Most of us love pineapple fruit and besides it tastes great in mixed drinks, doesn’t it. Although pineapple is a delicious fruit, it has many unexpected benefits you probably didn’t know about. Here are the reasons you should always put on your shopping list.
- It is packed with vitamins and minerals; pineapples are loaded with vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus. While it’s rich in fiber and calories, it’s low in fat and cholesterol. It is a great, nutritious fruit to add to your diet to improve and maintain your health.
- It strengthens bones; pineapple contains manganese, a mineral necessary for your body to build strong bones and connective tissues.
- It improves digestion; Bromelain is an extract found in pineapple stems, and works to neutralize fluids to make sure they’re not too acidic. Bromelain also regulates the pancreatic secretions that aid digestion. You can keep your digestive tract healthy because it is high in protein-digesting properties.
- It keeps gums healthy; you brush your teeth several times a day, but do you pay attention to your gums? Because pineapple has such high vitamin C content, eating the fruit lowers your risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease. Periodontal disease not only destroys gum tissue and jaw bones, but has been linked to heart disease, strokes, and diabetes. Including more vitamin C in your diet improves your body’s ability to fight invading bacteria that contributes to these diseases.
- It prevents hypertension; if you’re trying to ease your high blood pressure, or want to avoid getting it, then eat a lot of pineapple. Because pineapples have a high amount of potassium and a low amount of sodium, your body will maintain normal blood pressure levels.
- It prevents coughs and colds; the pineapple is rich in vitamin C, which means it naturally boosts your immune system. This helps you fight off coughs and colds. Even if you’re already sick, you can still reap the benefits of pineapple because it contains bromelain, which loosens mucus and suppresses coughs.
- It lowers risk of macular degeneration; pineapple is full of beta carotene, which is good for your sight. It lowers macular degeneration that is caused by damage to the retina, and is the primary cause of vision loss in adults.
- It stays fresher longer; after bringing your pineapple home from the store, you can keep it at room temperature for a day or two before cutting. This doesn’t affect the taste, but makes the fruit softer and juicier.
If you’re not ready to eat the pineapple after two days, wrap it in plastic and it will stay good in the refrigerator for three to five more days. However, once you cut up the pineapple and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge, it will stay good and nutritious for six to nine days!
- It’s a good weight loss food; pineapple has a delicious, natural sweetness that makes it taste like a dessert on its own. As an added bonus, pineapple is low in calories, sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fats, while being a good source of fiber. This makes it the perfect weight loss food because it’s a healthy, filling, and tasty snack!
- It relieves nausea; a key benefit from pineapple juice intake is that it averts nausea or morning sickness. This is quite useful for pregnant women who usually experience nausea.