Pineapple illustration. © 2014 Merdeka.com/shutterstock/Poprotskiy Alexey Merdeka.com – Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a very tasty and healthy tropical fruit. This fruit is native to South America, and is packed with nutrients, antioxidants, and other beneficial compounds, such as enzymes that fight inflammation and disease.
Pineapple contains small amounts of vitamins A and K, phosphorus, zinc and calcium. Pineapple is very rich in vitamin C and manganese, providing 131% and 76% of the daily recommendation, respectively. Vitamin C is essential for growth and development, a healthy immune system, and aids in the absorption of iron from food.
Meanwhile, manganese is a natural mineral that helps growth, maintains metabolic health, and has antioxidant properties. Pineapple and its compounds have been linked to many health benefits including aiding digestion, boosting immunity, and speeding up recovery from surgery.
Pineapple also contains bromelain which is very good in helping protein digestion, and preventing excess fat and protein from floating in the blood. One of the popular benefits of pineapple is to help lower cholesterol levels. The following is a complete explanation of the benefits of pineapples for cholesterol as reported by darilivescience.
Pineapple Nutritional Content
Pineapples are members of the bromeliad family, and are the only bromeliads that produce edible fruit, according to the Purdue University Center for New Crops and Plant Products. This fruit is made of many berries that grow together around a central core of the plant. Each pineapple scale is an individual flower, or berry.
The nutritional benefits of pineapples are as interesting as their unique anatomy. Pineapple contains high amounts of vitamin C and manganese. Eating this tropical fruit is also a good way for you to get essential dietary fiber and bromelain (enzyme).
Apart from having a high amount of manganese, pineapple also contains thiamin, which is a B vitamin for energy production. One cup of chopped pineapple contains only 74 calories, according to the USDA National Nutrient Database. Pineapple is also fat free, cholesterol free and low in sodium. Here is a breakdown of the nutritional content of raw pineapple according to the US Department of Agriculture for 165 g:
- Calories 74
- Total Fat 0 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Sodium 2 mg
- Potassium 206 mg
- Total Carbohydrates 19.5 g
- Sugar 13.7 g
- 1g protein
- Vitamin C 28 mg
- Calcium 21 mg
The nutritional profile of canned pineapples is different from raw pineapples. According to the USDA, canned pineapples are typically higher in calories and higher in sugar. Canned pineapples also contain less vitamins and minerals.
Benefits of Pineapple for General Health
Pineapple contains significant amounts of vitamin C, a water-soluble antioxidant that fights cell damage, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. This makes vitamin C popular in helping fight health problems such as heart disease and joint pain.
Pineapple can offer many benefits for the body’s health in general. One cup of raw pineapple chunks contains 2.6 mg of manganese, a mineral essential for developing strong bones and connective tissue. A study shows that manganese, along with other trace minerals, can help prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
The variety of vitamins and minerals in pineapple has many other health benefits as well. For example, pineapple can help reduce the risk of macular degeneration, a disease that affects the eyes as you age. This is due to the high amount of vitamin C and antioxidants contained by pineapples.
Like many other fruits and vegetables, pineapple contains dietary fiber which is important for maintaining the health of your gut. But unlike many other fruits and vegetables, pineapple contains large amounts of bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down protein, which can aid digestion. Various studies have shown that bromelain can also help in treating osteoarthritis.
Excess inflammation is often associated with cancer, and according to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, bromelain and other proteolytic enzymes have been shown to increase survival rates for animals with a variety of tumors. Due to other levels of bromel, pineapple can help reduce excessive blood coagulation. This makes pineapple a good snack for frequent flyers and others who are at risk of developing blood clots.
Apart from having lots of vitamin C, pineapple’s bromelain can help reduce mucus in the throat and nose. So, if you have a cold and cough, try eating pineapple chunks.
Benefits of Pineapple for Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the blood. The body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, but high cholesterol levels can increase the risk of heart disease.
High cholesterol conditions can cause accumulation of fat and fat deposits in the blood and arteries. High cholesterol conditions can cause accumulation of fat and fat deposits in the blood and arteries. This can lead to heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
High cholesterol can be inherited, but it is often the result of unhealthy lifestyle choices. Cholesterol is preventable and treatable. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and sometimes medical treatment can help reduce high cholesterol. In essence, there are many things that can help lower cholesterol levels. And this is where the role of pineapple for cholesterol.
Pineapple is rich in vitamins, minerals and nutrients. The bromelain content in pineapple makes this fruit very good at helping protein digestion and preventing excess fat and protein from floating in the blood.
The Whole Foods Encyclopedia reports that bromelain is able to reduce excessive coagulation of blood due to clogged arteries and slow blood circulation often caused by high cholesterol. Making it the most important benefit of pineapple for cholesterol.
Here are some of the benefits of pineapples for cholesterol based on the compounds they contain, reported from Sehatq.com:
- Myricetin – These compounds change the absorption of the liver, assembly and disposal of triglycerides (one of the components that can increase total cholesterol levels in the blood), as well as plasma processing in the body, thereby improving overall lipid (fat) levels.
- Polyphenols – Polyphenols is an antioxidant that helps improve lipid levels by increasing the enzyme Paroxanase which will increase levels of good cholesterol (HDL) in the blood.
- Vitamin C – Vitamin C is classified as an antioxidant that can improve lipid profiles by forming bile by removing cholesterol outside the liver.
- Niacin – Niacin in large doses is known to help inhibit fat transport to the liver, thereby reducing triglyceride synthesis.
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