BENEFIT OF PINEAPPLE - EAT WELL

PINEAPPLE (Ananas comosus) has its origins in the tropical regions of Brazil and Paraguay and one of the important tropical fruits in the world. In early years the Spanish settlers in the region were intrigued by the fruit’s regal look that resembled a pinecone. They described it as “pina de Indies”. Because of its look, native English speakers translated it to “pineapple”, even though it is not related to either the apple or the pine! In fact, the pineapple is a cluster of berries that is anchored to a core. The scales on the thick skin are actually its flowers!. The pineapple is one of my favourite fruits, and not just because of its tangy, sweet taste. I find the pineapple to be one of the most gorgeous, exotic fruits to look at, with its vibrant yellow and green hues. It is such an attractive addition to a bowl of mixed tropical fruit on our kitchen counters. But it’s not only a looker, it has very impressive nutritional credentials to boot. This article in "Anim Agricuture Technology'' blog discuss about some important of pineapple for consumption and est well.

In an 100 grams of fresh pineapple has only 50 calories, is fat-free, has a milligramme of sodium, and 1.4g of dietary fibre. A 100g of pineapple also contributes 79 per cent of your vitamin C intake for the day. Other notable vitamins and minerals include potassium, vitamin B6 and thiamin. Pineapple is rich in a mix of enzymes called bromelain. The two active ingredients in bromelain are proteinases and proteases. Their function is to break down protein from the foods we eat. Pineapple can be used to marinate meats as it is an effective meat tenderiser. You can combine some fresh pineapple juice and soya sauce to make a simple meat marinade. How long to marinate would depend on the thickness of the cut of meat. Pineapple is rich in a mix of enzymes called bromelain. For thick chunks, marinate from 20 to 30 minutes. Thinly sliced meat can be marinated for no more than 10 minutes. Just don’t marinate the meat for too long with pineapple as the meat can get too tender and mushy. There is growing interest in the potential health benefits of bromelain among nutrition scientists. Research has shown that potential benefits include reducing inflammation, slowing the progression of cancer tumours and reducing blood clots. Bromelain enzyme supplements are sold in pharmacies or online in various forms, ranging from capsules and powders in high dosages. However, more research is required to find out the safety of bromelain supplements in such high dosages. There have been reported side effects and contraindications, which include increased heart rate, gastrointestinal discomfort and menstrual complications. Pregnant and breast-feeding women are advised to avoid using bromelain supplements. Moreover, high dosages can interact with other medications such as sedatives, antiobiotics and anticoagulants.

Always seek advice from your doctor if you are on any of these prescribed medications. My opinion is to consume your bromelain from eating whole, fresh pineapple. Eating it in its natural form in the recommended serving portion is by far the safest way to consume it. Add pineapple to your weekly fruit intake. A recommended serving is a cupful of fresh pineapple. If juicing, a serving is about three quarters of a cup of freshly squeezed, pure pineapple juice. Remember that when you juice the pineapple, you miss out on the dietary fibre. You can blend the pineapple with a handful of leafy green vegetables (I like baby spinach). Blending retains the fibre, but just changes its texture to a form that can be slurped up. Just add a little water if you prefer your smoothie to be more watery. Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to pineapples is if you have an allergy to latex. There is an estimated portion of the population who experience a cross-reaction from the proteins in latex and foods such as certain fruit, vegetables and tree nuts. Pineapple is one of those fruits that can cause a cross-reaction. Depending on the severity of the allergy, symptoms can range from itchy skin to anaphylaxis shock. Thanks...

By,

M Anem,

Putrajaya,

Malaysia.

(March 2021).