Pineapple: benefits, harm, contraindications

Everyone, young and old, has heard about the connection between pineapple and weight loss. And what else is interesting about this fruit, it cannot be only "slimming" and that's it? You will find the answer to the question by reading this article.

The benefits of pineapple

In fact, the composition of this product can only be envied. Because it contains in abundance all the basic trace elements and vitamins that are so necessary for our body. Pineapple can be compared to a glass of water in which the most important substances for health are dissolved. Useful properties of pineapple:

• Strengthening of bones, as well as of the heart and nervous systems, is due to the high content of potassium and magnesium.
• Improving digestion, due to the high proportion of fiber, which, in addition, perfectly cleanses the intestines from toxins and toxins.
• Visual acuity increases, because pineapple is rich in carotene.
• With the daily consumption of this product, you can minimize the risk of age-related changes in the organs of vision.
• Bromelain, the very substance that helps you lose weight. Breaks down complex fats and has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect.
• A large amount of vitamin C helps to strengthen the immune system, make the blood thinner. This means that nutrients will be more likely to spread throughout the body ─ acceleration of metabolism. In addition, liquid blood purified from cholesterol the best way to prevent education blood clots.
• Improves reproductive function in men ─ sperm becomes better quality and more nutritious. They say it's even tastier.
• Useful for hypertension.
• Helps to liquefy and remove phlegm from the lungs, which is important during illness.
• Fresh, it has a GI level acceptable for diabetics ─ 66.
• Eases joint pain in arthritis.
• Eating pineapple slices daily can defeat the spread of metastases.
• A good natural antidepressant.
• Fight against free radicals, and hence the signs of old age.
• When applied to the skin, it makes it firmer and softer. It is also a well-known remedy for calluses.

Pineapple harm

About positive qualities this fruit can be talked about indefinitely. But in any barrel of honey you can find a fly in the ointment. If we talk about pineapple, then its harm is as follows:

• high concentration of acids irritates mucous membranes - tongue, lips, esophagus, stomach;
• do not abuse;
• not recommended for use in the presence of diseases such as gastritis, ulcers, bowel problems;
• often using the product can destroy tooth enamel;
• in no case use this product as a basis for a mono-diet, it is very dangerous;
• it is a mistake to believe that dried and canned fruits have the same benefits as fresh ones;
• during heat treatment, bromelain is destroyed, that is, after conservation or baking, the slimming effect of this product will be lost;
• there are frequent cases of individual intolerance to the product;
• the core contains the most acids that corrode mucous membranes;
• the use of low-quality or spoiled fruit;
• during pregnancy, pineapple should be eaten with great care, but more on this below.

For most people, it stings and corrodes the tongue and lips when eating this fruit. Why is this happening? All because of the same bromelain. It breaks down any protein with which it comes into contact for a certain time. Its especially high concentration is in unripe fruits.

Pineapple contraindications

Despite the impressive list of positive effects, this fruit also has a number of contraindications. Namely:

• Low acidity of the stomach, gastritis and ulcers of the digestive system.
• Hypersensitivity or thin tooth enamel.
• Poor blood clotting - pineapple thinns blood.
• People suffering from low blood pressure should be wary of using this product. Since the blood thinning makes the pressure even lower.
• If you are prone to allergic reactions, especially to food, then you should definitely do an allergy test before eating pineapple.
• A rather rare fact, however, it occurs - individual intolerance.
• With abuse, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, in particular diarrhea, can arise.

It is worth mentioning that a quarter of the fetus is considered the optimal daily dose. Or 5 rings. Pineapple can also be consumed as a juice. In this case, the permitted dosage will be one glass or 250 ml of juice.

Please note that it is best to eat raw pineapple. In this form, the maximum amount of its nutrients is preserved and fiber, which is very important for digestion, is not destroyed.

Calorie content of pineapple

In addition to the wonderful protein bromelain, pineapple is also famous for its very low calorie content. About 50 kcal per 100 g of product. What is noteworthy is that if the fruit is canned without sugar syrup, then its calorie content will increase by only 10 kcal. Unlike its dried counterpart, it has 357 calories. So don't be fooled into thinking that processed fruit will also help you lose weight. On the contrary, you run the risk of earning even more superfluous centimeters at the waist.

In addition, as mentioned above, exposure to high temperatures destroys more of its usefulness, in particular, that very wonderful protein.

The most optimal ratio calorie content/ benefit is to use dried pineapples. But the problem here is that this form of fruit is quite rare. By the way, dried and dried fruits help to quit smoking without stress. Daily consumption of a couple of pieces of this fruit reduces the need for nicotine.

Can pineapple be for children

Pediatricians on this issue are absolutely in solidarity with each other ─ not worth 3-4 years. Because this exotic fruit, like everything grown in a foreign climate and in a foreign land, is an allergen in absentia.

In no case, do not even let children try pineapple under one year old, it will definitely damage the delicate baby mucosa. Also, if the child is, in principle, prone to allergies, you should not introduce him to the fetus earlier than 6 years.

The same goes for eating the fruit during lactation. After all, everything that mom eats is instantly absorbed into milk and goes to the child. You can take the first sample of pineapple when feeding no earlier than the baby is half a year old. Eat a small slice of the fruit and follow the baby's reaction for 2-3 days. If the baby responds well, you can gradually increase the dose, reaching 200 g per day. If you have never been a lover of this fruit, either before or during pregnancy, you should not become one now.

Pineapple during pregnancy

This fruit should be eaten with extreme caution during pregnancy. Because low-quality or spoiled pineapple provokes miscarriage... We believe that in this case it is not appropriate to consider the potential benefits of the product. Find tips on how to choose a good fruit below.

With regards to allergies, this is a rather rare occurrence for fresh fruit. A reaction to a canned product is much more common and destructive. Often, many manufacturers use low-quality preservatives in order to save money. Or spoiled fruits.

The most common symptoms of a reaction to this fruit are:

• itching;
• redness of the mucous membranes;
• Quincke's edema;
• stomach pain;
• bowel disorder;
• wheezing;
• cough;
• vomiting.

It is extremely rare, but still there are cases when a person needs an urgent administration of an antihistamine. During the first 10 minutes of an attack, otherwise there is a threat of death. For example, Quincke's edema, respiratory failure, etc.

How to peel pineapple

At first glance, it may seem that this is a rather complicated and troublesome business. However, in practice this is not at all the case. Peeling pineapple is easy.

1. Use a large knife to cut off the top and bottom. So that the fetus can stand without support.
2. Cut the peel into strips starting at the top. It is normal that parts of the rind remain.
3. Use a thin, small knife to remove any remaining imperfections.
4. If you are going to eat the fruit raw, remove the core.
5. This can be done in different ways ─ cut the pulp from the core, cut the fruit into pieces and scrape out the excess, or cut the fruit into rings and pick out the core with a knife.
6. It is good to cook from the core candied fruit.

How to choose a pineapple

To buy ripe quality fruit, remember the following rules:

• the leaves at the top of the ripe fruit are dense, fleshy and green;
• you can easily pull out a leaf from a ripe fruit;
• take the "tops" with one hand, squeeze the pineapple in the other, and turn your hands in different directions. If you succeed in doing this, the fruit is good;
• the crust is elastic, but soft flesh is felt inside;
• green pineapple is hard to the touch;
• various spots on the crust of the fruit indicate poor quality or overripe;
• when tapped, a ripe pineapple makes a dull sound;
• a ringing empty sound when clapping indicates that the fruit is old;
• a bright saturated sugary taste is inherent only in overripe fruits that are just about or have already fermented;
• the pulp is rich yellow, as in the pictures.

It should be noted that the tropical fruit does not tolerate the cold. At temperatures below + 7 ° C, the fruit loses its aroma. If the pineapple is suspiciously cheap, then most likely it was picked still green and was delivered slowly so that it had time to ripen on the way.

But the high cost of the fruit may indicate that it ripened in its native places. After that, it was delivered to the counter as quickly as possible. But this is also a rather arbitrary classification, because the seller sets the price based on his own considerations.