I. Introduction

Know your Pineapples

Pineapples are juicy fruits that offer a wide variety of health benefits. These fleshy fruits belong to the family of fruits that produce a highly health beneficial enzyme, Bromelain. Pineapple is visually similar to a pinecone, and this is how it’shad name originated. Pineapple is called ‘Pina’ in Spanish, also for the same reason. Pineapples have one central core and the individual flowers and their fruitlets create the entire fruit by fusing together. This is why a pineapple is not a single fruit. It is many fruits made into one. The surface of a pineapple is characterized by rough markings, which are spiny and each of these ‘eyes’ are considered as one fruitlet each. Pineapples are cylindrical in shape with a brownish, yellow colour. They have a crown of leaves on the top. The best part of a pineapple is the base, where the flesh is very tender, combined with more sugar resulting in a sweeter flavor.

II.Background

A History of Pineapples

It is believed that pineapples were found in one of the Caribbean islands during the 15^th century. The fruit needs a tropical environment in order to be cultivated. So, when European travellers attempted to bring the prized fruit to the continent, the trees failed to grow in the colder climate. By late 16^th century, pineapples were introduced in Asia, Africa, and other southern regions. These countries produce pineapples in a large scale even today.

When pineapples were discovered, colonists had trouble with transporting those for long distances as they perish very soon. Due to this, Pineapples were in immense demand. The availability of the fresh form of these fruits with anyone represented a high social class. A treat of pineapples coated with sugar were considered luxurious. They were very rare and pretty expensive too. In recent times, countries like China, the Philippines, Thailand, Mexico and Brazil cultivate pineapples commercially.

III.Health Benefits

What you didn’t know about Pineapples

Pineapples are one of those rare fruits that do not carry any pesticide residues in them. They are highly beneficial in terms of promoting good health. They are also not allergenic commonly. There are many advantages in eating pineapples. They contain dietary fiber, Vitamins B1 and B6, copper and folate. Its principle enzyme, Bromelain, is mainly found in the core and stem of the fruit. It is mainly favorable to the intestinal tract and digestion. The enzyme also provides anti-inflammatory benefits to the body. The Vitamin C present in the fruit prevents heart attack, diabetes and damage form free radicals, as it is an antioxidant. Energy production in your body is increased by eating pineapples. This is because manganese is a rarely taken mineral that is required in very small quantities in the body and is used for the energy production process. Pineapples provide this trace mineral.

Pineapples are known to help the eyes. You may have carrots to build good eyesight, but try eating pineapples to maintain it. These fruits help to prevent age related degeneration of the eyesight. It is advisable to have pineapples in your regular diet to reach your daily required intake of fruits.

IV.Calories

Pineapple calories for the curious

Have you ever wondered about ‘how many calories in pineapple’ when you had one of those delicious tasting slices, dipped in sugar and glazed? Well, here we go.

• Calories in pineapple chunks (1 cup) –82 calories.
• This amounts to 165 grams of the fruit.
• One slice (half inch thickness) of pineapple contains 27 calories.
• An entire pineapple contains about 230 calories.
• A larger pineapple only contains more flesh.
• The quality of a pineapple is not affected with size.

The fruit contains 79 mg of Vitamin C, 1.5 mg of Manganese, 2 grams of dietary fiber, about 15 mg each of Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6 and copper on an average. Pineapple undergoes spoilage within just two or three days of ripening. Once the fruit is picked from the tree, it stops ripening. Good ones can be identified with the sweet odor that comes from the region near the stalk. Research has supported the fact that extremely ripened fruits contain the most amounts of antioxidants.

V.Additional Information

Other information about calories in a pineapple

The amount of calories in pineapples by serving size is as follows. One slice contains 33 kcals, two slices contain 66 Kcals and three slices contain 98 Kcals.

Calories in various Pineapple based food items:

A pineapple mango smoothie contains 220 calories in it, which is a pleasant and delicious way to have those daily required calories. There are around 140 calories in one glass of pineapple juice. A pineapple cake has in it nearly 270 calories. A pineapple pizza contains about 320 calories in each pizza slice and in one serving of pineapple fried rice, there are around 440 calories.