For Your Health

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8 Amazing Health Benefits Of Pineapple

http://www.naturalcuresnotmedicine.com/2014/08/8-amazing-health-benefits-pineapple.html

Pineapples are second only to bananas as America’s favorite tropical fruit. They have a whole range of health benefits. Here are some of the reasons why we should include pineapples in our diets.

Pineapples are native to South America and are exceptionally juicy with a vibrant tropical flavor that balances the tastes of sweet and tart. One cup (165 grams) provides 100% of the RDI of Vitamin C and is also a good source of manganese and a vital enzyme known as bromelain. In addition it contains copper, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, dietary fiber, folate, and pantothenic acid.

Here are some of the health benefits of pineapple. Buy organic wherever possible.

1. IMMUNE BOOSTER
Pineapple is very high in vitamin C. Vitamin C is an immuno-stimulant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial and is essential in treating different types of diseases related to the immune system and chronic inflammation (i).

2. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
In addition to the Vitamin C pineapples have high levels of the enzyme bromelain. This is a digestive enzyme which breaks down proteins and is found in pineapple juice and in the pineapple stem so it is also a useful digestive aid for some people do not make enough digestive enzymes naturally. The anti-inflammatory properties can be used to treat swelling of the nose and sinuses following surgery or injury. It can also used for hay fever, treating inflammatory bowel conditions and ulcers (ulcerative colitis), as well as removing dead and damaged tissue after a burn (ii).

3. PREVENTING BLOOD CLOTS
Studies have shown that bromelain may help keep platelets in the blood from sticking together, which in turn may help prevent blood clots. If this is the case, it may also promote bleeding in some people and should be avoided by those prone to prolonged bleeding.

4. STRONG BONES
Manganese is essential for bone health. It helps to reduce the loss of bone density which can lead to osteporosis, which in turn can lead to bone fractures (iii). A 100 gram serving of pineapple provides 44% of the RDI of manganese.

5. ARTHRITIS RELIEF
Research suggests that bromelain might help reduce joint swelling in rheumatoid arthritis and reduce mild acute knee pain in osteoarthritis. It is thought that this is the effect of bromelain combined with flavenoids rutin and trypsin.

6. CANCER

Research published earlier this year has shown that bromelain has chemopreventative action when tested on colorectal cancer cells (iv). The scientists involved concluded that “bromelain-containing foods and/or bromelain itself may represent good candidates for colorectal cancer chemoprevention”.

Numerous scientific papers have reported the anti-cancer effects of bromelain in cell and animal studies: For example a 2012 study in the peer-reviewed Journal Of Medicinal Food found that bromelain induced apoptosis (killing of cancer cells) in breast cancer (v).
A 2013 study in the peer-reviewed Cancer Investigation detailed how bromelain may have the potential of being developed into an effective anticancer agent for malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) which is cancer of the lining of the abdomen (vi).

7. KIDNEY HEALTH
Pineapples contain very low levels of potassium making them a nutritious and hydrating juice for patients suffering from chronic kidney disease.

8. SORE THROATS AND INFECTIONS
The whole pineapple plant has been used for many years in traditional herbal remedies as a diuretic, to speed up labor, as well as for treating sore throats and seasickness. Native people in Panama have used the juice from pineapples leaves as a laxative and to treat intestinal worms.