PINEAPPLES: NATURE'S HEALING FRUIT

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PINEAPPLES: NATURE'S HEALING FRUIT

By N. Gilbert, B.Sc.

Want to give your body a boost in health and healing? Then you may

want to add some fresh pineapple and pineapple juice to your diet.

Pineapples are nutritionally packed members of the bromeliad family.

This delightful tropical fruit is high in the enzyme bromelain and

the antioxidant vitamin C, both of which plays a major role in the

body's healing process.

Bromelain is a natural anti-inflammatory that has many health

benefits and encourages healing. According to Dr. Weil,

bromelain is very effective in treating bruises, sprains and strains

by reducing swelling, tenderness and pain. This powerful anti-

inflammatory effect can also help relieve rheumatoid arthritis

symptoms and reduce postoperative swelling. Additionally, the

bromelain contained in fresh pineapple can relieve indigestion. This

enzyme helps break down the amino acid bonds in proteins, which

promotes good digestion.

Pineapples provide an ample supply of vitamin C too, a commonly known

antioxidant that protects the body from free radical damage and

boosts the immune system. Vitamin C helps build and repair bodily

tissue and promotes wound healing. The body uses vitamin C to help

metabolize fats and cholesterol, absorb iron, and synthesize amino

acids and collagen. Collagen is one of the primary building blocks

of skin, cartilage and bones. Vitamin C also decreases the severity

of colds and infections.

Furthermore, due to its high vitamin C content, pineapples are good

for your oral health as well. A study conducted at the State

University of New York at Buffalo found that vitamin C can reduce

your risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease. Besides increasing

the ability of connective tissue to repair itself, vitamin C also

increases the body's ability to fight invading bacteria and other

toxins that contribute to gum disease. Periodontal disease, which

destroys gum tissue and underlying jaw bones, has been linked to

heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

So if you want a natural way to enhance your body's healing

mechanisms, promote overall good health and tantalize your taste

buds, pineapples are the way to go. Choose the fresh fruit because

it has the most healing properties. Unfortunately, most of the

bromelain in canned pineapple is destroyed due to the heat used in

the canning process.

When choosing a fresh pineapple, do not judge ripeness solely based

upon color. There are several varieties on the market that range

from green to golden yellow. The most important factor in

determining ripeness is smell, let your nose help you decide. Ripe

pineapples give off a sweet, fresh tropical smell. Avoid pineapples

that give off an unpleasant odor or have any soft spots or areas of

dark discoloration. Once home, let the pineapple sit on your counter

at room temperature until ready to use. This will preserve its sweet

and tangy flavor.

To prepare pineapple, you need to peel it, remove the eyes (the

thorny protrusions within the puffy squares of the skin) and the

fibrous center. First, cut off the top and bottom of the pineapple

with a sharp knife. Place the pineapple upright on a cutting board

and carefully slice off the outer skin. With a sharp paring knife or

the end if a vegetable peeler, remove the eyes. Don't cut too deep,

just enough to lift out the section that contains the eye. Then,

remove the fibrous core. One way to do this is to cut the pineapple

lengthwise into 4 wedges (quarter it) and cut around the fibrous

center core. Another popular way is to slice the pineapple crosswise

and remove the cores individually with a cookie cutter. Once the

fruit is prepared, it can be diced and eaten fresh, added to salads

and entrees for an exotic flavor, or made into tasty tropical

drinks.