Pineapple is one of those foods that people often forget to add to the grocery list along with apples and oranges. That’s a shame, because not only are pineapples full of some pretty amazing ingredients, they’ve got a great taste, too. A good, juicy ripe pineapple can satisfy that sweet craving you get midday as well as any chocolate bar.
So, what about the health benefits of pineapple? The obvious benefits of pineapple are all the vitamins and minerals that are packed into the tasty fruit. Pineapples contain a significant amount of calcium, potassium, fiber, and vitamin C. In addition, of course, the fruit is low in fat and cholesterol.
Because of its calcium and manganese content, one of the benefits of pineapple is that it helps to build healthy bones. Manganese is a trace mineral that is needed for your body to build bone and connective tissues. Just one cup of pineapple provides 73% of the daily recommended amount of manganese. Eating pineapples could help in the growth of bones in young people and the strengthening of bones in older people.
Pineapples can also help with coughs and colds. Perhaps you’ve heard that taking extra vitamin C or drinking extra orange juice when you have a cold is probably a good idea. But why not consider eating pineapple? The benefits of pineapple when you have a cold or cough are the same as the benefits of orange juice, but with one major difference. Bromelain, which is found in pineapples, has been found to help suppress coughs and loosen mucus.
In one clinical trial performed at the Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine in Leipzig, Germany, bromelain was used to treat patients suffering from acute sinusitis. Children under the age of 11 years diagnosed with acute sinusitis were recruited for the trial. Data from 116 patients from 19 centers located across Germany were analyzed in the cohort study. Patients were either treated with bromelain or with standard therapies. The research team then measured the effectiveness of the different treatment groups by recording the duration of symptoms. Patients in the bromelain therapy group showed a significantly faster recovery from symptoms compared to the other treatment groups. The researchers concluded that the use of proteolyic enzymes, such as bromelain, could benefit patients with sinusitis.
To get all the health benefits of pineapple, eat them fresh, canned, or by adding to smoothies and favorite recipes.
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