1. Better Digestion Many people suffer from poor digestion, particularly of protein. Undigested proteins in the digestive system can form compounds that are absorbed into the bloodstream, creating allergic reactions and stimulating an inflammation response. This can manifest in a variety of seemingly unrelated health problems such as tiredness, allergies, general muscle weakness and regular headaches.
Undigested proteins are also involved in forming uric acid crystals that cause gout and other forms of joint pain. All in all, it’s very important to make sure you’re digesting the protein in your meals properly, particularly if you’re regularly eating large amounts of low quality protein, like burgers or meat-based processed foods.
Here’s where eating pineapples may help. Generally it’s not a good idea to eat too much fruit after heavy meal as it can interfere with digestion. Pineapples however contain a unique protein digesting enzyme called . Actually a collection of enzymes, bromelain cleaves the protein bonds making meat and other concentrated protein foods much easier to break down and digest. It’s so good at this job that it is use commercially as a meat tenderizer.
The most bromelain is found in the core of the pineapple so make sure that you eat that part too (it’s easier if you have a small part of it with the rest of the fruit rather than leaving it all to the end). One of the best times then to enjoy a slice of pineapple with its bromelain rich core is after a big protein meal.
Putrefying protein in your digestive tract can lead to serious health problems. Unfortunately, hydrochloric acid production for protein digestion usually declines for most of us after the age of 35. As we get older HCl production decreases even more and nutritional deficiencies can also impair protein breakdown.
While it’s advisable to cut down on meat heavy processed meals, particularly as you get older, the health benefits of pineapples and their bromelain may help if you’re having problems digesting your protein.
sourced from pineapple cores and stems are also available. These are a low cost and convenient way to improve your digestion if you don’t have fresh pineapple available.
Many people report not just improve digestive function, but also positive effects on a variety of seemingly unrelated health problems when they start taking bromelain regularly.
2. Arthritis, Sticky Blood and Cancer Prevention
Pineapple and its enzymes and other nutritional properties explored ahead have many extra health benefits beyond digestion. For instance, therapeutic doses of bromelain have been shown to have significant potential for pain relief for arthritis sufferers of available studies demonstrated.
Bromelain also appears to stop blood palettes from sticking together and may be a useful treatment for those at an increased risk of dangerous blood clots. Importantly, you should discuss taking bromelain supplements and large amounts of pineapple, like regular pineapple juice, with your doctor if you are currently taking blood thinning medication.
3. Colds and Coughs
The combination of very high levels of vitamin C with anti-inflammatory bromelain makes pineapples a particularly effective treatment for coughs, colds and other respiratory problems.
While the positive benefits of vitamin C in reducing the severity and duration of colds and flu are well known, bromelain also has a role in reducing respiratory problems.
4. Strengthening Bones
Aside from the good levels of copper already mentioned, pineapples are extremely high in the mineral manganese, with around three quarters of the recommended daily intake of this valuable trace mineral per cup.
Manganese is needed by your body to build healthy bones and support connective tissue. It is particularly vital for growing children and teenagers and the elderly, whose bones are likely to be weakening as they get older.
5.Energy and Stress Reduction
The rich manganese content of pineapple is also of benefit for energy production. The trace mineral is an important cofactor needed for the creation of enzymes used in the production of energy within your body.
Pineapples health credentials also extend to stress reduction as they contain good levels of B vitamins, so vital for proper brain function and increasing your ability to deal with stress effectively.
The fruit is especially high in vitamin B1 thiamine (also needed for energy production) and vitamin B6 pyridoxine, both at over 10% of the RDI per cup. Folate and pantothenic acid are also well represented at around the 7% RDI per cup and smaller amounts of niacin, biotin and choline are also available when you eat pineapples for preventing B vitamin deficiency.
