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Eating Pomegranate Seeds

Question of the Week

By Vincent Iannelli, M.D., About.com

Updated: November 6, 2004

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Kate Grossman, MD

Q. My 5 year old son loves pomegranates. He eats the seed and swallows the hard part in the middle after chewing it up. This is the way I've always eaten my pomegranates. Is this ok for my children to do or should they only extract the juice? My sister told me that the seeds can get lodged in the intestines and create problems. Is this true? Mike, California

A. According to the Pomegranate Council, when eating a pomegranate, you should 'roll out the arils (juice sacs)', discard everything else, and then 'eat the arils whole, seeds and all.'

They go on to say that it is a 'personal choice' as to whether or not you eat the seeds. However, keep in mind that 'most of the fiber that you get from eating pomegranates comes from that little seed.'

In addition to having some fiber, pomegranates are a good source of Vitamin C and potassium. Keep in mind that most of the calories, about 105 calories for a medium pomegranate, come from sugar.

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