The pineapple is a tropical herbaceous plant native to Brazil. She is part of the family Bromeliads. The Indians named it "nana nana" meaning "the perfume of perfumes". Pineapple is difficult to produce because it needs a specific climate and a lot of water and 18 to 22 months to get a single fruit on one foot, that's why it is suitable for a tropical climate like Martinique.

It is an elongated fruit about thirty centimeters long. Its flesh, very juicy, has a color that varies between white and yellow depending on its variety and maturity. It is the same for the color of its bark; it is composed of hexagonal patterns. Do you know that each pattern corresponds to a bay? Because the fruit of pineapple is a multitude of berries that have fused on the cob.

It is a very consumed fruit fresh, but also in juice. It is also included in the composition of many dishes.

Benefits of Pineapple

A bit of history about pineapple

According to history, the Indians would have offered to Christopher Columbus when he accosted Guadeloupe in 1493. But it is only 40 years later, that the fruit was presented to the court of Spain. In 1672, the first pineapple harvested and presented to King Charles II had the honor of being represented in painting.

In Europe, it was reserved for the royal tables. Louis XIV had it planted at the castle of Choisy-le-Roi for his mistress Madame de Maintenon. It must be said that this fruit has the singularity of having a crown of leaves to his head that could have been nicknamed: the king of fruits!

By the end of the 16th century, it is cultivated in almost all the tropical regions of the world. In the 1980s, with the excitement of exotic products, the pineapple became more popular as a consumer product.

Its industrial use
Pineapple is also grown for its high bromelin content. This enzyme has many industrial uses: tenderizing meat, tanning leathers, stabilizing paints, and it enters into the formation of latex. In addition, from the leaves of certain selected varieties, fibers are obtained to make ropes, nets, baskets and fine papers and textiles.

Composition of pineapple
Pineapple contains water, vitamins A, vitamin C, K, complex B without B12; minerals: calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium and sodium, iron, zinc and traces of unsaturated fatty acids. Pineapple is like the majority of vegetables and fruits an alkalizing food.
A sweet fruit: More than 90% of the calories provided by pineapple come mainly from carbohydrates. 2/3 of these sugars are sucrose, the rest is glucose and fructose. Picked too early, the elevation of the sugar content of the fruit can not take place because it is due to the transformation of the starch present in the end of the stem. Pineapple will not be part of the fruit not recommended during a diet without sugar.

The benefits of pineapple

Pineapple relieves osteoarthritis: After a 6-week test of 90mg of bromelain on 90 patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and a comparison with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug called diclofenac, German researchers concluded that bromelain is as effective as diclofenac in relieving joint pain without triggering many unwanted side effects.
Pineapple heals colds and sore throats: The entire pineapple plant is used in traditional remedies such as sore throat or seasickness, but also as a diuretic to accelerate the extraction of toxins. In Germany, children with colds are treated with bromelain. Treating physicians report that bromelain reduces the time of the disease to 6.5 days on average, compared to about 8 days for conventional treatment alone.
Pineapple effective against burns and wounds: Some pineapple enzymes may be effective in accelerating the healing of wounds or burns. An experiment conducted on severely burned rats showed that two enzymatic extracts of pineapple allowed the burns to be broken down in four hours. This action, surgical or otherwise, cleans the wound or abscess.
Pineapple reduces edema and relieves pain: American researchers who have studied the effects of several plant extracts on wound healing have testified that bromelain would reduce edema, bruising, pain and healing time after trauma or surgery. According to a number of doctors, bromelain has an effect on painful muscles, tendinitis and tissue inflammation. Many athletes consume upstream of a workout in order to reduce muscle pain.
Pineapple is a natural dewormer: The bromelain of pineapple has anthelmintic properties because it acts effectively against pinworms. A recent study has shown that bromelain is as effective as deworming drugs on the market. By the way, natives of Panama have long used pineapple leaf juice as a laxative and to treat intestinal worms
Pineapple is a cure for warts: If you have warts, rub pineapple against the wart for a minute, twice a day, until it disappears. Pineapple is an excellent natural remedy!
Pineapple relieves painful periods and purifies the blood: Pineapple juice would be a grandmother's remedy for painful menstruation. It appears that bromelain has a relaxing effect on the cervix, which would relieve menstrual pain. In addition, pineapple has a purifying effect on blood circulation and would be considered a natural remedy against blood clots in the veins. Also, beware of hemophilia, pineapple is not recommended.