Eat This Today: Pineapple

Article By: Johnny Fontana

With spring comes the start of the season for many fruits and vegetables. The spring and summer months seem to be the time of year when most tropical fruits are eaten. Pineapple is one of the most popular, bursting with both tropical flavor and smell. Not only does it taste great, but underneath that tough shell is a fruit loaded with nutrients.

Pineapples have been credited with keeping your immune system strong, giving you energy and aiding in digestion. Since the spring and summer months are also our most active, who has time to be achy, sick or tired? Get on some daily pineapple and you’ll be on your way to enjoying your spring and summer like never before.

Why So Good?

Energy

Pineapples are packed with trace minerals which are essential to human vitality. One such mineral is manganese, of which pineapples hold over 100% of the daily value. Manganese is great for energy production because it fights off free radicals that can harm the mitochondria. Mitochondria are known by scientists as “cellular power plants” because they generate ATP, which is a main source for energy. It also contains a B vitamin called thiamin, which is another energy aid. Eat a little pineapple in the morning and you will be storing up energy for the rest of the day.

Get Some Bro

An enzyme-rich compound called bromelain is a major source of pineapples’ extensive health benefits. Actually, enzymes found in bromelain have been extracted and used as dietary supplements. It is great for preventing inflammation, which can lead to a host of health issues.

Bromelain is found most abundantly in the core and stem of a pineapple. This compound is a great digestive aid and is regularly recommended to people with digestion issues. Plus it gives you an excuse to put down some Pina Coladas the next time you’re sitting poolside.

How To Eat?

I don’t think I have to tell you how to eat pineapple. Fresh or frozen are both great choices, and because of its energy- producing value, I recommend eating it in the morning.

I encourage any questions or comments, please:

Leave a response at the bottom of the article,

E-mail me personally at jfontana(at)shadowfit.com

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010 at 10:43 am and is filed under Nutrition. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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