If you have been learning how to eat pineapple because of its purported health benefits, you will love today’s blog. We will discuss the nutritional facts about the pineapple, how it helps the body, and how it can aid in weight loss efforts.
Is pineapple a fruit?
The pineapple of the Ananas comosus is a type of tropical plant that produces a highly nutritious and delicious fruit. It originates from South America, and it made its way to Europe as early as the 17th century. Pineapple is considered the third most important crop in the world, too. In the United States, the state of Hawaii leads in terms of commercial production of pineapples. In recent years, the Philippines, Costa Rica and Brazil have been leading in world pineapple production. As we know, the pineapple is developed from a unique fusion of flowers that have not been pollinated. The offset of the non-pollinated flowers is harvested as the fruit. Pineapple fruits are generally ready for harvest after twelve months.
What is the proper way to eat a pineapple?
There is no single way of properly eating pineapple. Some people prefer eating it freshly cut, while others combine it with other fruits for a bowl of salad. Pineapples can be added to a diverse number of dishes as well. However you may choose to eat it, pineapples are delicious, sweet and healthy.
Can Pineapple Reduce Belly Fat?
In a nutshell, pineapple and other fruits can help reduce belly fat by changing the chemistry of the body. Healthy weight loss occurs when a person’s metabolism is normal, and if there is a caloric deficit. A caloric deficit occurs when a person is burning more calories than he/she is consuming. We want the body to burn off more than the number of calories it is taking in, so it can lose weight.
The US CDC recommends the consumption of nutrient-dense food items like natural fruits and vegetables for helping in reducing weight. The reason for this is that whole fruits and vegetables contain significantly higher amounts of vital nutrients per serving than commercial food items. The more you eat fruits like pineapple, the more nutrients you get per serving compared to fast food and industrial food items. This is the first step to stem calories and improve the overall nutritional quality of a person’s diet.
What is Pineapple Juice Calories?
One hundred grams of commercial and unsweetened pineapple juice contains 53 calories, .12 grams of lipid, .36 grams of protein, 12.87 grams of carbohydrates, 9.98 grams of natural sugar, 0.2 gram of dietary fiber, 1.53 grams of sucrose, 4.65 grams of glucose and 3.81 grams of fructose. Pineapple juice also contains folate, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin C, and even a small fluoride quantity. Pineapple juice is also a natural source of choline, which enhances growth in the body.
When Should I Eat Pineapple to Lose Weight?
If you are genuine with your weight loss efforts with fruits like pineapple, follow these steps:
- Eat fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Replace your usual snacks with fruit and vegetable smoothies and similar concoctions.
- Eat fresh pineapple before and after exercise. The extra boost of natural sugars will help you in recovery. If you don’t want to eat the fruit, you can always drink unsweetened pineapple juice. You can get identical benefits from consuming the juice. Of course, fresh fruit will always be superior because you won’t be missing out on any other good stuff that can only be gotten when you consume the fruit directly.
- When you are craving for sweets, reach for pineapple and fruits instead of candy. You will still get natural sugars, but the sugars in fruit will be way less than what is in candy bars and chocolate products. There is no comparison. You will have to waste hundreds of grams of fruit to match the carbohydrate content of candies. Candies have such a high concentration of sugar because of added sugar and high fructose corn syrup.
- Cap off your meals with different kinds of fruit, including pineapple. One of the advantages of pineapple though is it’s excellent for improving digestion in general, so if you are struggling with a sudden shift in your diet and you want a more peaceful tummy time during the transition, then it makes sense to add fresh pineapple or unsweetened pineapple juice to your diet.
What Does Pineapple Do to Your Stomach?
Pineapple is naturally rich in antioxidants, including bromelain. Bromelain offers many benefits to the body, including digestive aid and improved absorption of nutrients and medicine. Additionally, bromelain can help ease digestive issues and improve the overall wellness of the person consuming pineapple. People who suffer from inflammatory digestive problems would do well in consuming more pineapple, as long as the natural vitamin C does not cause further irritation. Consult with your physician about this as vitamin C sometimes causes hyperacidity. Pineapple can also naturally improve a person’s immune response, making the body less susceptible to common diseases.
Can Pineapple Make You Fat?
Unless you habitually eat several kilograms of pineapple per day, pineapple is not likely to make you fat. One cup of fresh pineapple chunks contains just 82 calories, 21.6 grams of total carbohydrates, 2.3 grams of dietary fiber, 16.3 grams of natural sugars, 0.9 grams of protein, 21 mg of calcium, 180 mg of potassium and 0.1 gram of fat. It is one of the healthiest types of food that can ever land on your table, so don’t worry when consuming it. There are far worse food items that can cause weight gain; it’s not going to be pineapple anytime soon.
