What comes to mind when you think of summer? The first thing we think of here at The Biting Truth HQ is the abundance of tropical fruits that spring up on the supermarket shelves – passionfruit, watermelon, papaya, mango… and our favourite, the beloved PINEAPPLE! There is no better healthy and refreshing snack than a sweet and juicy pineapple. Because we know you (probably) love pineapples as much as we do, we’ve pulled together 4 facts about pineapples that you might not know!
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Pineapples are anti-inflammatory
Know that fuzzy feeling you get on your tongue when you eat pineapple?! Pineapples contain bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down protein. For this reason, bromelain works as a tenderiser for meats and also aids digestion. It is also this enzyme that gives your tongue that fuzzy feeling after eating pineapple! Bromelain has anti-inflammatory effects, which can help with reducing muscle soreness and can help manage inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and psoriasis.
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Pineapples are good for your skin
Pineapples are bursting with Vitamin C! Just 1 cup of pineapple provides you with over half of your daily Vitamin C requirements. Vitamin C is an important nutrient for many reasons. It acts as an antioxidant, which means it helps to prevent damage to our DNA, but also supports collagen production for glowing skin. As well as this, it ensures optimal functioning of the nervous system and also enhances iron absorption.
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Pineapples are good for your gut
Pineapple gives you a good dose of fibre. Not only does this mean it contributes to a healthy digestive system, but also supports the immune system, contributes to a healthy heart and is associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases like diabetes. The fibre content of pineapple keeps you feeling fuller for longer, so can you help to regulate your appetite and control your weight as well.
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Pineapples boost your general health
Pineapples not only contribute to your Vitamin C & fibre intake, but give you a good dose of potassium, manganese, thiamin and calcium. It sounds like a multivitamin, don’t you think? This array of nutrients has many functions:
- Potassium for nerve, muscle and heart function
- Manganese for building connective tissue and bones
- Thiamin for energy metabolism
- Calcium for strong and healthy bones
So, before you reach for a multivitamin go for a pineapple instead!
We all know that pineapples don’t just belong on Hawaiian pizzas, so we’d love to hear your favourite pineapple recipes too. You can check out some of ours here:
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This article was written by Melissa Meier and Monique Heller, who are interns at The Biting Truth and are currently studying their Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics.