Pineapples are a well known tropical fruit and can be super sweet. They’re the perfect snack to satisfy your sweet tooth and they also provide a lot of the vitamins that your body needs in just one cup. One cup of fresh pineapple chunks has only 83 calories! It is important, however, to note that this fruit is quite high in sugar, so eat in moderation. These health benefits of pineapple are finger-licking good!
Vitamins found in 1 cup of pineapple (83 calories):
- Vitamin C- 78.87 mg (40% of daily value)
- Manganese-1.53 mg ( 6% of daily value)
- Copper-.18 mg
- Vitamin B1-.13 mg (10% of thiamine needs)
- Vitamin B6-.18 mg (8% of B-6 Requirement)
- Fiber-2.31 g
- Folate-29.70 mcg
- Pantothenic Acid- .35mg
- 4 % daily value of others: folate, niacin, iron, riboflavin
- More Bang for your Buck: While pineapple does provide cofactors minerals and vitamins that are needed to produce energy in the body, this fruit is very nutrient-dense. You are getting a lot of what you need in small serving sizes and you’re also getting more benefits for the money you spend on pineapple versus some other fruits or foods.
- Digestive and Anti-inflammatory Benefits: Bromelain is a substance that can be extracted from a pineapple’s core. This substance has been shown to aid digestion in the intestinal tract. Bromelain also has been shown to help reduce arthritis pain by reducing the inflammation in the bones and bronchial tubes.
- Antioxidant Protection and Immune Support: In one serving of fresh pineapple, you can intake 40% of Vitamin C’s daily recommended value. Vitamin C helps the body against the free agents that are floating around since it is the most water-soluble antioxidant. It has also been shown to help aid in immune support by preventing ear infections, colds, and flu.
- Manganese and Thiamin(Vitamin B1) for Energy Production and Antioxidant Defenses: Manganese is a trace mineral and it is the second most present vitamin in pineapple. Manganese is especially important in your energy production, antioxidant defenses, building strong bones, and connective tissues.
- Protection against Macular Degeneration: As we increase in age, we are at increased risk for macular degeneration, which is vision loss. Fruits have been shown to lower our risk of vision loss in our older years. A study showed that people who people who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily were at an increased risk of 36% of getting age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), which is the primary cause of vision loss in older age. Eating one serving of pineapple or another fruit a day can help you achieve this goal!
- Low in Calories and High in Fiber: It is just 83 calories per cup serving of fresh pineapple but packed with 2.81 grams of fiber. This helps you stay full longer and also makes the perfect snack for people who are trying to lose weight (in moderation because of the sugar content)!
- Prevention against cancer: Pineapples are packed with antioxidants that help fight against free radicals and agents floating in the body.
- Energy Booster: Eating pineapple throughout the day is good to help boost your energy when you are feeling tired and sluggish. Pineapple has vitamin B6 which helps stabilize the body’s blood sugar, along with Manganese and Thiamin which also aids in energy production.
- Better skin: Pineapple has been shown to be a good acne treatment and help heal wounds quickly. The enzymes found in pineapples accelerate the healing process and help with the synthesis of collagen- which is what gives our skin the smooth appearance that it has.
- Better teeth and gums: Pineapples are good for your teeth and gums because the Manganese in the pineapple helps your body grow strong bones. The pineapple’s acidity also helps prevent plaque buildup in gums and bacteria growth in the mouth.
