The pomegranate is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub in the family Lythraceae, subfamily Punicoideae, that grows between 5 and 10 m tall. The pomegranate was originally described throughout the Mediterranean region.
Scientific name: Punica granatum
Higher classification: Pomegranates
Rank: Species
Conservation status: Least Concern Encyclopedia of Life
Family: Lythraceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Myrtales
The small pink seeds inside a pomegranate, called the arils, are the edible portion of the fruit. While they can be labor-intensive to remove from the fruit’s inner flesh, their nutritional profile and flavor are well worth the investment.
Overall, pomegranates are low in calories and fat but high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They also contain some protein.
Below is the nutrition for the arils in one average (282-gram) pomegranate fruit (1Trusted Source):
Calories: 234
Protein: 4.7 grams
Fat: 3.3 grams
Carbohydrates: 52 grams
Sugar: 38.6 grams
Fiber: 11.3 grams
Calcium: 28.2 mg, or 2% of the Daily Value (DV)
Iron: 0.85 mg, or 5% of the DV
Magnesium: 33.8 mg, or 8% of the DV
Phosphorus: 102 mg, or 8% of the DV
Potassium: 666 mg, or 13% of the DV
Vitamin C: 28.8 mg, or 32% of the DV
Folate(vitamin B9): 107 mcg, or 27% of the DV
Comparatively, a 1/2-cup (87-gram) serving of arils provides 72 calories, 16 grams of carbs, 3.5 grams of fiber, 1 gram of fat, and 1.5 grams of protein (1Trusted Source).
Keep in mind that the nutritional information for pomegranate and arils differs from that of pomegranate juice, which won’t provide much fiber or vitamin C. This applies to fruit in general — eating the whole form will provide more fiber (2Trusted Source).