Did you know that it can take almost three years for a single pineapple to reach maturation? That’s why we are very excited to be harvesting these beauties at The Brasserie right now.
When European explorers first encountered the fruit in the Americas, they called them “pineapples” because of the resemblance to pine cones. What do you think? Contrary to what some people think, pineapples don’t grow on trees — they grow out of the ground, from a leafy plant.
The benefits of pineapple are due to its high supply of vitamin C, vitamin B1, potassium and manganese, in addition to other special antioxidants that help prevent disease formation. What most people don’t realize about this tasty fruit is that it’s infinitely more useful to humans than just a garnish for tropical drinks.
Pineapple has a whopping 131 percent of your daily value of antioxidant Vitamin C! Vitamin C is commonly used to minimize coughs, colds and flu symptoms. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a role in maintaining the health of the body’s connective tissue as well as acting as an antioxidant. The vitamin C that is found in pineapple can also help skin problems, like a sunburn or dried and irritated skin.
High in fibre, pineapple can help to lower your risk of colorectal cancer. Fibre can also lower your blood glucose levels. Type 2 diabetics may show signs of improved blood sugar, lipids and insulin levels.
Pineapple supports heart health because of its fibre, potassium and vitamin C content. High potassium intakes are also associated with a reduced risk of stroke, protection against loss of muscle mass, preservation of bone mineral density and reduction in the formation of kidney stones.
The beta-carotene that is found in plant foods like pineapple helps to lower the risk of developing asthma. Toxins, poor nutrition, pollution, antibiotic abuse and stress play a large role in the development of asthma. All of these factors cause inflammation, but luckily one of the benefits of pineapple is that it can help to reduce through its detoxifying capabilities.
Another one of the benefits of pineapple is that it helps improve your mood and helps fight depression and anxiety. Pineapple is a good source of the amino acid tryptophan, which is used by the body to produce enough serotonin, one of our main “happy hormones.” Consuming enough of this amino acid, in addition to other nutrients like B vitamins, is important to support your neurological system, for energy, and for the production of good mood hormones.
The benefits of pineapple include the ability to help those suffering from arthritis and joint pain because the bromelain that is present can speed up healing associated with surgical procedures. It is also very useful for treating sporting injuries including sprains and can help counter pain.
For digestion, eating pineapple serves as a powerful aid in breaking down proteins into peptides and amino acids. It can ease the symptoms of ulcerative colitis, acid reflux, and it helps the general digestive processes.
Once harvested, pineapples don’t continue to ripen. That means that every single pineapple in the grocery store is as ripe as it will ever be so don’t buy one and save it for a week, thinking it will ripen. The difference in colours is mostly based on where the pineapples were grown, so a green pineapple can be just as sweet and delicious as a golden brown one.
