Pineapple Health Benefits and Nutrition Facts
While you might hear the word pineapple and immediately think of Hawaii, the fruit simply isn't a native. In fact, this deliciously healthy fruit originated in Southern Brazil and Paraguay. However, the fruit was so delectable; the natives spread it throughout South America and eventually to the Caribbean Islands where Christopher Columbus found it. Columbus brought it back to Europe where it found a home on ships to prevent scurvy. Eventually, it found its way to Hawaii in the 1800s but when Dole started a growing pineapple in 1901 near Wahiawa, the pineapple became associated with Hawaii.
Pineapples Health Benefits
Even if it isn't originally from Hawaii, that doesn't make the health benefits of the pineapple less significant. One cup of pineapple contains 128 percent of the daily value of manganese. Manganese is essential for healthy bones since it's one of the building blocks. It also increases the absorption of calcium. It's involved in the formation of connective tissue, the functioning of the thyroid, the creation of sex hormones and metabolism of fats and carbohydrates. In addition, it helps to regulate the blood sugar.
Pineapple Nutrition Facts
Photo courtesy of Microsoft Clipart
One cup of pineapple also contains 40 percent of the daily value of vitamin C as well as 10 percent of the amount of vitamin B1 necessary on a daily basis.
Pineapples contain other minerals too. It offers approximately 9 percent of the daily amount of copper in a one cup serving as well as 7 percent of your dietary fiber and 6 percent of vitamin B6. It does all this and only adds 75 calories to your diet.
The stem of the fruit and the core fruit of the pineapple contain bromelain. Bromelain has many components and one aids in the digestion of protein. However, there are many other health benefits to this enzyme also.
Bromelain acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. It also reduces excess blood coagulation and inhibits the growth of tumors. Both the manganese and vitamin B1 help the body to produce energy. They also both are antioxidants that disarm free radicals in the mitochondria or energy producing areas of the cells.
The high vitamin C content was the reason sailors carried it onboard to prevent scurvy. While scurvy isn't as prevalent today, vitamin C is still an important antioxidant. Antioxidants fight against free radicals that cause changes in the cells. These changes can create problems that vary from plaque buildup to colon cancer. Vitamin C is also effective in fighting osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis as well as reducing joint pain. It's vital in maintaining a healthy immune system.
More Pineapple Nutrition Facts
If you eat pineapple as one of three servings of fresh fruit every day, you'll arm your body with the materials to fight off age related macular degeneration. One study in the "Archives of Ophthalmology" showed that people who ate three servings of fruit every day reduced their potential risk of this condition by 36 percent compared to those who ate half that amount or less.
Because of its low contents of pesticide, aid to digestion and limited allergenic activity, pineapples are often on the list of foods for those on allergy avoidance diets. It's easy on the digestive tract, packed with nutrition and tastes good, all good reasons to add pineapple to your daily diet.
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