Pineapples: Tropical, Refreshing, and Beneficial for Your Health

You do not have to live in a pineapple under the sea like Spongebob Squarepants to reap all of the benefits that pineapples have to offer. This tropical fruit is one potent food.

Most people tend to think of it as a topping on Hawaiian pizza, a member of some sort of canned fruit salad, or something to be mixed into a Pina Colada.

These uses for pineapple are minimal compared to what it is really capable of doing.

The taste and flavor profiles of pineapples really are exceptional. If you can make it past the spiny outside, the sweet reward on the inside is all the more worth the effort.

Otto Koning, the author of The Pineapple Story, was really onto something when he started relaying morals in the plots of each session he recorded while focusing on this fruit.

He unfolds some of life’s hardest learned lessons about surrendering rights and conquering anger. All while focusing on the sweetness of pineapple and how it has a code to life that can set you free.

What people do not realize is that pineapples truly do have the power to set your body free of so many health risks and worries.

It is a powerful fruit, and it should be consumed more often because of all the nutrition it offers.

Many people fail to realize that pineapple has so many uses. The juice alone is delicious and refreshing. It should be added to the diet more often to make sure that all of its health benefits can be gained with ease.

Some people are fonder of pineapple than others. There really is no reason to avoid pineapple, though. It should be added to grocery lists as much as possible. This tropical fruit is a source of a few nutrients that cannot be found anywhere else, too.

Nutrients that the body needs to prevent cancer and reduce inflammation. It needs greater consideration as a part of life.

What Exactly is Pineapple?

By definition, pineapples are tropical fruits that have yellow flesh on the inside. This flesh is rather aromatic and juicy. It is surrounded by a rather rough, segmented skin.

Pineapples are also known for their iconic tuft of leaves on the top. These leaves and the skin surrounding the pineapple are generally not eaten. The flesh, on the other hand, is quite tasty.

Technically, pineapples are a collection of berries. These berries are where the name pineapples come from. The skin reminds people of pine cones in a small, apple-like shape. They are herbaceous perennials, meaning the plant itself lives for more than two years.

They die in the autumn and winter and come back from their roots in the spring and summer without needing to be replanted, so long as the climate permits such a thing to happen. Pineapple plants can grow to be between 3 and 5 feet tall before the fruit is cut from the plant itself.

History of Pineapples

One upon a time, pineapples were a status symbol. They have existed in known history since the times of Indian Migration throughout the Caribbean islands.

Seafaring tribes cultivated pineapples from where their ancestors originally grew in Brazil and Paraguay.

They called this fruit anana, or “excellent fruit.” Soon enough, tribes transplanted pineapples to the Caribbean islands, where it became a staple food in feats and rites for events revolving around tribal affirmation and coming-of-age traditions.

Another great use Indians had for this fruit was to turn it into a sort of wine.

Europeans did not find out about pineapples until Christopher Columbus, and other such explorers traveled to the Caribbean in the 1400s and 1500s.

Specifically, the first known encounter between pineapples and Columbus was in November of 1493, during his second voyage.

Upon arriving on the volcanic island now known as Guadeloupe, crewmembers on the voyage found a deserted village full of wooden pillars, serpent carvings, and cook pots that were filled with human body parts.

Freshly picked vegetables and fruits were also gathered nearby. Pineapples were part of this gathering. Sailors on the expedition ate this collection of food and recorded information on the curious fruit with a segmented exterior.

Being largely bereft of sweets at the time, Europeans became instant fans of this fruit. Since sugar cane was rather rare at the time, sweets had to be found by other means.

Sugar was just not cost effective at the time. Also, orchards were not that common, so sweet fruits were not yet a popular commodity as of yet.

However, due to the cost of transporting pineapples, like with most other sweets, only the rich and affluent could afford to enjoy the flesh of this fruit. This situation does not mean that attempts were not made to cultivate fruits, though.

It took nearly two years for European gardeners to figure out the right way to grow pineapples through hothouse methods.

The right of pineapples still remained largely popular among the royal and rich well into the 1600s.

There are even paintings of rulers like King Charles II of England receiving pineapples as a gift, making it a symbol of upper class and royal privilege.

Pineapples did not really take off as a common commodity until English colonies started to settle along the eastern coast of what is now the United States.

Pineapples were easily collected in colonies that enjoyed tropical climes, and they became a focal point during events and gatherings that hosted visitors of all kinds.

Therefore, hostesses sought to outdo each other with every event, so much so to the point that some tabletops had small mountains of arrangements and foodstuffs.

These extravagant gatherings were compounded with sweet treats, especially those ones made with sweet fruits like pineapples.

Therefore, pineapples became a celebrity. While they were not as cheap as they are today, they were far more affordable in colonies than they were in Europe because they were more readily available.

It was considered an exotic fruit because it was still expensive in some ways to possess, and it was also rather intriguing to the eye. Therefore, it is held on a pedestal as a King of Colonial Fruits.

For the same reason, this fruit was also often given as a gift of high esteem.

What are Pineapples Good For?

Pineapples are one of the few sources of bromelain, an enzyme that takes care of many things in the body. It is mostly used for removing inflammation from the body.

Therefore, people who have wounds, especially those after surgery, will do well to consume as much pineapple products as possible because it is one of the few, natural sources of bromelain available in the world without having to take a shot or a pill.

It is also great for people who have arthritis to remove swelling from their joints during flare ups. Bromelain is also great for removing swelling from the nose and sinuses, so people who have colds, sinus infections, allergies, and the flu can really benefit from eating some pineapple or drinking its juice.

Actually, pineapples are so full of bromelain that it is extracted directly from them for medicinal purposes.

Pineapples also contain a great deal of manganese, an essential mineral that is stored in bones, kidneys, and the pancreas.

The body only needs a small amount of it at any given time, but pineapples contain almost three-quarters of a daily given value for manganese.

This mineral is a cofactor that is necessary for carrying out the functions of other enzymes in the body. It also has antioxidant powers.

Nutritional Value of Pineapples

It should be noted, though, that in the case with pineapples, fresh is always better than canned. Fresh pineapples have many more nutrients than the canned variety. Canning pineapples greatly diminish their nutritional value.

Take Vitamin C in pineapples for example. One cup of pineapple chunks that are fresh contain 131 percent, on average, of the daily value needed for Vitamin C.

However, the canned varieties generally only offer 32 percent. Here are some other nutritional facts to consider.

Calories in Pineapple, Fresh and Canned

On its own in a fresh state, pineapple actually does not contain many calories. About one cup of chunked pineapple contains only 82 calories.

This number goes up slightly with canned pineapples, though. Pineapples that are canned only in their own juices contain about 109 calories.

This number goes up even more when pineapples are canned in any kind of syrup because of the extra sugars that are added, so it is not really advised to eat pineapples that are canned in syrup.

Qualities of Pineapple Juice

Pineapple juice is used in so many recipes. One of the iconic recipes it is an ingredient for is Pina Colada. It can be consumed on its own, though, which is a great way to benefit from some of the nutritional contents of pineapples in general.

One cup of canned pineapple juice only contains about 132 calories. It has only 25 grams of sugars, too.

This juice is a great way to obtain your daily dose of Vitamin C because it contains 25 mg or 42 percent of the daily value recommended. It also contains a great deal of folate at 45 mcg or 11 percent.

Pineapple Consumption

The exterior parts of the pineapple cannot be consumed. It needs to be cut away to reach the sweet fruit on the inside. The best way to consume the inner flesh of a pineapple is to eat it straight from the husk.

As mentioned previously, this method is the truest version of pineapple, and it will give the most nutritional benefits in the long run.

One of the most common ways to eat pineapple is to pair it with ham in some way. People who eat ham at Christmas and Easter typically place pineapples on the outer side of the ham for a garnish and for extra flavor.

The natural sugars in the pineapple pair well with ham to create a savory and sweet flavor profile. Another way to pair these two foods together is to place them together on a pizza.

The reason why pineapple pairs well with ham are because the bromelain compounds it contains are great for tenderizing meat.

Health Benefits of Pineapple

Pineapples host a variety of health benefits that many people to not utilize in their daily diets.

Here is a long list of reasons why pineapples should be consumed more in people’s diets. After all, it is the king of exotic fruits, and it should be consumed as such.

1. Pineapples are a great source of simple sugars and carbs. It has fructose, sucrose, and glucose.

   The body does not have to go through the extra steps and waste the extra energy to break pineapple’s sugars down, so it truly makes for an effective treat.

   One cup of pineapple has about 21 or 22 grams are carbohydrates, which mean it contains about 19 digestible carbs in each cup.

   It has a glycemic index value of 45 to 66. Therefore, it will not raise blood sugar all that much.

2. This fruit also contains about 2 grams of insoluble fiber, which comes in the form of cellulose, pectin, and hemicellulose.

   This type of fiber has been linked with reducing the risk for type 2 diabetes and providing healthy digestion in the body. Therefore, the more pineapple people eat, the better.

3. The Vitamin C in pineapple is great for boosting the immune system. Fighting off viruses like colds and the flu is a lot easier when ingesting pineapples.

   Therefore, instead of just drinking orange juice when you are feeling a little under the weather, you should also focus on eating pineapples.

   Drinking pineapple juice is another way to gain this source of Vitamin C without having to chew or risk

   upsetting your stomach

   .

4. While manganese is not found in other forms of pineapple beside the raw version, it is rather beneficial.

   This trace mineral is great for making enzymes activate to break down foods better in the body. Enzymes will carry better from one cell to another with the help of this trace mineral.

5. The copper in pineapples is critical for important factors in the body. One of the main attributes it works for is to help with the production of healthy red blood cells.

   It also keeps the nervous system and immune system healthy. It also serves to form collagen, which is a key factor in forming strong bones and making or repairing connective tissue.

6. Folate is another aspect found in pineapples. It belongs to the B Vitamin family, and it is extremely important for tissue growth.

   Expecting mothers, women who are trying to conceive, and breastfeeding mothers can make a great use of folate because of all the help it gives babies for making new, healthy cells.

7. As mentioned previously, pineapples are practically the only source of bromelain, which is a protein-digesting enzyme. It is great for reducing the risk of inflammation in the body.

   People who have sinus infections can take advantage of this enzyme just as much as people with arthritis will find their joints swelling less with bromelain.

8. Bromelain is also a key factor in preventing and fighting cancer because of its inflammation properties.

   For the same reason, it helps to heal cells, especially large wounds from accidents or surgeries.

9. Pineapples also contain anthocyanins that are powerful antioxidants. These antioxidants are great at reducing risks for terminal diseases like cancer and heart disease.
10. Other than Vitamin C, bromelain is also great for boosting the immune system, too. It will actually strengthen the immune system for the long haul.

    Therefore, the immune system can fight off more microorganisms and damage to cells from these organisms can be repaired with very little effort.

11. People with asthma and other airway diseases will find that the severity of their problems that is related to inflammation is lessened due to bromelain.
12. As eluded to previously, pineapples and their juice are great at fighting off cancer, one of the worst contributors of death and disability around the world.

    By definition, cancer is characterized by theuncontrollable growth of malformed cells that invade and harm surrounding tissues.

    Diets that contain yellow fruits and vegetables, line pineapple, for example, are great at fighting off cancer, particularly the colon kind.

13. Studies also indicate that bromelain might contribute to preventing the growth of more cancer cells, putting the spread of cancer throughout other parts of the body at bay.

    Therefore, eating pineapples while seeking cancer treatments means slowing down cancer greatly, making treatments more effective over time.

14. The body does not only need help to heal physical wounds that are on the outside of the body.

    Repairing tissues on the inside of the body that might be destroyed with age or due to diseases like heart disease and diabetes must happen as fast as possible.

    As stated previously, bromelain is great at performing this task.

15. Burn victims should make great use of pineapples for the same reason. Since bromelain heals the skin so efficiently, pineapples can even be applied topically straight to any kind of burn.

    However, the burn has to be cleaned first and then gently cleaned after to remove extra sugars from the skin to avoid irritation.

    Pineapples can also serve to balance the bacteria content in these wounds.

16. At the same time, there are many bacteria in our guts also benefit from a balancing act performed by pineapples. A healthy gut has the benefit of stimulating digestion, which removes occurrences of bloating and gas.

    If you are experiencing problems with these two concerns and have trouble making them go away, have a few chunks of pineapple to help ease them without inflating the stomach more.

17. Bromelain shows prospects of also preventing diarrhea because of the inflammation that is removed from various parts of the digestive tract.

    It can reverse damage in the digestive system just as it can throughout other parts of the body.

18. People who suffer from constipation and irritable bowel syndrome will find that their problems lessen when they consume pineapple because of the fiber it contains.
19. As mentioned previously, bromelain is great at breaking down protein, especially those gained from meats.

    Not only can it be used to tenderize themeat before it is consumed, but it also can help to break down these proteins in the digestive tract.

20. Pineapple does contain some calcium, which we all know is great for bone health and keeping us standing strong and tall.

    However, pineapples contain far more manganese which, as we mentioned previously, is great for building bones and connective tissue. It also helps in repairing bones and connective tissues, too.

21. Manganese shows the capabilities of preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women in certain studies. Therefore, pineapple is great for people of all ages.
22. Pineapples also have the capability to improve eye health as well. Considering vision is our dominant sense, we collect the most information through it. In order to keep eyes healthy, you should eat more pineapple.

    Consuming pineapple regularly means preventing age-related deficiencies, like macular degeneration. The beta-carotene in pineapple is the reason it fights off these concerns in the eye.

23. Vitamin C also helps to protect vision in the long run, too. It can lower the development and risk of cataracts so that tell-tale cloudiness in vision is reduced over time.
24. The fiber found in pineapples is also great at helping the body to produce gastric and digestive juices to help food dissolve over time.
25. This exotic fruit is also known for its abilities to lower cholesterol as it helps to clean blood vessels and to eliminateanything that is built up on the side of vessel walls. Therefore, pineapple is all the better for digestive health.
26. If your pet experiences intestinal worms, then give them some pineapple. Because of the fiber content in pineapples, these worms can be gotten rid of. The same can be said if you should, heaven forbid, contract these worms, too.
27. As mentioned previously, pineapple is great for people who experience burns of any kind. However, it does more than just heal skin from the inside. The collagen it contains also helps skin to remain flexible and firm.
28. Collagen is also an essential protein for building cell walls and organs.
29. The antioxidant compounds in pineapples are specifically great for preventing oral cancer. It also has astringent properties, so that means it can help to clean teeth and gums for the sake of keeping them healthy for the long run.
30. These properties are also great at tightening tissues and toning the body. Therefore, things like tooth loss and hair loss do not have to be a concern if you pick up eating more pineapples over time.
31. Pineapples can also prevent the development of atherosclerosis, a disease that happens when the plaque of fatty materials are deposited on the inner walls of arteries.

    This condition can lead to things like heart attacks and strokes, which could ultimately lead to death.

    Free radicals often cause atherosclerosis, and eating pineapples can reduce these free radicals in the body because of the antioxidants they contain.

32. The same antioxidants in pineapples that take care of atherosclerosis also take care of reducing the free radicals that cause LDL cholesterol to rise, thus balancing out cholesterol to normal numbers over time.

    Also, it boosts HDL cholesterol, making certain this balance is as true to normal as possible.

33. Pineapples are also a good source of potassium. This mineral is great for reducing the force exerted on artery walls, which means blood will circulate throughout the body with greater ease.
34. The potassium in pineapples is also great for lowering blood pressure due to the relaxation of artery walls.
35. At the same time, potassium is great for preventing clots from forming in arteries. Therefore, blockages can be reduced or even removed by eating pineapple regularly to avoid having to obtain surgeries later on.

What are Some of the Best Things to Pair Pineapple With?

There are so many ways to prepare pineapple. One of the greatest was, as we have mentioned before, is to prepare it with ham in some way.

Another viable option is to prepare it with chicken or steak for a sweet zing that also serves to tenderize the meat and make it easier to digest.

Pineapple tastes great on top of ice cream – it is a part of a banana split for a reason, after all. It can be used in fruit salads, too.

One of the more common applications for pineapple is to put its juice in alcoholic drinks. However, there are much more recipes to consider in the long run.

Our Best Pineapple Recipes

Here are some of the many recipes that can be considered for pineapples. It can be turned into many dishes, so here are a few ideas.

Georgia Sunrise

Pina Colada

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Grilled Chicken Pineapple Sliders

Pineapple Cheesecake Squares

Carrot Pineapple Cake

Pineapple Grilled Pork Chops

Thai Pineapple Chicken Curry

Party Punch

Perfect Summer Fruit Salad

Hawaiian Bread

Bahama-Mama Pork Chops

Juicing Pineapples with the Best Juice Machine Available

Many people believe that pineapple juice can only come from a can, whether it is from a can of actual pineapples that are stored in juice or pineapple juice that stands on its own.

However, this situation does not have to be accepted as it is. Pineapple can be juiced at home from fresh fruit just as easily as it can be bought in a can because of how much juice pineapple naturally holds.

There is only one juicer that is perfect for this job, and that is the Nutri-Stahl Juicer Machine. This machine has a micro-blade that is made of high-efficiency stainless steel that can extract up to 33 percent more juice and 40 percent of vitamins and minerals.

This arrangement makes for maximum nutrient absorption in the body in the long run. Therefore, it reserves much more of a pineapple’s natural juices and health benefits.

It has an extra-large feeding tube that is 72 mm wide to fit larger pieces of fruit. This means less cutting of fruit and less oxidation occurring, which adds more nutrients to the juice it produces.

In case fruits and vegetables need a little help going through the feed tube, this machine also comes with an ergonomic ingredient pusher that will make the ingredients go right into the micro-blade with ease.

This model has a 700-watt dual-speed motor that can handle everything from leafy greens to fibrous fruits and vegetables. It also has a safetylocking arm that prevents operation without the cover being locked in place, thus reducing the risk of accidents and damage to the machine.

It also has a one Liter pulp container and a large juice jug to make the juicing experience all the easier. Considering the price of this juicer, it performs rather well.

This machine is rather easy to clean because of the way it comes apart with ease. The hardest to clean part that attaches near the motor and controls the blades and strainer is the easiest part to take out, but it does not come apart during the juicing process.

The strainer for pulp does not jam easily, but it allows for as much juice to be gained from the pulp as possible.

This juicer is so powerful. It will handle even beets and carrots with ease. It can be used multiple times a day on hard to process fruits, vegetables, and seeds without being strained under pressure.

As stated previously, there is no real need to cut ingredients into small pieces. This juicer can handle half of an apple with ease.

Conclusion

In this article, we considered pineapples as a healthy option for an addition to your diet.

We considered the nutritional and historical background of pineapples as a status symbol among Indian tribes in the Caribbean and royals in Europe.

This fruit does not have only to be used with ham or in alcoholic drinks. It can be used in a plethora of other ways.

Most fruits cannot compare to pineapples. They offer so many things that are helpful to the body, like bromelain. Actually, it is the only real source of bromelain in the world.

It is also great for bones and immune system because of its high manganese content, too.

While Spongebob might live in a pineapple, he does not really make the best use of pineapple as a fruit.

Instead, we should learn from Otto Koning and his theories about pineapple being a symbol of how to survive strife. It is a hearty fruit, and it is forever a status symbol that can be gifted with pride.