Pineapple is a wonderful fruit, that is popular with many, and what many do not know about it is that it is a highly nutritious fruit. This fruit is said to have originated in South America, however, is available freely across India, in all seasons. The fruit when ripe can be a light yellowish green color and resembles a pine cone, which gave it the name.
It is slightly thorny, and it can be an effort to cut it out nicely, but the effort is worth it, as some are extremely sweet, while at times, you may end up with a sour or tangy one as well. This fruit is also widely used to make juices, jams, and in a variety of dishes in baking as well. The best way to eat it would be as is, by cutting out fresh slices, to get the maximum benefits out of it.
Nutritional value
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We mostly eat the fruits for the taste as well as their nutritional value, and pineapple happens to be one that is loaded with nutrients. It comes with Proteins, Carbs, Fibre, Vitamins C, A, K, B6, Copper, Manganese, Thiamin, Folate, Potassium, Magnesium, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Riboflavin, Phosphorus, Zinc, Calcium, and Iron. Each of these elements is essential for our body needs and fulfills some specific needs that help with metabolism, growth, and development.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are extremely good for our health, and they help prevent or fight many diseases, including a few dreaded ones like cancer. Pineapple comes loaded with antioxidants, and these help our body fight oxidative stress. It is this oxidative stress that causes free radicals in our body. These cause inflammation by weakening our immune system, and that is how they open up our body cells for diseases.
Hence, it is important that we consume fruits and vegetables that provide us enough antioxidants, on a day to day basis. Pineapples are as good as they come, and a great way to keep the body fit and fighting. Two antioxidants in pineapple, especially flavonoids and phenolic acids, are more in this fruit. Such bound antioxidants, last longer in our body through harsh conditions and keep working to protect your body, much more than other antioxidants.
Eases digestion
Many issues in the body are due to improper digestion and absorption of nutrients which result in the toxins being held back in the body. Pineapples are a wonder fruit for digestion as they contain enzymes called bromelain, which are a set of digestive enzymes. They help break down the protein into amino acids and peptides, thus aiding the digestion. This makes absorption easier as they pass through the small intestine. When food is well digested, the body remains healthier and disease free. This digestive aiding property of bromelain has even been proved through a few studies.
Anticancer properties
Cancer has become an un-ignorable ugly disease that keeps rearing its head more and more, especially because of our unhealthy diet and lifestyle. It is nothing but uncontrolled cell growth, which is malignant, causing harm. This is due to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in our body due to all the free radicals.
Studies have proved pineapples can reduce oxidative stress and also possess anti-inflammatory properties as well. This makes it an excellent anticancer agent. The bromelain compound found in pineapples that aid the digestion is also said to fight cancer as well. Breast, skin, bile duct, gastric system, and colon are a few of the cancers that are suppressed by bromelain, according to studies conducted in this direction. It is said that they may actually boost your immunity and thus help fight cancer as well.
Bromelain along with the other Vitamins and nutrients present in pineapple, has been proven to boost immunity and fight inflammation in the body. They also reduce viral and bacterial infection risks, and kids eating pineapples were found to have more of disease-fighting white blood cells. The anti-inflammatory properties will also help in faster recovery from surgery, as it helps ease the pain and such symptoms.
Ease Arthritis symptoms
Where seniors are concerned, while all the above points are valid to include pineapple in their diet, another important point is that it helps ease Arthritis symptoms. We all know that one of the most troublesome issues with arthritis is the pain and inflammation of the joints. As mentioned above, the compound bromelain in pineapples will help fight the inflammation and thus help ease the arthritis symptoms. Studies are being conducted to understand the effectiveness of bromelain in the treatment of arthritis, and definite conclusions are yet to have arrived.
Safe in diabetes?
Pineapple is one fruit that is usually avoided by people having diabetes; however, while it is true that pineapples have a medium GI index, which means it can increase your blood sugar levels to some extent when eaten in moderation, they are harmless in that context. It should also be combined with other protein and healthy fats, and then the people with diabetes can gain other health benefits of pineapple.
