posted by Robin

Pineapple is a tropical plant and is actually a multiple fruit, consisting of coalesced berries. One pineapple is made up of dozens of individual flowerets that grow together to form the entire fruit.

About – The pineapple plant flowers after 20 months and produces a fruit during the following six months. It is indigenous to the South American countries Brazil and Paraguay and is a member of the bromeliad family. It is extremely rare that bromeliads produce edible fruit and the pineapple is the only available edible bromeliad today.

Nutrition – The pineapple is loaded with Vitamin C and is very high in calcium, potassium, copper, magnesium and manganese, a trace mineral that is needed for your body to build bone and connective tissues. It is high in fiber and is low in fat and cholesterol. The bromelain in pineapple is a proteolytic enzyme, one that digests protein and is found in higher levels in the pineapples inner core. This is the main reason pineapple is known as a digestive aid, as it helps the body digest proteins more efficiently. Bromelain is also considered an effective anti-inflammatory. Regular ingestion of at least one half cup of fresh pineapple daily is purported to relieve painful joints common to osteoarthritis. It produces mild pain relief and has also been found to help suppress coughs and loosen mucus. Pineapple is also known to discourage blood clot development and as well has an anthelmintic effect, meaning it helps get rid of intestinal worms. It’s also good for a healthier mouth as fresh pineapple discourages plaque growth.