Pineapples are a tasty tropical fruit that have been celebrated for centuries not only for their unique taste, but also for their miraculous health benefits. This fruit is full of potassium, manganese, copper, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, thiamin, beta carotene, B6, folate, and fiber, making it one of Mother Nature’s true superfoods.
Below you can find 10 amazing health benefits of pineapples.
Pineapples contain a rare proteolytic enzyme known as bromelain, which primarily breaks down complex proteins, but it also has some serious anti-inflammatory effects, and has been known to reduce the signs and symptoms of arthritis in many patients.
2. Immune System
One serving of pineapple contains more than 130% of the daily requirement of Vitamin C, making it one of the richest sources of ascorbic acid. Vitamin C helps to reduce illnesses and boosts the immune system by stimulating the activity of white blood cells, and it also acts as an antioxidant that defends the body against the harmful effects of free radicals. These are dangerous byproducts of cellular metabolism that can damage various organs, as well as cause healthy cells to mutate into cancerous ones.
3. Tissue and Cellular Health
An often-overlooked benefit of vitamin C is its essential role in creating collagen. This is why it’s a healing vitamin, as collagen is the essential protein base of blood vessel walls, organs, skin, and bones. A high vitamin C content helps you heal wounds quickly and protects against illnesses and infections.
Apart from vitamin C, pineapples are also rich in other cancer-fighting antioxidants, such as vitamin A, bromelain, beta carotene, various flavonoid compounds, and high levels of manganese, which is an important co-factor of superoxide dismutase, an extremely potent free radical scavenger that has been known to cause cancers. Pineapples can help prevent cancers of the mouth, breasts, and throat.
5. Digestion
Like the majority of fruits, pineapples are a great source of fiber, but they are extra special as they contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. This means that eating a load of pineapples can help protect you from a health conditions such as constipation, diarrhea, blood clotting, irritable bowel syndrome, high blood pressure, and atherosclerosis. Fiber helps to bulk up stool, which promotes the passage of food through the digestive tract at a normal rate, and also stimulates the release of the juices needed to dissolve food. Furthermore, it helps in dealing with loose stool, which reduces the effects of IBS and diarrhea. Fiber also helps strip the blood vessels of excess cholesterol, thereby boosting cardiovascular health.
6. Coughs and Colds
The enzyme bromelain also helps to reduce phlegm and mucus build-up in the respiratory tracts and sinus cavities. Therefore, not only do pineapples prevent you from contracting illnesses that cause phlegm and mucus build-up, they also help eliminate these materials from your body if you’ve already contracted an illness or infection.
8. Bone Health
Although this fruit is not known for having a strong calcium content, which most of us immediately associate with strong bones, it does have an impressive amount of manganese, which is another mineral that helps strengthen bones. Manganese is the most prominent mineral in pineapples, and a single serving of this fruit can deliver more than 70% of your daily requirement.
9. Eye Health
Vision is one of the most important human senses, and pineapples have been directly connected to boosting eye health and preventing age-related eye deficiencies that occur. Macular degeneration affects many elderly people, and beta carotene can help delay this vision problem.
10. Blood Pressure
Pineapples are full of potassium, which is one of the most important minerals in the human body. An important function of potassium is as a vasodilator, meaning that it eases the tension and stress of the blood vessels and increases blood circulation to various parts of the body. When your blood vessels are relaxed, your blood pressure is reduced and the flow of blood is less restricted. This will help prevent clots and plaque from forming, decreasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Source: organicfacts
Images: depositphotos
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