For a natural and tasty way to improve your health and boost your healing capacity, add fresh pineapple and pineapple juice to your diet. Pineapples are nutritionally packed members of the bromeliad family. This delightful tropical fruit is high in the enzyme bromelain and the antioxidant vitamin C, both of which plays a major role in the body's healing process.
Bromelain, a natural anti-inflammatory with analgesic properties, encourages healing, promotes well-being and has many other health benefits. Bromelain is very effective in treating bruises, sprains and strains by reducing swelling, tenderness and pain. This powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect can also help relieve osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and reduce postoperative swelling. Additionally, bromelain can relieve indigestion. The enzyme contained in fresh pineapple helps break down the amino acid bonds in proteins, which promotes good digestion.
Pineapples also provide an ample supply of vitamin C, a commonly known antioxidant that protects the body from free radical damage and boosts the immune system. Vitamin C helps build and repair bodily tissue and promotes wound healing. The body uses vitamin C to help metabolize fats and cholesterol, absorb iron, and synthesize amino acids and collagen. Collagen is one of the primary building blocks of skin, cartilage and bones. Vitamin C also decreases the severity of colds and infections.
Furthermore, due to its high vitamin C content, pineapples are good for your oral health as well. Recent studies have found that vitamin C can reduce your risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease. Besides increasing the ability of connective tissue to repair itself, vitamin C also increases the body's ability to fight invading bacteria and other toxins that contribute to gum disease. Periodontal disease, which destroys gum tissue and underlying jaw bones, has been linked to heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.
So if you are searching for a natural way to enhance your body's healing mechanisms, promote overall good health and tantalize your taste buds, pineapples are the way to go. Choose the fresh fruit because it has the most healing properties. Unfortunately, most of the bromelain in canned pineapple is destroyed due to the heat used in the canning process.
When choosing a fresh pineapple, do not judge ripeness solely based upon color. There are several varieties on the market that range from green to golden yellow. The most important factor in determining ripeness is smell, let your nose help you decide. Ripe pineapples give off a sweet, fresh tropical smell. Avoid pineapples that give off an unpleasant odor or have any soft spots or areas of dark discoloration. Once home, let the pineapple sit on your counter at room temperature until ready to use. This will preserve its sweet and tangy flavor.
To prepare pineapple, you need to peel it, remove the eyes (the thorny protrusions within the puffy squares of the skin) and the fibrous center. One way to do this is to remove the top of the pineapple with a sharp knife. Then cut the pineapple lengthwise into 4 wedges (quarter it) and place each pineapple wedge horizontally on a cutting board. Carefully cut the fruit from the outer skin, and cut out the eyes and fibrous center core.
Another way is to cut off the top and bottom of the pineapple, place the pineapple vertically (upright) on a cutting board and carefully slice off the outer skin. With a sharp paring knife or the end if a vegetable peeler, remove the eyes. Don't cut too deep, just enough to lift out the section that contains the eye. Then, slice the pineapple crosswise and remove the fibrous core individually with a cookie cutter.
Once the fruit is prepared, it can be diced and eaten fresh, added to salads and entrees for an exotic flavor, or made into tasty tropical drinks and smoothies.
To get you started, try Monique N. Gilbert's delicious, nutritious, cholesterol-free smoothie recipe. It's high in bromelain, vitamin C, beta carotene, potassium, thiamin (vitamin B-1), riboflavin (vitamin B-2), iron, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids and soy isoflavones.
Pina-Banana Orange Smoothie
__________________________________________
1 frozen banana
1 cup fresh pineapple
1/2 cup soymilk
1/3 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon canned pumpkin
1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
1 tablespoon honey (optional)
__________________________________________
Place all of the above ingredients in a food processor or blender. Blend for 1-2 minutes, or until smooth and creamy. Makes about 2-3/4 cups (2 servings)
Copyright ? Monique N. Gilbert - All Rights Reserved
Monique N. Gilbert, B.Sc. is a Health, Nutrition, Weight-Loss & Lifestyle Coach; Certified Personal Trainer/Fitness Counselor; Recipe Developer; Freelance Writer and Author of Virtues of Soy: A Practical Health Guide and Cookbook. http://www.moniquengilbert.com
She has offered guidance in natural health, nutrition, fitness, weight-loss and stress management since 1989. She has received international recognition for helping people get healthy, manage stress, lose weight and keep it off. Through her coaching program and writings, Monique motivates and teaches how to improve your well-being, vitality and longevity with balanced nutrition, physical activity and healthy living. For more information, visit her website.
local house cleaners Park Ridge ..Bread is one of the oldest known recipes to man.... Read More
Most people understand that it is wise to limit the... Read More
Today we're shifting our focus from wealth to health. First... Read More
Water is the most abundant substance in the human body.... Read More
People want to get the very best they can when... Read More
You wouldn't judge a book by its cover, would you?You... Read More
When it comes to the topic of sports nutrition there... Read More
OK, no more excuses. Here's how to stop making everyone... Read More
I want to tell you about the most healthful and... Read More
People who consume too much alcohol have good chance of... Read More
The reason I remember the first time I was served... Read More
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin like A and E.... Read More
The debate regarding Fluoride continues to rage, is it good... Read More
Hormonal changes during pregnancy, and quite normal fat gain often... Read More
In this fast paced world, good nutrition may sound very... Read More
Dieters who dejectedly complain they are figuratively "stuck" with their... Read More
Your fiber intake is a critical factor in weight loss... Read More
Nutrition facts have become a part of everyday life because... Read More
Despite the fact that accurate nutrition information can be accessed... Read More
The nutritional support in critically ill patients can be explained... Read More
While packages of the artificial sweetener Splenda claim, "made from... Read More
After we have eaten a meal -- and often we... Read More
It is not a myth. Eating breakfast is an important... Read More
Nutrition usually only comes up when people are finally deciding... Read More
Many of us sprinkle oregano on our pizza and stews... Read More
move out cleaning service Glenview ..Many of us sprinkle oregano on our pizza and stews... Read More
The importance of protein in diet has been clearly established... Read More
Did you know that the food you eat could be... Read More
Niacin, also called nicotinic acid, is a member of the... Read More
Cherries?A Supercharged FruitThe little red fruit that has been enjoyed... Read More
Fire ElementAccording to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there are five... Read More
Heart Disease remains the number one cause of death in... Read More
People are obsessed with dieting and weight loss! Don't believe... Read More
Constipation is the passing of dry, hard faeces fewer than... Read More
1. Look for high quality, crystalline, free-form, amino acids (AAs)... Read More
You are a mineral bodyEvery part of you is made... Read More
Studies support the benefits of eating a diet rich in... Read More
Looking into statistics, we can see the average American consumes... Read More
Female and male athletes respond to training in a fairly... Read More
In a study review conducted by David A. Geier, B.A.... Read More
One way to combat the boredom many people complain accompanies... Read More
Do you allow pleasure from food? Are your senses throughly... Read More
Here's food for thought! Did you know the average restaurant... Read More
People who consume too much alcohol have good chance of... Read More
The factors that affect the nutritional requirements of an individual... Read More
In large part, you're in control of your health, not... Read More
You've no doubt heard the saying, "You are what you... Read More
How To Have A Healthy ThanksgivingEnd of the year holidays... Read More
You really are what you eat. You are also very... Read More
I read a lot about the topics of health and... Read More
Nutrition |