Pineapple

The plant is native to Brazil where it is known as ananas which means “excellent fruit“. This fruit has the same name worldwide. Columbus brought the fruit to Europe and used it aboard ships to prevent scurvy. The early European settlers called it ananas because they thought it resembled pine cones.

The ananas is a compound fruit that emerges from a central core and fuses together. The spiny “eyes” that appear on the surface of the pineapple are the fruits. The pineapple has a broad cylindrical shape with an outer skin that is green, yellow, or brown and topped with a crown of spiny blue-green leaves. The flesh is yellow with a sweet and sour taste and a tender texture.

Health Benefits

Pineapple is rich in nutrients, containing vitamins C, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B-6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid), A, E, and K. The fruit is rich in minerals including calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc. Other important nutrients are fatty acids, sugars, and fibers.

The high content of vitamin C and the enzyme bromelain present in the fruit help us maintain a healthy immune system by stimulating white blood cell activity. It also reduces the accumulation of mucus e phlegm in the lungs, promoting a healthy pulmonary system. It is a factor in a healthy digestive system, preventing constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It can also be used to treat gout.

Other health benefits of pineapple include the prevention of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, preservation of muscle mass, and reduction of bone deterioration due to the presence of potassium. It improves fertility by increasing blood flow to the genital organs.

How to Eat Pineapple

Pineapple is a versatile food that can be an ingredient in many recipes. To use fresh pineapple, remove the crown at the base where it meets the fruit, then place the pineapple base down and cut the skin, making sure to trim the eyes. Once peeled, cut the fruit into quarters and remove the core; the fruit can be cut into desired pieces. Pineapple will stay fresh in the refrigerator for about five days. Pineapple can be used as an ingredient in salads, curry, smoothies, side dishes and sauce recipes.