for healthy sleep. Those who eat foods rich in vitamin C sleep better.

That being said, pomegranate juice will not have a positive impact on your sleep patterns. According to some studies, pomegranate juice reduces melatonin, which regulates the body’s sleep and wake cycles.

Many people wonder if drinking pomegranate juice late at night will make them gain weight. But the answer to this question is the same as to eat and drink anything else at night.

If throughout the day you have not consumed as many calories as you have burned, drinking a glass of pomegranate juice at night will not make you fat.

But if you’re not in a caloric deficit, pomegranate juice isn’t the best thing to drink late at night when you’re craving something. A 100-gram pomegranate juice contains 54 calories and 13 grams of sugar.

As mentioned earlier in this article, consuming large amounts of sugar late at night is not recommended. Sugar causes insulin levels to rise. This, in turn, causes weight gain.

Another reason not to drink pomegranate juice before bed is that it takes longer for the body to digest antioxidants and polyphenols.

When you drink pomegranate juice and go to sleep, your body doesn’t have enough time to do it.

So, in any case, drinking pomegranate juice at night is not a good idea.

Should you drink pomegranate juice before or after exercising?

You can drink pomegranate juice before or after exercising.

The natural sugars in pomegranate juice make it a good pre-workout food option. In addition, researchers have discovered that the antioxidants in pomegranate juice protect nitric oxide against oxidative stress.

Nitric oxide is a molecule that is involved in various cellular processes, such as the widening and relaxation of blood vessels.

Therefore, drinking fresh pomegranate juice before workouts ensures that your muscles receive enough oxygen while you work out. We recommend that you drink pomegranate juice 30 minutes before exercising. 

Pomegranate juice is also a good addition to your post-workout meal. This is because the high magnesium content of pomegranate juice helps muscle recovery after the wear and tear of weight lifting and intense training in general.

Can you make pomegranate juice at home?

Fresh juices are always better than their commercially manufactured counterparts. And this is also true for pomegranate juice.

Although there are 100% pure pomegranate juice brands on the market, most store-bought juices contain added sugars and preservatives.

Fresh homemade pomegranate juice is richer in vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and other compounds responsible for its numerous health benefits.

Also, the antioxidant properties of fresh juices are comparatively stronger.

But, can you make pomegranate juice at home? Making pomegranate juice at home is easy if you have a blender. All you have to do is blend the pomegranate seeds and then use a mesh strainer to remove the seeds.

As it takes time to make fresh pomegranate juice, we recommend that you do it in bulk. Fresh homemade pomegranate juice will last 2-5 days in the fridge.

Does drinking pomegranate juice cause side effects?

Pomegranate juice is safe for almost everyone, except for those who are allergic to it. People allergic to pomegranate may experience symptoms such as itching, swelling and shortness of breath.

But even if you are not allergic to pomegranate juice, always take it in moderation. Pomegranate juice contains sugar, and keeping sugar intake at a healthy level is essential to a healthy diet. 

Drinking a glass of pomegranate juice a day is enough to enjoy all the health benefits of this fruit juice.