Synonyms: Cayenne pineapple, Nana, Ananas
French: Ananas; Spanish: Ananas,
Description: Compound fruit (formed by the union of the fruits of various blossoms around a central fleshy core) of the pineapple plant ('Ananas comosus' Merr.), a herbaceous plant of the botanical family bromeliaceae that reaches a height of 50 cm.
History tells that in 1493 the inhabitants of the Antillean island of Guadeloupe offered Christopher Columbus a pineapple, which he took to be variety of artichoke. He brought it back to Spain, from where it spread to the tropical areas of Asia and Africa. It was first cultivated in Hawaii in the 19th century, which is now one of the primary world producers.
PROPERTIES AND INDICATIONS: Pineapple that has been properly matured contains approximately 11% carbohydrates, most of which are sugars. Their fat and protein contents are negligible. The prevalent vitamins in pineapple are C, B1, B6. It is also a good source of folates. Among the minerals it contains are manganese (1.65 mg/ 100 g), followed by copper, potassium, magnesium, and iron.
The Pineapple 's non-nutritive components are of utmost importance from a dietary and therapeutic standpoint:
-Citric and malic acids: These are responsible for the pineapple's acidic taste. As is the case with citrus fruits, they potentiate the action of vitamin C.
-Bromelin acts in the digestive tract by breaking down proteins and facilitating digestion in much the same way as the stomach's own pepsin.
The pineapple is a succulent, delicious fruit rich in certain vitamins and minerals. Many consider it a wonderful dessert as an aid to the digestion of other foods. Others prefer to eat it as an aperitif before a meal, particularly when the stomach is somehow weakened.
Its consumption is specifically indicated for the following conditions:
-Hypochlorhydria (scanty gastric juice), which is manifested by slow digestion and a sense of heaviness in the stomach.
-Gastric ptosis (prolapsed stomach) caused by the stomach' s inability to empty itself (gastric atonia).
In both cases pineapple must be eaten fresh (not canned) and ripe either before or after a meal.
-Obesity: Pineapple or fresh pineapple juice consumed before meals reduces appetite and constitutes a good complement to weight-loss diets. It is also slightly diuretic (facilitates urine production).
-Sterility: This tropical fruit is one of the richest foods in manganese, a trace element actively involved in the formation of reproductive cells, both male and female. It is therefore recommended for those suffering from sterility due to insufficient production of germinal cells (sperm in man and ova in women).
-Stomach cancer: It has been shown that pineapple is a powerful inhibitor of the formation of nitrosamines. These carcinogenic substances form in the stomach as a chemical reaction between nitrites and certain proteins contained in foods.
PREPARATION AND USE
(1)Natural: Pineapple is an ideal dessert, improving digestion. It also is an excellent aperitif, preparing the stomach for a meal.
(2)Juice: Pineapple juice must be drunk slowly because of its acidity.
(3)Canned: Canned pineapple retains most of its vitamins, minerals, and fiber. However, it is poor in the enzyme bromelin, which is easily degraded. As a result, canned pineapple has little effect as a digestive aid.Pineapple only ripens properly on the plant. If harvested early to meet the needs of transport, it is very acid and poor in nutrients.
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