If you usually forget about pineapple as a delicious and very healthy fruit alternative, after reading this everything will change. And is that pineapple is much more than the basic ingredient of a classic summer piña colada , it is a tropical fruit that is a true nutritional treasure and best of all lies in its immense versatility , the pineapple adapts to all kinds of meals ; You can eat fresh and frozen.
The truth is that the pineapple needs no introduction , its exotic personality does its own justice with its long list of nutritional and therapeutic benefits . The pineapple is characterized by being one of the juiciest fruits that exist, at the same time it is the carrier of a special acid-sweet flavor and shines for its unbeatable content of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. The scientific name of pineapple is Ananas comosus and is named for its similarity to pine cones, although the term “Ananás” derives from the Tupi language of Brazil, where it is called nanás which means “delicious fruit” or “flower of fruits”.
Pineapple is one of the best additions s that we can do in the daily diet and although it usually goes a little unnoticed, probably because of the cumbersome of its presentation: pineapple is the perfect food to lose weight and gain health , is very low in calories and fat , very rich in fiber, water, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The truth is that many people avoid the consumption of pineapple because of its sugar content , However, it is time to break with that belief. The pineapple like all fruit is rich in carbohydrates and natural sugars , which they benefit the functioning of the organism and fill it with quality energy. If you still doubt it, these are just some of the powerful reasons to make it a basic in all balanced and focused diet lose weight.
7 reasons to eat more pineapple:
1. Improves digestion
Pineapple is popularly known for its benefits to improve digestive health and the reason It’s simple, it contains a unique enzyme called bromelain that does gastrointestinal miracles. Its fiber content also intervenes in a positive way, which together with bromelain, unites its properties to promote a healthy digestive system . For its part, fiber helps accelerate intestinal transit , while bromelain is key to reduce any inflammation within the stomach lining. In fact, there is a study carried out by researchers from the Duke University , in which they treated mice that suffered from colitis with active bromelain enzymes , and reported that long-term use resulted in a decrease in inflammation throughout the colon.
2. Against arthritis
La bromelain is a too powerful substance , which is popularly known for its benefits to reduce inflammation and recently there are references that also support its qualities to combat pain associated with chronic inflammatory conditions as is the specific case of arthritis rheumatoid . In a study of 2004 published in Clinical Rheumatolog and, patients taking a oral bromelain supplement reported less arthritis pain after six weeks , compared to a group taking prescribed medications.
3. Increases serotonin levels
Integrate the consumption of pineapple in the daily diet can make the brain and body feel better, everything is related to its richness in organic compounds that benefit physical and mental health. Pineapple is rich in tryptophan , is well known to be one of the fundamental amino acids in the production of one of the most important neurotransmitters that improve mood: serotonin . It is worth mentioning that low serotonin levels play a direct role in many mental health disorders , such as depression and anxiety. Some studies suggest that Tryptophan supplementation may be an effective treatment for depression compared to antidepressant use , such that the pineapple can improve mood. Remember that it is always essential to have the proper medical evaluation.
4. Improves the health of your bones and joints
La fresh pineapple stands out for its high content of manganese , a basic mineral for preventing bone loss in patients with osteoporosis. There are also various references that support the benefits of the systematic consumption of manganese, to reduce the pain in patients with osteoarthritis when combined with other supplements. According to a study, published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage showed an improvement in symptoms in patients who received a combination of glucosamine, chondroitin and manganese versus a group of placebo. On the other hand, there is another study , published in Annals of the Academy of Medicine in which a link was found between manganese and bone loss spinal in menopausal women with osteoporosis.
5. Relieves pain, promotes recovery
It has very valuable references as is the case of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health , who conducted an investigation in both humans and animals shows about the properties of the topical application of bromelain (the wonderful pineapple enzyme) can be useful to help in the healing process of the skin before various burns . There is also research, as is the case with this study of the 2016 published by Biomedical Reports suggesting that bromelain , it can be really therapeutic for soft tissue injuries , particularly muscle pain after exercise and also bruising.
6. Strengthens the immune system
One of the great benefits of the composition of the pineapple , is related to its unmatched contribution in vitamin C : a cup of fresh pineapple covers the 131% of daily needs . In such a way that including its consumption in the daily diet will only bring health benefits, increases immunity and protects us against the attack of viruses and bacteria that cause diseases and infections. Vitamin C not only plays a key role in immune health, it is essential for the skin, since is involved in the production of collagen ; the protein responsible for health and elasticity in skin, muscles and joints.
7. Powerful antioxidants
La pineapple is considered one of the foods with the highest contribution in antioxidants , especially in flavonoids . These are important compounds that are associated with the reduction in the impact of various chronic conditions , which deteriorate health and which they are also related to age; which can be from asthma, diabetes, hypertension , to all kinds of heart diseases. According to A study published in British Journal of Nutrition , flavonoids suppress inflammation in the central nervous system. There is also another reference of the year 2004 published in Journal of Nutrition and Biochemistry , which endorses the benefits of flavonoids to stabilize blood glucose levels and the reduction of insulin resistance .