On top of the fruit is a "crown" of thick pointed leaves with spines along the edges. Be very careful when handling this part of the pineapple!
When ripe, its flesh is yellowish in color and gives out a nice fragrant aroma. It is a very fibrous fruit, is sweet with a tinge of acidic taste to it.
Pineapples do not ripen much more once harvested, so it must be harvested when it is ripe, and quickly distributed to the consumer. This is why pineapples are commonly canned so that they last a little longer. (But please avoid canned pineapples as these are usually soaked in sugar water!)
Nutritional Benefits
Pineapple is loaded with vitamin C, B1 and smaller amounts of B2, B3, B5 and B6. It is also an excellent source of manganese, copper, magnesium, potassium, beta-carotene, folic acid, and dietary fiber.
Perhaps, the most outstanding feature of pineapple is its amount of bromelain content. Bromelain is an enzyme that has many uses for our body.
Bromelain in pineapple has the special ability to help our body balance and neutralize fluids so that it's neither too alkaline nor too acidic. It also stimulates hormonal secretions in the pancreas that aids digestion.
Health Benefits
Bromelain in pineapple is a protein-digesting enzyme which also effectively reduce inflammation and swelling. So drink fresh pineapple juice and say goodbye to all your pains.
Digestion: After a heavy meaty meal, drink pineapple juice, as the protein-digesting enzymes help do the extra work of digesting for you.
Inflammatory conditions: As pineapple juice causes an anti-inflammatory effect, drinking this yellow juice can relief sufferers of much pain in the following inflammatory conditions:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Gout
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Injuries
- Surgeries
- Etc.
Sore Throat: Drinking pineapple juice significantly reduces the soreness and redness in the throat.
