Dear Dr. Levister: Everyone is raving about the health benefits of the pomegranate. Where does this fruit come from and is it as good for you as the health gurus claim?

L.W.

Dear L.W.  There's pomegranate juice, chips, latte, vodka, salad dressing, ice cream, salsa and even gummy bears. You can put pomegranate essence in your hair or on your skin.  In the last few years, hundreds of new pomegranate products have come on the market.

The pomegranate is an ancient fruit with a rich history in myth, symbol, art, medicine and religion. It has always been an important part of the Middle Eastern diet. Until recently, however, pomegranates were something of a seasonal novelty in the West. Then medical studies suggested what the ancients believed and the Middle Easterners probably take for granted: Pomegranates are really good for you, thus  instant celebrity.

Scientists say the leathery-skinned, orange-sized fruit with the sweet tart juice may help with heart disease, cancer and problems associated with aging. It's loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, potassium, folic acid and iron. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture are calling pomegranates the new superfood. Almost overnight green tea and red wine, which have fewer antioxidants than pomegranates have become yesterday's health news.

The popularity of pomegranates, which are native to Iran, may have been delayed in the West because it is such a labor-intensive fruit. Beneath its tough but thin skin, each pomegranate holds hundreds of tiny seeds encased in clear ruby pulp. Bitter inedible membranes hold the seeds, and getting the seeds out can be a struggle.

Most U.S. pomegranates are grown in California, and they're in season right now. Look for fruit that is heavy for its size and has bright, unblemished skin. Pomegranates can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two months, or in a cool dark place for up to a month.