Scientific name: Pineapple comosus
Available as fresh fruit, dried fruit or fruit juice
Pineapple is a tropical fruit with world production set to reach 27.8 million tonnes in 2020. It takes fourteen to twenty months from cultivation to harvest. A pineapple plant can produce up to 2 or 3 times. Pineapple is a much-loved fruit in Africa, the West and Asia. It is eaten fresh, dried or in fruit juice. It can be incorporated into pastry recipes or desserts. It is low in minerals, but rich in fiber, carbohydrates, beta-carotene and vitamins. It has a multitude of health benefits. In nutritional terms, eating 100g of fresh pineapple provides 54.4 calories.
Pineapple has many medicinal properties. The bromelain contained in pineapple is renowned for its anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, antiplatelet and fibrinolytic (blood clot dissolving) properties. Consumption of bromelain could contribute to the alternative treatment of osteoarthritis.
What's more, pineapple's antioxidant properties, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, can help prevent the onset of cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic illnesses.
It is an excellent source of vitamin C, copper and manganese. Its high fiber content facilitates intestinal transit and makes you feel full. Pineapple has a beneficial effect on the digestion of proteins rather than fats.
