Nutritional Benefits Of Pineapples
Pineapple is a delicious tropical fruit, celebrated for centuries, not only for its unique taste but also for its miraculous health benefits. Eat a cup of pineapple chunks daily to reap some of its amazing benefits, such as boosting immunity, improving bone and eye health, aiding in digestion, and even accelerating weight loss. It is also anti-inflammatory and helps in curing coughs and colds and accelerating weight loss.
Pineapple (also known as ananas) is covered with thorny spikes and topped with hard, waxy leaves — which may total up to thirty per fruit. The fruit is up to a foot long and has a combination of the sweet and tart taste. Pineapple belongs to the Bromeliaceae family and is composite fruit made of coalesced berries that grow at the crown of a fruiting tree.
The name pineapple evolved in the 17th century due to its structure and appearance being similar to pine cones. According to a study published through the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), pineapple is the most important tropical fruit after banana and orange.
🍍Pineapple Nutrition
Pineapple is chockfull of several health benefits due to its nutrient content. It contains bromelain, protein, carbohydrates, sugar, and soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, as per NISCAIR Online Periodicals Laboratory. The vitamins in these fruits include vitamin A, vitamin C, beta-carotene, thiamin, vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6, and folate, as per the USDA National Nutrient Database.
Minerals like potassium, copper, manganese, calcium, sodium, and magnesium are also found in pineapples. These tropical fruits are low in calories and high in water content, which means they can be a part of weight loss diet when consumed in moderation.
🍍Pineapple Uses
The fruit can be added to your daily diet in many forms, most commonly by cutting them into chunks to snack on! Crushed pineapple can also be added to cupcakes, cookies, bars, ice creams, yogurt, and various other desserts. Fresh pineapple juice or smoothie is another popular and delicious way to start your day.
The pineapple upside-down cake is an all-time favorite of food enthusiasts around the world. Antioxidant-rich pineapple juice is also enjoyed around the world in the form of the most famous tropical drink pina colada. Pineapple leaves are used as wallpaper and in ceiling insulation. Pineapple fragrance oils are also popular due to their tropical touch.
🍍Health Benefits of Pineapple
The pineapple fruit is known to offer several benefits. Let us discuss each benefit in detail below.
🍍Rich in Antioxidants
As per a 2014 research study published in the journal Molecules, pineapple is a rich source of flavonoids, which plays an important role in fighting oxidative stress in the body. Another study , dated 2011, published in Food Research International, stated that the antioxidant activity of pineapple is established by its phenolic content and ‘pineapple fruit being rich in phenolics may provide a good source of antioxidants’.
🍍Boosts Immunity & Treats Sinus
Pineapple is rich in vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid) and is known to help in reducing illnesses and boosting the immune system by stimulating the activity of the white blood cells in the body.
This fruit is rich in both bromelain and vitamin C, therefore it helps in preventing and treating respiratory illnesses and reducing the phlegm and mucus build up in the respiratory tracts and sinus cavities, as per research conducted by JM Braun, University of Cologne, Germany.
In order to check the impact of pineapple on immunity levels, almost 100 children were fed no fruit, some fruit, and lots of fruit daily in a nine-week study, conducted by a team of researchers from the Philippines. Children who ate this fruit showed a lower risk of viral infections and had almost four times more white blood cells than the other two groups. This shows a positive association between pineapple consumption and increased immunity levels.
🍍Anticancer Potential
Pineapple has been directly related to preventing cancers of the mouth, throat, and breast as it is rich in antioxidants and vitamins, including vitamin A, beta-carotene, bromelain, flavonoids, and manganese.
According to a report published by Mangalayatan University, bromelain possesses anti-cancer properties and promotes apoptotic cell death.
More research conducted by the University of Naples, suggests that bromelain can be helpful for those suffering from colorectal cancer. It also states that bromelain has a chemopreventive effect on colon cancer patients. It exerts anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in colorectal carcinoma cells, with chemopreventive actions in colon carcinogenesis in vivo.