Pineapple Benefits For Overall Natural Health
By Sherman Mathis
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Hello and welcome back to the Transitional Fitness Coach Blog. Today I’d like to talk to about all of the health benefits of Pineapple. A lot of people love pineapple. It tastes good. It’s colorful. It’s a great addition to salsas, smoothies, and even just as a snack. Besides all of these reasons to love pineapple, I’d like to educate you on all of the great things that pineapple can help you with internally.
The Importance of Nutrient Dense Food
One thing I like to instill in my clients is to focus on their health internally first. I get asked about my diet and supplements all the time. While I do use supplements, I do my best to get healthy nutrients from food. That’s why eating whole foods like fruits, vegetables, brown rice, and lean meat is so important.
Supplements are good but they don’t outweigh the nutritional value that you would get from nutrient dense food. Being healthy on the outside is a product of the foods you eat and exercise. In fact, what you eat is what’s most responsible for your weight management, how you feel, and your body’s ability to do what it’s supposed to naturally. I can’t stress that enough.
When I have a goal to meet for example, like getting lean and building more muscle for a competition, the first thing I do is change my diet. I adjust my macros to the most effective fat, protein, and carbohydrate ratio, and then I collaborate it with a workout plan. Without the right foods, you won’t get the results you want.
When It Comes Down To Pineapple..
I’ve always loved pineapple. I eat them alone and in my vegetable and fruit juices that I make. It’s a great way to combat a sweet tooth as well. However, I did an experiment where I replaced the digestive enzyme supplement with pineapple and I was really happy with the results. I didn’t experience any bloat after eating pizza. I felt better than I usually do even when I’m not eating something that would normally cause bloat. That’s when I dove in 100 percent and learned all that I could about the benefits of eating pineapple so that I could share the information with my clients and my blog audience.
High In Antioxidants
Antioxidants are nutrients that enable your body to reverse oxidative stress. Free radicals combined with an unhealthy diet, and a lack of exercise can wreak havoc on the body. It causes cell damage, a weakened immune system and makes you susceptible to harmful diseases. Pineapples are loaded with flavonoids and phenolic acids. Another interesting fact is that the antioxidants they contain have a longer lasting effect that goes beyond digestion.
High In Fiber
Because of its high fiber content, pineapples are known for lowering your blood glucose levels which makes it a great whole food for those who suffer from type 2 diabetes. Let’s not forget how fiber aids weight loss. Fiber helps you feel full from less food. A reduction in belly fat is a product of that as well.
Contains Digestive Enzymes
Pineapple is beneficial to digestion because it breaks down proteins in the food we eat. It turns the protein into peptides and amino acids which the body can use for energy and recover. Those who suffer from gastric ailments such as acid reflux and ulcerative colitis can get relief of their symptoms by eating pineapple.
Boosts Immunity
Pineapples are high in vitamin C. Eating one cup of pineapple gives you more than the recommended daily amount. Vitamin C supports immunity which gives your body the ability to stop infections in its tracks. It also protects your body’s connective tissue. For those who have skin problems, eating pineapple can relieve irritated skin and aid healing.
Decreases Recovery Times
I have intense workouts and while I was testing the digestion theory, I noticed that my recovery times decreased. The soreness from the workout was actually cut in half. Studies show that eating pineapples reduces recovery times from surgery and exercise. This is a result of its anti-inflammatory properties.
Reduces Inflammation
There have been multiple studies that prove that eating pineapple reduces inflammation in the joints. That is due to its bromelain content. Bromelain blocks the elements that cause swelling in the joints. One study in particular was conducted at Duke University Medical Center on 100 mice who suffered from colitis. Each mouse experienced a decrease in swelling of the colon after eating frozen pineapple.
Eases Symptoms of Arthritis
Arthritis impacts more than 54 million adults in the United States. There are so many treatments for this ailment, even surgical procedures. Some of the treatments offered can cause more problems than relief.
One example close to home is my girlfriend’s mother who stumbled upon this result by accident. She noticed that eating pineapple caused her hip pain to go away. A few months before that she was diagnosed with arthritis in her hip joint and given pain medications to take in the case that the pain became unbearable. She no longer needs the medication, only pineapple.
Improves Fertility in Women
The antioxidants in Pineapples can help prevent infertility. That’s great news for a country where more than 6 percent of women have major difficulties getting pregnant. So ladies if you are trying to conceive or planning to conceive one day, eat pineapple.
Improves Libido in Men
Don’t worry guys, pineapples are good for us too. Studies show that pineapples increase blood flow and restore tissues in the genitals. They can also boost sperm count. That’s good news as studies show that close to 16 percent of men live with low libido.
Prevents the Onset Chronic Disease
Studies show that the potassium, vitamin C, and antioxidant content in pineapples aid in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. This is also the reason that pineapples lower the risk of stroke, bone density, and a loss of muscle mass as we age.
The beta-carotene content lowers the risk of respiratory inflammation and diseases like asthma and COPD.
The potassium content in pineapple helps lower high blood pressure. Other health benefits of potassium include relief from stroke, high blood pressure, heart and kidney disorders, and anxiety and stress. It also helps enhance muscle strength, metabolism, water balance, electrolytic functions, and the nervous system
Pineapples can prevent cancer by killing precancerous cells through apoptosis while not affecting healthy cells.
Enhances Mental Health
Pineapples contain tryptophan which helps the body produce more serotonin. Working out is one way to create these endorphins. However, eating pineapple regularly can help one keep a healthy balance of serotonin which also supports the entire neurological system. The fruit also has B vitamins that help in the production of energy.
So enjoy some pineapple! But do it sensibly.
Well that’s it for this article. Please let me know what you think about the information that I’ve provided. Let me know if it’s useful and what information you’d like to know about health, fitness, and nutrition.
Recipes
I have also included some of my favorite pineapple recipes for you to try sensibly…..just kidding….
Overnight Oats With Pineapple
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ¾ cup unsweetened Vanilla Almond milk
- ¼ cup diced pineapple
- ½ banana chopped in slices
- 1½ teaspoons unsweetened shredded coconut
Preparation
- Combine oats, almond milk, pineapple, and banana in a small bowl or jar. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Top with coconut before serving.
Banana-Pineapple Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen pineapple
- 2 scoops of Aloha Banana protein
- 1 cup chilled unsweetened vanilla almond milk,
- 1 tablespoon almond butter (optional) (or substitute with peanut butter)
Preparation
- Combine pineapple, almond milk, protein, and almond butter in a blender. Process until smooth, adding more almond milk, if needed, for desired consistency. Serve immediately.
For more on the benefits of pineapples, check out these articles.
Pineapple: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits
Everything you Need To Know About Pineapple
For more articles by me..
The Keto Diet Types: Understanding To Live
How Intermittent Fasting Benefits Weight Loss