All food contains all of the nutrients we need to be healthy, it is necessary to eat various foods in sufficient amounts. A good diet will include many different foods, and sufficient in quantity and quality to meet an individual’s need for food energy and other micro nutrients.

Beets

Berries

Bran

Broccoli

Brussels Sprouts

PINEAPPLES

Typical serving size:

1 cup (4 oz or 115 g)

HOW THEY HARM

Allergic reactions Canker sores

WHAT THEY HEAL

Cancer Blood clots Metabolism Native to South America, pineapples are now grown in tropical areas worldwide
They are available in frozen and dried forms, but the majority of the crop is reserved for canned varieties, juices, or fresh fruit
The sweet and tangy flavor makes fresh pineapple a delicious choice: It can be added to fruit salads, and grilled or baked with seafood, ham, poultry, or other meats

Health Benefits

Curbs cancer risk
Pineapple is a good source of ferulic acid, a plant chemical that helps prevent the formation of cancer-causing substances
Helps prevent heart attack and stroke
Bromelain, an enzyme in pineapples, is an anti- inflammatory
Preliminary research suggests that it may reduce the risk of blood clots, thereby lowering the risk for heart attack and stroke
This is surprising because, being a protein, bromelain is mostly broken down in the digestive tract before it can be absorbed into the bloodstream
Aids metabolism
Pineapple is an excellent source of the trace mineral manganese, which the body needs for a number of important enzymes to work properly
Manganese plays a role in the metabolism of fats, cholesterol, and protein as well as in building bones and healing wounds

Health Risks

Allergic reactions
Despite its potential to help control swelling, a chemical in pineapples, bromelain, can also cause skin irritation or allergic dermatitis in susceptible people if they come in contact with pineapples
Canker sores
If you’re prone to these painful mouth sores, steer clear of pineapples

Allergies

Drizzle grilled pineapple slices with caramel sauce

Stir pineapple chunks into chicken salad

Thread fresh pineapple chunks on shrimp and bell pepper kebabs

QUICK TIP:

Use pineapple as a meat tenderizer Fresh pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that dissolves proteins
Consequently, fresh pineapple is a natural meat and poultry tenderizer when it is added to stews or marinades

Buying Tip

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After picking, a pineapple will not ripen further

When buying a pineapple, look for one that exudes a fragrant odor and has light yellow or white flesh

If you are buying the fruit whole, make sure that it seems dense and heavy for its size and that the leaves are green

When buying canned pineapple, opt for 100 percent fruit juice, as opposed to heavy syrup
Pineapple in heavy syrup has almost three times the calories and sugar content of pineapple in 100 percent juice

Although pineapples are available year-round, their peak season takes place during June and July

Storing Tips

Fresh pineapples will keep for a few days on the counter at room temperature

Refrigerate cut portions in an airtight container for up to 3 days

Brown patches indicate spoilage