Nutritional Profile

Pineapple provides 50 calories per 100g; 0.1gm of fat, 13g of carbohydrate, 1mg of sodium, 109mg of potassium and 0.5g of protein.

Interesting facts

· Pineapples regenerate! You can plant pineapple leaves to grow a new plant.

· Pineapples contain the bromelain enzyme which can break down proteins, so you can use them to tenderize meat.

· Hawaii produces about 1/3 of all pineapples in the world.

· Pineapples are native to South America before Christopher Columbus discovered them in 1493. Pineapples ripen faster upside down.

Heath Benefits

· Pineapples contain high amounts of thiamin, a B vitamin that is involved in energy production.

· The fruit contains all of the recommended daily value of vitamin C, a primary water-soluble antioxidant that fights cell damage and problems such as heart disease and joint pain.

· Due to a complex mixture of substances that can be extracted from the core of the pineapple, well known as bromelain, pineapples can help reduce severe inflammation and can reduce tumor growth.

· Because of their bromelain levels, pineapples can help reduce excessive blood clotting.

· The fruit contains nearly 75 percent of the daily-recommended value of the mineral manganese, which is essential in developing strong bones and connective tissue.

Study

“Pineapples can help reduce the risk of macular degeneration, a disease that affects the eyes as people age, due in part to its high amount of vitamin C and the antioxidants it contains,” says Laura Flores, a San Diego-based nutritionist.