Pomegranate juice is a healthy and tasty juice. Pomegranates have been around since pretty much the dawn of time, the second millennium B.C.E., to be exact. They are one of the most ancient fruits in the world.
They were mainly used for their medicinal properties, and modern science and medicine tells us that this was an accurate use for them. There was an ancient Egyptian saying, “eat a pomegranate and have a bath; your youth will haste back.”
If there’s no pomegranate juice available to you, you aren’t out of luck. There are a few other juices that can offer similar benefits to pomegranate juice. Some of the best pomegranate juice substitutes are: cranberry juice, raspberry juice, lemon juice, cherry juice, blueberry juice, red grape juice, and orange juice.
What is Pomegranate Juice?
Pomegranate juice is created by thoroughly grinding pomegranate seeds. The residue of the seeds is then filtered out with mesh, and this leaves the pomegranate juice. Its flavor is sweet and tart, and it is usually widely available at grocery stores.
What are the Benefits of Pomegranate Juice?
There are many reasons to drink pomegranate juice for your health. Pomegranates are known as a superfood, meaning they can deliver nutrition in multiple ways to your body. The seeds, which are used to make pomegranate juice, are packed with antioxidants.
Antioxidants help build your immune system and can fight off diseases. It’s been shown that pomegranates may also have anti-cancer properties and are heart healthy. Drinking pomegranate juice can help with inflammation and lowering cholesterol.
Pomegranates are also good for digestive health, and may help boost brain function. Many of these benefits are due to the high vitamin C and antioxidant content in pomegranates. These two factors also help with skin and hair health.
- USDA Organic Pomegranate Juice Powder, 1 lb supply, non-GMO and vegan friendly fresh pomegranates source.
- Rich in antioxidants and immune vitamins (vitamin B2, B12, C, and D3), minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc), flavonoids, polyphenols, and enzymes.
- Each pouch contains 1 pound of freeze-dried, cold pressed pomegranate juice powder, 2 scoop serving size equals approx. 5g, lasts up to a 90 day supply.
- Scoop included to get the perfect measurement every time. Take it daily with or between meals by adding it to a shake or smoothie, enjoy benefits for digestion, immune, and energy health.
- Powder lover? Take it naturally in powder form for higher concentration, quicker absorption, easier on the stomach, and more ways to have fun!
Overall, pomegranates do not have many calories, but they are high in fiber and essential vitamins and minerals. They also have some protein, which is impressive considering their low fat and calorie count.
Is it Good to Drink Pomegranate Juice Every Day?
Drinking between eight and twelve ounces of pomegranate juice per day is considered safe, and even healthy. To get the most out of pomegranate juice, look for labels that indicate the contents contain 100% juice. You don’t want the added sugar that can be in some juices.
But as little as two ounces of pomegranate juice per day can reap benefits. Doing this can help with cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, and clearing out arteries. There are some situations where pomegranate juice should be drunk with caution, though.
For example, if you have diabetes, consult with your doctor before you start drinking pomegranate juice regularly. It can also interact with some medications, in which case you should research if your medication is included in this, or speak with your doctor about it.
What Can Substitute for Pomegranate Juice?
1. Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice has a similar taste to pomegranate juice, in the sense that it provides some acidity and sweetness at the same time. The flavor of cranberry juice is more tangy, but you can add some honey or sugar to counteract this if you’d like.
Interestingly, fresh or dried cranberries can also serve as a replacement for pomegranate seeds as well. Try them as a topping for your next salad or smoothie bowl.
2. Raspberry Juice
Raspberry juice is another sufficient replacement for pomegranate juice. It is more sweet than tart, so if you crave sweetness, raspberry juice can easily fulfill that craving. Naturally, raspberries are very high in sugar, so their juice is different from pomegranate juice in that way.
When raspberries are concentrated, their sweetness is enhanced. Some benefits to drinking raspberry juice are that it is high in potassium, which helps the heart function and lowers blood pressure. Raspberries are also high in essential fatty acids which can prevent strokes.
- Delicious Raspberry Juice in 33.8 Oz
- High in Antioxidants
- 100% natural juice freshly pressed from selected Raspberry
3. Lemon Juice
As you can probably guess, lemon juice is one of the most acidic substitutes on this list. For cooking, it can add a nice tang to your dish and give it a deeper flavor. It can also be drunk on its own. Either way, lemon juice also has some health benefits to offer.
It helps reduce inflammation as well as mental stress, which can boost your energy levels and mood. Like pomegranate juice, lemon juice helps with immunity against diseases as well. One downside to drinking lemon juice often is that its acidity can deplete the enamel on your teeth.
Lemons are known to aid in weight loss. Drinking lemon juice straight, adding it to a salad dressing, or squeezing lemons on your own and adding the juice into water is sure to make a difference in your overall health.
4. Cherry Juice
The taste of cherry juice is often compared to that of cranberry juice. The sweetness and sourness are perfectly balanced, and it is somewhat mild. If your taste buds are on the sensitive side, consider using cherry juice as your substitute for pomegranate juice.
There are a few varieties of cherry juice to pick; including sweetened and unsweetened. Many people think that the sweetened variety is too sweet, while the unsweetened variety is too tart. Try adding some sugar to your cherry juice to further balance its complex flavor.
5. Blueberry Juice
Blueberry juice can get difficult to find, but if you are able to find it, it makes a sufficient pomegranate juice replacement. It is also relatively inexpensive. Blueberries have a tartness to them, but it isn’t very strong in comparison to some others on this list.
If you can’t find any blueberry juice, you can easily make some at home. When blueberries are in season, they are extremely plump, so it’s not hard to get juice out of them. You will probably just want to add some sugar or sweetener to your homemade blueberry juice.
6. Red Grape Juice
Grapes are a very sweet fruit, thus grape juice is too. In fact, in grape juice, the sweet flavor of the grapes is enhanced. Neither are very hard to track down at the store. Grape juice has a deep, rich flavor, and many of the same benefits that pomegranate juice has.
Some benefits to drinking grape juice include migraine relief, better digestion, and immune support. Grape juice is also known to help with brain and eye function.
7. Orange Juice
Because it is citrus-based, orange juice is more acidic in flavor than it is sweet. It is not so bitter though, and more tangy than anything. When juiced, the flavor is emphasized, so orange juice often does not have added sugar.
When using it as a substitute for pomegranate juice, your best bet is freshly squeezed orange juice. In this case, its flavor is much more concentrated, so the tanginess will be very strong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pomegranate juice good for kidneys?
Pomegranate juice is high in antioxidants. As we know, this is good for a plethora of reasons. One reason that antioxidants are beneficial is they can help kidney function; in multiple ways. For one, pomegranate juice is known to help get rid of kidney stones.
This is also partly because of the high potassium levels in pomegranate juice. For those who struggle with more serious kidney issues, pomegranate juice can help contain the disease and prevent it from spreading to the heart.
Which is healthier between cranberry and pomegranate juice?
Cranberry juice and pomegranate juice are very similar, in both their tastes and nutritional profiles. However, pomegranate juice contains more vitamin C than cranberry juice does. It also contains vitamin B9, which promotes the formation of red blood cells in the body.
While both types of juice are good for you, pomegranate juice takes the lead in which is the healthiest.
Can you replace pomegranate juice with molasses?
In addition to pomegranate juice being sold in stores, there is also the existence of pomegranate molasses. The two are not the same thing, but at times they can be used interchangeably.
Essentially, pomegranate molasses is just pomegranate juice that has been reduced. So its flavor is not as intense. Typically, pomegranate molasses is used for cooking purposes rather than being drunk on its own, like a marinade. You can use pomegranate juice as a marinade by adding sugar and letting it simmer over heat.
The inverse is true, in many cases. In theory, pomegranate molasses could be drunk on its own. But you’re more likely to enjoy it with other foods. You could add pomegranate molasses to a smoothie or salad dressing. Its taste is often compared to balsamic, so you won’t need much.
Final Thoughts
Pomegranate juice is an extremely healthy juice made of pomegranates, which are considered a superfood. It has many properties which make it beneficial to our health. If you don’t have any pomegranate juice on hand, there are a few other juices that are just as healthy.
