The benefits and harms of pineapple for health and the human body

Pineapple – a favorite food of many, with nutrients. It has health benefits and is low in calories. Pineapple is widespread throughout the world, consumed both raw and canned. The pineapple herb is widespread not only in tropical countries, but also in Russia. Nowadays, it is not difficult to buy pineapple. The benefits and harms of pineapple – consider from all sides.

Many of you have tasted this delicious and aromatic fruit. Outwardly, it looks like a bump covered with scales. Juicy and enticing with its aroma, the pulp is a miracle of nature, which everyone, without exception, will like. Anyone who has tasted pineapple once will remember its taste for life. Brazil is considered the birthplace of pineapple, where it still grows in the wild.

General benefits

It is the radicals that cause inflammatory reactions in the body, disrupt its activity and prevent a woman from getting pregnant, and a man from fertilizing an egg. Free radical damage affects all body systems, and the reproductive system is no exception. Eat pineapples to prevent free radicals.

The high potassium content of pineapple helps lower high blood pressure. Due to its high content of bromeilan, pineapple fights blood clotting problems. Bromeilan helps blood clots stick together, thereby preventing the development of heart attacks.

Pineapple contributes not only to the proper functioning of the liver, but also to the functioning of the pancreas. Thanks to pineapples, the level of lipogenesis increases, in other words, the breakdown of nutrients accumulated in the form of fat occurs, and the risk of obesity decreases. Eating pineapples can help you control your weight and promote healthy circulation, reducing your risk of stroke.

Endocrinological studies have shown that substances found in pineapple can influence the secretion of aldosterone, thereby controlling the work of the adrenal glands. Thus, eating pineapple maintains normal levels of secretion of important hormones in male and female fertility.

The systematic use of pineapple helps to improve intestinal motility and eliminate constipation. After a heavy dinner or lunch, when your stomach feels heavy, it is helpful to eat a small piece of fresh pineapple. This will increase gastric activity and break down protein foods, thereby making food easier to digest.

Vitamin B1 found in pineapple is a great weight loss aid. In addition, a large amount of water and potassium in pineapple allows you to remove from the body not only excess water, but also toxins. Pineapple perfectly dulls the feeling of hunger. Thus, you can control your appetite and avoid going to the refrigerator once again.

Pineapple is a low-calorie fruit.

There is no fat in it, which makes it possible to safely eat it for people who dream of losing excess weight. The pineapple-based diet is different from others with its varied menu. At the same time, you can eat meat, vegetables, cereals in limited quantities, but all this should be accompanied by pineapple.

Benefits for women

Skin Benefits

Benefits for hair and nails

Benefits for men

Harm and contraindications

No matter how tasty and healthy pineapple is, there are also restrictions on its use.

Chemical composition of the product

Pineapple Nutritional Value (100g) and Percent Daily Values:

conclusions

Whatever the positive qualities pineapple may have, its excessive use leads to disastrous results. However, despite all the contraindications, the benefits of pineapple are much greater. Therefore, we can safely say that pineapple is a storehouse of useful substances that help not only lose weight, but also improve the condition of the whole body.

Sources of Research

The main studies on the benefits and dangers of pineapple have been carried out by foreign doctors and scientists. Below you can find the primary sources of research on the basis of which this article was written:

Additional useful information about pineapple

How to use

1. In cooking.

Pineapple juice contains more sodium than the fruit itself. Raw and canned pineapples have almost equal amounts of B vitamins. But fresh pineapple has much more vitamin A than canned pineapple. This vitamin is especially beneficial for the elderly. Pineapple is widely used in cooking, especially in East Asia.

Pineapple cooking methods.

The easiest is to just cut it into portions and eat it. But there are other ways to use it as well. Any meat can be baked with pineapples. As a result, it turns out to be extremely soft and juicy. For this, both fresh pineapples and canned ones are used. Also, a very tasty, aromatic jam is obtained from pineapple.

A delicious compote can be cooked from the pineapple pulp. In order for the taste not to be too sweet, it is recommended to add a little lemon to it. Pineapple can be canned and then enjoyed at any time. However, it is worth remembering that there are more calories in such pineapples. The fruit can be added to almost any salad, even meat, it will add spice and unusual taste to the dish.

2. In cosmetology.

Pineapple is actively used in cosmetology and gives amazing results. Moreover, not only the product itself is used, but also the oil based on it. An extract is made from pineapple, which is later used to create scrubs, lotions, tonics, creams and other anti-aging agents for the skin of the face and body. The extract is also added to the composition of anti-cellulite cosmetics.

Pineapple can block the production of sebum.

Therefore, if you have an oily type of face, wipe problem skin with pineapple pulp, you can also use pineapple extract. If you have acne or blackheads, prepare a cleansing mask.

To do this, knead 1 circle of fresh, peeled pineapple. Add 1 tsp to it. honey and a small amount of oatmeal. You should get a gruel of a thick consistency. Apply the prepared mask to your face and keep it on for 15 minutes. After that, it should be removed using a cotton pad.

How to choose

In order for pineapple to be useful, you need to choose it correctly. There are several criteria that you need to rely on when choosing:

• Pineapple should be heavy, even if it doesn’t look that way on the outside. The heavier the fruit, the juicier it is.
• If the pineapple is light, then it has already dried up and will not be able to please with its juiciness.
• It is a mistake to believe that a ripe fruit always has a yellow skin. Even under the green skin, juicy and sweet flesh can be hidden.
• You need to pay close attention to the crest. If it is bright green and lush, it indicates the ripeness and freshness of the product.
• And one more secret: in a ripe pineapple, the crest is very easy to stretch.
• Having chosen the pineapple you like, be sure to press on it. If the pineapple is fresh and ripe, then under pressure it should squeeze a little.
• If the dent is not restored, then this indicates an overripe fruit. You can buy such a fruit, but you will have to eat it immediately so that it does not spoil.
• When buying pineapple, look for stains. There should be no yellow, white, dark or brown spots.
• The freshness of the product is evidenced by the smooth, beautiful knobby skin.
• If you have already bought a pineapple, you can once again make sure of its ripeness at home. A ripe fruit has a rich yellow pulp.
• If the pulp is pale, then you will not get the benefits of such a pineapple.
• Another indicator of the ripeness of a fruit is its aroma. But, as practice shows, according to this criterion, it is difficult to choose a pineapple, since in a modern supermarket it is difficult to smell a pleasant smell.

How to store

• The optimum room humidity should be no more than 80%.
• For storage, it is necessary to provide the room with good ventilation.
• During storage, the pineapple should not be in one position all the time. It must be turned over regularly.
• If you have purchased several fruits, then during storage, do not place them tightly to each other. The distance between them must be at least 10 cm.
• You can store pineapples for no more than 20 days.
• You can store the fruit in the refrigerator.
• To do this, put it in the bottom of the refrigerator or in the special compartment for fruits and vegetables.
• Pre-wrap the fruit in baking paper and make some holes for ventilation.
• If condensation forms, the packaging must be changed.
• Peeled pineapple should be tightly wrapped in plastic wrap. But it can be stored for no more than three days.

The story of

Pineapple is native to South America. It was first discovered by participants in the second voyage of Columbus. They saw the plant on the island of Guadeloupe in 1493. At that time, local natives used pineapples not only for food, but also decorated their homes with it. The pineapple hanging at the entrance was considered a symbol of hospitality.

The distribution of pineapples around the world was aided by Portuguese traders. As a result, already in the XNUMXth century, pineapples began to be actively cultivated in China and southern Africa.

At the same time, they became widespread in Europe. Then pineapples in the house were considered a symbol of high wealth and high status in society. Pineapple was brought to Russia in the XNUMXth century.

At first, he was treated with distrust and suspicion. At that time, pineapples were fermented and harvested in tubs, then sour cabbage soup and borscht were cooked from them, and also used as a side dish for meat or poultry. Under Catherine the Great, pineapple cultivation took on a large scale.

They were successfully grown in noble estates and even on peasant farmsteads. The cost of one fruit was equal to the cost of a cow.

How and where is it grown

Each small pineapple cell is formed from a flower pollinated by a hummingbird. When pollinated, seeds are formed and the fruit does not grow further. Therefore, in order for the pineapple to grow and become edible, special self-pollinating pineapple species are planted.

Pineapple begins to bloom 12-18 months after planting. It takes 3–6 months to form a mature fetus. The largest plantations of this fruit are in the southern United States, Australia, South Africa and Asia. To obtain juicy fruits in these countries, early ripening species and intensive technology are used.

For irrigation, fertilization and pest control on plantations, mechanical means are used. Outdoors in the tropics, you can harvest three crops a year.

In Russia, pineapples began to be grown not so long ago, mainly in the Krasnodar Territory. For this, greenhouses and hotbeds are used. In order to get a high yield, it is customary to plant self-pollinated varieties.

Pineapple is a perennial plant. In the first year of his life, a leaf rosette is formed, and over time, the trunk begins to thicken.

Interesting Facts

• Originally the word “pineapple” was applied exclusively to pine cones.
• The first written records of pineapple date back to 1398.
• In the wild, pineapples “live” up to 50 years.
• 75% of all pineapples sold in Europe are grown in Costa Rica.
• Hawaii has the largest pineapple plantations in the world.
• For a long time, pineapple was considered a “prestigious” decoration. They did not eat it, but put it on the table so that the guests would appreciate the wealth of the owners.
• In Germany, a glass of champagne with a slice of pineapple is considered a traditional drink for the New Year.
• In China, during the New Year celebrations according to the Eastern calendar, pineapple is an obligatory attribute of the festive table.
• There is a belief that if there is a pineapple on the table, then the coming new year will be successful, and the family will prosper.
• There are more than eight dozen varieties of pineapple in the world. The shape of the fruit is the same for everyone, but the weight varies from 0,5 to 4 kilograms.
• A surprisingly soft fiber is made from pineapple leaves in the Philippines to create underwear, baby and women’s shirts, and handkerchiefs.
• In Brazil, the expression “peel a pineapple” has not only a direct meaning, but also an idiomatic meaning, meaning “to do a difficult job.”
• Unripe pineapples are unsuitable for eating – their juice burns the lips and has a powerful laxative effect.
• The pineapple plant has beautiful flowers that come in a variety of hues, from lavender to bright red.
• Wine is made from pineapple.
• In Mexico, pineapple peel is not thrown away, but a refreshing drink is prepared from it.
• Pineapple leaves can be used to craft bags and belts. To extract the threads from pineapple leaves, a process called decortication is used.