Pineapple Project

Pineapple videos and “how to’s” have been appearing all over my social media feeds the last week.. i’m guessing it’s because they’re in season somewhere? 

Or did Siri hear me say “Ananas” in the house?  When I was in High School French class, our teacher, M. Narbonne would play this ridiculous Canadian children’s TV show called Téléfrançais!   To be honest, we loved it.

Now i have the theme song in my head.. Formidable!  Exceptionnel!

I did a bit of ‘wiki’ing’ on pineapple.   Did you know that a single pineapple (which isn’t really single at all.. I’ll circle back to that) can take up to 16 months to grow?  And unlike bananas, they don’t ripen significantly after harvest.. so what you see in  the store, is pretty much how it was picked.   Source:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapple

Each pineapple that you get in the store.. is actually a multiple fruit.  Think like a bunch of grapes.  Each one of the half green circles in pic above is a separate “fruit” or berry.

Which brings me to an experiment Bill and I are going to try, and then document here.

This is one of the videos  we saw on facebook earlier this week.  Bill found a beautiful yellow and quite ripe specimen while grocery shopping last night, and we look forward to seeing if this really does work.

Pineapple peeling video

Click on the above “pineapple peeling video” to see what inspired us..

And here’s how it worked for us.. (click arrow in centre of pic below to play video)

You know that acidy burnt tongue you can get for a few days when eating too much pineapple?   Worse than eating too many chips from a great bag of Salt n’ Vinegar chips?  (have I got your saliva running?)   I wish i could just eat a whole pineapple. Bill enjoyed this project. I did not. I don’t like messy juicy fruit. I can’t bite into a peach unless it’s in a bowl and sliced. Juice running down my hands and face is a serious no-no for me… and kinda grossed me out to watch this..

But here’s some cool info about pineapple, that will make you wanna run out and get one.

Check this out from “Live Science”

For all its sweetness, one cup of pineapple chunks contains only 82 calories. Pineapples are also fat-free, cholesterol-free and low in sodium. Not surprisingly, they do contain sugar, with 16 grams per cup.

Nutrition facts

Here are the nutrition facts for raw pineapple, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates food labeling through the National Labeling and Education Act:

Serving size: 1 cup chunks (165 g)
Amount per Serving (%DV*)
*Percent Daily Values (%DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Calories 82	Calories from Fat 0
Amt per Serving	%DV*
Total Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2mg	0%
Potassium 120mg	3%
Total Carbohydrate 15g	5%
Dietary Fiber 2g	8%
Sugars 11g
Protein 1g
Vitamin A	2%
Vitamin C	131%
Calcium	2%
Iron	2%

And this:  (sounds like a SUPER fruit, doesn’t it??)

Health benefits

Immune system support

Pineapple contains all of the recommended daily value of vitamin C, according to the FDA. Vitamin C is a primary water-soluble antioxidant that fights cell damage, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. This makes vitamin C a helpful fighter against problems such as heart disease and joint pain.

Bone strength

Pineapple may help you keep standing tall and strong. The fruit contains nearly 75 percent of the daily-recommended value of the mineral manganese, which is essential in developing strong bones and connective tissue, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. One 1994 study suggested that manganese, along with other trace minerals, may be helpful in preventing osteoporosis in post-menopausal women.

Eye health

“Pineapples can help reduce the risk of macular degeneration, a disease that affects the eyes as people age, due in part to its high amount of vitamin C and the antioxidants it contains,” Flores said.

Digestion

Like many other fruits and vegetables, pineapple contains dietary fiber, which is essential in keeping you regular and in keeping your intestines healthy, according to the Mayo Clinic. But unlike many other fruits and veggies, pineapple contains significant amounts of bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down protein, possibly helping digestion, according to the American Cancer Society.

Anti-Inflammatory benefits

“Due to a complex mixture of substances that can be extracted from the core of the pineapple, well known as bromelain, pineapples can help reduce severe inflammation … and can reduce tumor growth,” Flores said. A variety of studies have indicated that bromelain may be helpful in treating osteoarthritis, though more research is needed.

Excessive inflammation is often associated with cancer, and according to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, bromelain and other proteolytic enzymes have been shown to increase the survival rates of animals with various tumors. There is not yet, however, clinical evidence to show that such results will happen in humans.

Blood clot reduction

Flores noted that because of their bromelain levels, pineapples can help reduce excessive coagulation of the blood. This makes pineapple a good snack for frequent fliers and others at risk for blood clots.

Common cold and sinus inflammation

In addition to having lots of vitamin C, pineapple’s bromelain may help reduce mucus in the throat and nose, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. So if your cold has you coughing, try some pineapple chunks. Those with allergies may want to consider incorporating pineapple into their diets more regularly to reduce sinus mucus long term