Pineapple is a herbaceous tropical plant, the fruit of which looks like an apple and a pine cone at the same time. Today in English the term pineapple is still used, which translates as “pine apple”. The homeland of the exotic fruit is Brazil. According to legend, the Spanish navigator Christopher Columbus brought pineapples to Europe along with tobacco and potatoes.
Overview
Is pineapple a fruit, vegetable or berry?
It is actually grass. Some breeders claim that this is a fruit, while they agree that the complex fruit is not a berry, vegetable or cereal.
In adulthood, pineapple has a low, earthy stem with hard, toothed leaves that reach 80 cm in length. The fruit of a tropical perennial is golden yellow. Depending on the variety, it can weigh 2–15 kg and reach 10–30 cm in height. Visually, the inflorescence resembles an oblong cone and consists of many ovaries. The top of the fruit is decorated with a green top.
The exotic fruit has a sweet and sour taste, which makes it used in cooking as an additional ingredient in salads, pizza, desserts, sweets and other dishes.
Pineapple plantations are concentrated in countries with subtropical and tropical climates. The world leaders in the cultivation of herbaceous plants are Costa Rica, Brazil and the Philippines. ..
Useful Properties
The nutritional value of the ripe fruit is unique. No other fruit has such an interesting composition. Pineapple is a combination of vitamins and microelements vital for the body (see p. “Chemical composition”), therefore it is rightfully considered a “tropical pharmacy”.
Influence on the body farmer-online.com farmer-online.com:
- lowers blood pressure, thinns blood, dissolves cholesterol plaques;
- increases immunity, relieves inflammation of the nasopharynx, eases the course of the disease, restrains cough, removes phlegm;
- improves metabolic processes in the body, improves digestion;
- binds free radicals in the body, prevents the spread of metastases;
- dissolves fibrin plugs with varicose veins;
- restores psycho-emotional balance, improves mood, fights stress, energizes;
- removes excess fluid from the body, contributing to weight loss.
In addition, the exotic fruit has an anti-cellulite effect, therefore it is often included in body creams. It removes toxins, improves microcirculation in tissues, and also destroys fatty deposits. This unique product helps to eliminate the increased oiliness of the skin and age spots, as well as prevents inflammation, therefore it is used to care for the neck and face area. On the basis of pineapple juice, masks and scrubs are made that smooth and refresh the dermis, restore its elasticity, cleanse the pores from the stratum corneum.
Pineapple helps in the treatment of many ailments, including farmer-online.com farmer-online.com:
- arthritis;
- bronchitis;
- pneumonia;
- diseases of the pancreas;
- pathologies of the liver and kidneys;
- myocardial infarction;
- hypertension;
- atherosclerosis;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract;
- neurological disorders;
- ARVI;
- painful menstruation.
Chemical composition
Pineapple pulp is 85% water and 15% organic acids (citric, tartaric, malic) and monosaccharides (sucrose, fructose, glucose). In addition, the fruit contains vitamins, macro- and microelements, beta-carotene, fiber, bromelain. Despite the high percentage of simple sugars (up to 18%), pineapple is a dietary product. 100 g of edible fresh fruit contains 52 kcal .., canned – 60 kcal .., dried – 281 kcal ..
The fresh exotic fruit is quite filling due to its fiber, which instantly suppresses hunger, which is why the fruit is often used in weight loss diets. The ratio of BJU (proteins, fats, carbohydrates) in pineapple pulp is 0,3: 0,1: 11,8 g per 100 g of product.
Table № 1 “The chemical composition of pineapple” ..
Nutrient Name
Content, mg per 100 g of product pulp
Vitamins
Ascorbic acid (C) 11 Niacin (PP) 0,4 Pantothenic acid (B5) 0,16 Pyridoxine (B6) 0,1 Thiamine (B1) 0,06 Retinol (A) 0,003 Riboflavin (B2) 0,02 Folic acid ( B9) 0,005
Macro and microelements
Марганец
0,818
Калий
134
Кремний
93
Рубидий
0,063
Натрий
1
Кальций
17
Фосфор
8
Магний
13
Железо
0,3
Хром
0,01
Fresh exotic fruit is of the greatest value to the human body. Canned fruit is devoid of all vitamins, trace elements, and dried fruit contains a colossal amount of sugar, which interrupts reasonable arguments about the benefits of such a product. Do not be tempted by candied fruits, as they are tinted. In addition, the number of calories in them is off scale, and the benefits are zero. As a result, dried pineapple products are veiled food waste that clogs the body.
Exotic Harm
Considering the fact that pineapple is a tropical fruit unusual for the human body, you need to treat it carefully.
It is dangerous to consume it in the following cases 1:
- gastritis with high acidity;
- peptic ulcer;
- period of bearing the baby;
- increased sensitivity of tooth enamel;
- the presence of allergic reactions.
Remember: a high content of free organic acids (1,4%) is irritating to the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, as well as to tooth enamel. To avoid tooth decay after taking an exotic fruit, rinse your mouth thoroughly. This will help neutralize the aggressive effects of acids on teeth.
A tropical herb is a strong allergen, therefore it should be given to children aged 6 to 12 in small quantities (30-50 g per day).
What are the benefits and harms of pineapple for pregnant women
If you eat an exotic fruit in moderation, it has a beneficial effect on the body of the expectant mother, saturating it with potassium, magnesium, iron, and organic acids. In addition, he is able to overcome nausea and vomiting with toxicosis. The fruit increases the level of hemoglobin, fights against the expansion of the veins of the lower extremities, improves mood, relieves heaviness in the stomach.
In the third trimester of pregnancy, eating pineapple should be especially careful, since during this period a woman experiences swelling. If consumed frequently, the fruit can provoke uterine contraction. Unripe cone-shaped fruits have an abortive effect.
A safe dose of pineapple for pregnant women is 50-80 g of pulp ...
Choose only a high-quality product (see p. “Criteria for choosing a pineapple”) and keep track of the amount eaten – then the beneficial properties of the tropical fruit will “unfold” in full.
How to peel a pineapple
Some people find it easier to cut the fruit into rings and remove the skin from each mug, and remove the center as well. Others argue that this method of cutting leads to the loss of healthy juice, so they insist that first you need to remove the spiked shell, get the middle with a green cap, then cut the fruit into pieces of the desired size.
Let’s take a look at the most effective method for peeling pineapple (Thai):
- Trim the bottom of the fruit, with a flat bottom put the fruit on a plate.
- With a narrow long knife, remove the skin in thin slices with smooth movements from top to bottom. As a result, dark eyes will remain on the “body” of the pineapple – don’t worry about that.
- At an angle to continuous curved lines (diagonally), make cuts with a sharp knife on both sides.
- Take out a triangular strip, remove from it the remnants of dark thorns, exposing the fruit flesh. Repeat this procedure with the remaining rows of growths.
- Place the wedges on a platter and serve.
How to eat pineapple
Do not combine the intake of the fetus with dairy products, as this can lead to indigestion farmer-online.com… Nutritionists recommend eating fruits separately from other foods, while eating pineapple on an empty stomach should be done with caution. It is best to eat the fruit between breakfast and lunch or for an afternoon snack.
Pineapple is added to minced meat, salads, fried vegetables. Compote is cooked from it, cocktails, smoothies, preserves, fruit ice are prepared.
Pineapple diet for weight loss
The fruit contains the natural proteolytic enzyme bromelain, which promotes the breakdown of proteins into amino acids, has a mild laxative effect, and improves digestion. This compound in its action is similar to pepsin and trypsin, the lack of which disrupts the processes of processing and assimilation of proteins, which can lead to the accumulation of extra pounds.
Bromelain compensates for the lack of necessary enzymes in the human body, preventing the development of obesity. In addition, pineapples have a diuretic effect and block the center of hunger. As a result, appetite control becomes easier.
To cleanse the body, nutritionists recommend spending pineapple fasting days once a week. ..… During the day, you should limit yourself to taking an exotic fruit and herbal teas. To do this, peel the pineapple and cut it into four equal parts to be eaten throughout the day. In between meals, drink pure water, fruit decoctions (from apples, plums), herbal teas (from corn silk, hellebore, mess, senna, chicory).
Pineapple fasting day will help you lose 0,5 to 1 kg of excess weight ..… This method of losing weight is contraindicated for people with high acidity of gastric juice, peptic ulcer disease.
After each intake of a tropical plant, the oral cavity must be rinsed with water, otherwise the fruit juice can corrode the enamel of the teeth.
Pineapple with vodka for weight loss: is it a super effective remedy or a waste of money
Tropical Fruit Tincture is an economical way to lose weight quickly and doesn’t require a lot of effort or investment. This tool activates the digestion of food, and also removes excess fluid from the body.
The recipe for making a thin elixir:
- Take a quality ripe pineapple, wash, cut the bottom and top with leaves.
- Cut it into 4–6 pieces without peeling it, place it in a blender bowl, chop it.
- Transfer the resulting mass to a glass jar, fill with a half liter of vodka, cover, put in a cool dark place (refrigerator, cellar) for seven days.
- After a week, strain the composition. Throw away the cake – he has already given up all the nutrients.
Take pineapple tincture twice a day, half an hour before meals, a tablespoon (15 ml). The weight loss course is three weeks. During this period, you can get rid of 8 to 10 extra pounds. This course is allowed to be held no more than three times a year.
Contraindications to the use of pineapple tincture for weight loss:
- pregnancy;
- lactation period;
- fruit allergy;
- gastritis, gastric ulcer;
- cardiovascular problems;
- nervous disorders;
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- alcoholism;
- diabetes;
- hypotension.
Pineapple selection criteria
Before buying an exotic fruit, pay attention to the following parameters:
- ripeness (the skin on the spherical sections and at the base should be golden yellow);
- freshness (the surface of a high-quality fruit is hard, with moderately strong pressing is pressed a little).
It is believed that an indicator of ripeness of pineapple is the ease of pulling the sheet from the top. This is actually a myth. The easier the leaf is pulled out, the longer the fruit lies on the shelves of the store, indicating that the product is not fresh.
Remember: pineapple, unlike mango or banana, does not ripen over time.
The fruit should ripen naturally: only in this case it has a sweetish taste, an orange-yellow color without green veins, a flat surface of “eyes” and a pleasant aroma. The tail of a ripe pineapple goes in one bunch, has smooth green edges, no more than two lengths of the fruit (usually 10 cm).
If there are soft areas on the spheres where the skin is discolored, wrinkled, the juice leaks, a vinegar smell forms at the base, the leaves of the top have dried and turned brown, such a fruit is spoiled and not suitable for consumption.
Conclusion
Pineapple is a healthy and nutritious exotic fruit that burns accumulated fats, improves the absorption of dairy products, fish, meat and legumes.
The fruit satisfies the feeling of hunger, promotes the process of losing weight, saturates the body with vitamins and minerals. To keep the pineapple fresh, it is recommended to buy it on the planned day of consumption.
You can store the fruit only at seven degrees Celsius. If the temperature is higher, fermentation will begin, lower – the pulp will become too watery, the color will tarnish. When buying pineapple, make sure that the integrity of the skin is not compromised, the fruit has a golden yellow color, and the leaves are green.
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