Impressive health benefits of Pineapple

 

   pineapple (Ananas comosus)

The pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a tropical plant with an edible fruit and the most economically significant plant in the family Bromeliaceae. The pineapple is indigenous to South America, where it has been cultivated for many centuries. This pineapple fruit juice is the third most preferred worldwide after orange and apple juices  In many of the Indian languages pineapple is known as the Ananas.

It shows antimicrobial, Anti-oxidant, antithrombotic, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory, fibrinolytic, antifungal property.

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Vitamin and mineral content 

Vitamin : B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, C, Choline

Minerals : Calcium, Iron, Sodium, Phosphorus, Zinc, Potassium, Manganese, Magnesium

• The crude aqueous extract from stem and fruit of pineapple is known as bromelain. It is a mixture of different thiol endopeptidases and other components like phosphatases, glucosidase, peroxidases, cellulases, glycoproteins, carbohydrates, and several protease inhibitors. Stem bromelain is different from fruit bromelain 

             - Bromelain can be absorbed in human intestines without degradation and without losing its biological activity.

• It contains high fiber and soluble carbohydrates, as well as low protein content. Bromelain is also present in pineapple wastes. Bromelain contains peroxidase, acid phosphate, several protease inhibitors and organically bound calcium.

• The phytochemical compounds identified in the products include alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins, terpenoids and phlobatannins.

              - Phytochemicals also known as phytonutrients are naturally occurring substances found in plants.These substances have been found to be beneficial to human health as well as possessing antioxidant activity. Phytochemicals could act as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It plays vital role in detoxification of harmful and deleterious chemicals of the body. 

Properties of Pineapple

Properties :

• Rasa (Taste) – Madhura (Sweet), Amla (Sour)

• Guna (Qualities) – Guru (Heavy for digestion), Snigdha (Slimy in nature)

• Taste conversation after digestion – Madhura (Sweet)

• Veerya (Potency) – Sheetla (Cold)

• Effects on Tridosha – Reduces vitiated vata and pitta dosha but increase kapha

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Benefits, application and uses 

1) Pineapple is very good for constipation and also it improves digestion : Pineapple is the good source of fiber, which prevents constipation and improves digestive strength.

               - People with problem of constipation, bloating, loss of appetite and indigestion should include pineapple on regular basis. 

               - pineapple's sour taste enhances digestive secretions. Its sharpness improves blood flow to the digestive tract. Although pineapple can enhance the absorption of nutrients and medicines, especially antibiotics. 

2) Fresh juice of the unripe pineapple is given to expel intestinal worms.

3) Pineapples can help fight coughs, colds and other infections. pineapples contain a special enzyme called bromelain that is associated with reducing slam and mucus buildup in the respiratory tracts and sinus cavities. With this it's antimicrobial property and vitc content in Pineapple fights cough, cold and other types of infection.

                  - In vitro experiments have shown that Bromelain has the ability to modulate surface adhesion molecules on T cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells and also induce the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Bromelain can block the Raf-1/extracellular-regulated-kinase- (ERK-) 2 pathways by inhibiting the T cell signal transduction.

4) Fresh fruit of pineapple is beneficial during the condition of fever, thirst, jaundice and constipation.

5) Pineapple fruit is beneficial in improving the cardiac rhythm and strength.

                - Bromelain has been effective in the treatment of Cardiovascular disease as it is an inhibitor of blood platelet aggregation, thus minimizing the risk of arterial thrombosis and embolism.

6) Eating pineapple is good for eyes and skin, because it's rich Vitamin A content.

7) Drinking Ananas juice along with jaggery/ honey and some ginger helps in getting relief from joint pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. 

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8) Applying a paste of Ananas pulp with honey on skin, helps in skin tightening. It's Anti-oxidant property helps to get rid of such problems.

9) Ripened fruit juice of Ananas is given in a dose of 25-50 ml to improve the urine output and part of treatment in renal calculi.

10) Both unripe and ripened Pineapple is used in many recipes, desserts all over the world.

11) The pulp of the unripe fruit of pineapple is beneficial to treat dysmenorrhea.

12) For morning sickness, motion sickness or  nausea, drink pineapple juice. It works effectively in getting rid of nausea and vomiting sensation.

13) Pineapples are very rich in manganese and even a single cup of pineapple is supposed to contain a good amount of it. This mineral is required for the growth of healthy bones and tissues.

14) High content in Vitamin C ensures that oral health remains in top condition always. It helps prevent gum disease and also prevents the formation of plaque, thus keeping the teeth healthy.

15) Pineapple residue or waste is used to make paper and paper products.

16) Pineapple is eaten in its natural form or applied topically, can help to fight skin damage caused by the sun and pollution, reduce wrinkles, and improve overall skin texture. Vitamin, minerals, Anti-oxidant and phytochemical content helps to get rid of this problem and increases colleagen formation.

17) Being anti-inflammatory and cold in potency, pineapple clears/ removes heat and can be useful in cases of sunstroke. In summer, over exposure to heat depletes fluids and exhausts vitality in body. The sweet and succulent nature of pineapple replenishes your strength, fluidity and energy levels.

18) No adverse effect is known or reported after the normal/ limited use of ripened Ananas.

19) Pineapple is rich in manganese that helps in strengthening your bones. Manganese maintains good bone strength and when it is combined with zinc, copper and calcium.

20) Leaf juice mixed with pepper and and honey as expectorant : 5-12 ml of leaf juice is mixed with 1 gram of pepper powder and a teaspoon of honey and also add pinch full of sinthi(dried ginger)& clove powder. This is given to lick. This acts as a good expectorant and relieves cough and sore throat.

Note : In recent years, consumers desire to reduce the risk of or to manage a specific health condition through improved diet. Plants have evolved different phytochemicals and enzymes as antioxidant defense to maintain growth and metabolism. Concern about improving health, involving agricultural products with potential benefits, has enhanced research on antiox-idants. Many degenerative human diseases including cancer, cardio- and cerebro-vascular diseases have been recognized as being a possible consequence of free radical damage to lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. A possible way to fight these diseases is to improve our body's antioxidant defenses. High consumption of fruits and vegetables has been associated with a lowered incidence of such degenerative diseases.

Flavonoids, mainly present as colouring pigments in plants also function as potent antioxidants at various levels. Some studies showed that flavonoids could protect membrane lipids from oxidation.

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Refrence : 

1) Biomedical Reports 2016 Sep;   PMCID: PMC4998156

2) Joy PP. 2010. Benefits and uses of pineapple. Pineapple Research Station (Kerala  Agricultural  University), Vazhakulam-686 670, Muvattupuzha, Ernakulam District, Kerala, India. 

3) Sciencedirect.com

4) International Journal Of Pharma And Bio Sciences ;  2014 Oct; 5(4): (B) 394 - 403 

5) Springer.com

6) M.A. Hossain, S.M.M. Rahman / Food Research International 44 (2011) 672–676

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