Aloha from Hawaii!
If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram you probably guessed that I’m vacationing in Hawaii. Tuesday Tips will be back next week, but in the meantime, I was inspired by my visit from the Dole Plantation here in Hawaii and my own love of pineapple to share the many health benefits that pineapple offers as a natural anti-inflammatory and digestive aid. I enjoy a little fresh pineapple almost daily or add frozen pineapple to my green smoothies or pina colada smoothie.
The pineapple was traditionally a welcome gift and as simple as a pineapple may seem, it’s actually made up of dozens of individual florets each symbolized by the scales on the fruit.
Once picked, a pineapple will not ripen more. Store it in the refrigerator to keep it fresh and choose a pineapple based on the smell and number of scales. If it smells fresh and has lots of scales, it will be sweet and juicy.
One cup of fresh pineapple has 75 percent of the daily recommended amount of manganese, a mineral important for strong bones. It’s also high in an enzyme called bromelain which breaks down protein during digestion. Eat some pineapple after a heavy meal to ease digestion or use it in a marinade to tenderize meats.
Marissa, I absolutely love pineapple too! Just looking at the beauty of it, inside and out, inspires me to enjoy it more often. Thanks for such a great post, looking forward to trying the pineapple smoothie!