Pineapples: Nature's Healing Fruit
Source of Recipe
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List of Ingredients
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. Andrew 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.
Here is a delicious, nutritious, cholesterol-free
smoothie recipe high in bromelain, vitamin C,
potassium, thiamin (vitamin B-1), riboflavin
(vitamin B-2), iron, fiber and isoflavones.
Tropical Fruit Smoothie
1 frozen banana
1 cup fresh pineapple
3/4 cup soymilk
1 tablespoon honey or sugar (optional)
Blend all of the above ingredients in
a food processor or blender for 1-2
minutes, until smooth and creamy.
Makes about 2-3/4 cups (2 servings)
Recipe
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