Lurking behind the pineapple’s prickly exterior is a golden flesh, heralded for its sweet citrusy flavor and enzyme– bromelain.
Best eaten when just freshly sliced (fresh fruits and vegetables start to oxidize and begin to lose nutrients after slicing), and on an empty stomach, the enzyme in pineapple powerfully aids in digestion. Due to its digestive enhancement qualities, bromelain is commonly isolated and found in digestive enhancement supplements– a hot item on the market these days.
Aside from its important role in digestion, bromelain has an impressive resume.
Bromelain
Experience: Naturally found in pineapple; looking to support the health and immunity of the body by enhancing digestion, and warding off inflammation.
Anti-Aging:
- Thought to reduce tissue irritation, helps to keep the skin youthful and glowing
- Considered a powerful anti-inflammatory and used to treat joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis
Injury Repair:
- Commonly used to combat swelling after post-traumatic stress
Cardiac Assistance:
- Research shows that there is a reduction in platelet aggregation
- Helps to reduce plaque build-up in arteries
- Helps to breakdown food properly and completely for assimilation of nutrients
Note: Due to it’s porous skin, try to enjoy organic pineapples, especially since pineapples are not one to be grown “locally.”
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NUNATURALS WINNERS
As for my winners- I have randomly chosen the following (4) to win NuNaturals new Lemon and Orange flavors!
1. Elizabeth:
“I am working on eliminating sugar, so this would is a perfect time to finally try stevia. I am especially intrugued by using it in homemade salad dressing. Store bought dressing has so much sugar! Thanks for offering the giveaway–love your blog!”
2. Kaitlyn:
“I have the origional flavwould love to try some flavored stevia! Smoothies, summer-y dressings, tea, homemade sorbet”
3. Katie-Lee:
“I liked them both on Facebook! I am new to your blog but I absolutely love it! Your health information is very insightful and all of your recipies sound amazing. I have actually never used any of NuNaturals products but I would love the opprotunity to do so. I am a college girl who is always looking for new, creative things to cook with. I would love to use the NuNatural orange and lemon flavors in my smoothies and my baking!”
4. Sunnie of MGN:
“Salad recipe looks amazing- thanks for sharing! I would definitely use the the NuNaturals in my smoothies to amp up flavor. I would also like to try marinating with them- particularly salmon. It would be so nice to have a different flavor than vanilla in my yogurt, too! Also, I liked your Facebook page.:)”
Thanks so much to all that entered! Please send me your shipping information, etc. so that I may pass it on to NuNaturals!
lauren@theglowdetoxdiet.com
Happy Monday!
Great article, as per usual, but I suppose I “fear” the high glycemic index of pineapple…despite the nutritional value and bromides…Should this be a concern if insulin sensitive? Thank you for your continually impressive and interesting posts.
If you are insulin sensitive, I would suggest limiting all fruit to low-sugar fruits, (berries, green apples) until your sensitivities are better managed. You can often change sugar intolerances through a cleansing diet.
If you are going to have fruit at all, I would highly suggest enjoying it with greens only in a smoothie, or green vegetable juice. (Green smoothie: spinach, romaine, celery, green apple, parsley, etc.) or Juice (green apple, romaine, ginger, lemon, etc.)– this will slow the rate at which the body absorbs the sugar (especially in the smoothie which contains fiber).
So in other words, pineapples are not off limits to you! Just not recommended like I eat them right now. 🙂
H Lauren,
I take an after meal papaya enzyme supplement that contains papain, protease, and amylase. Would I be better off just eating the fruits for breakfast? Would the enzymes “hang around” in my stomach long enough to help me digest my later meals, since I obviously wouldn’t want to eat the fruit with another food group?
Hey Nikki,
I would recommend a digestive enhancement enzyme like something healthforce nutritionals supplies– I do not find papaya enzymes to be as potent. But if you are liking the results, keep rolling with it. I would recommend to keep taking an enzyme for enhanced digestion if you are eating dense concentrated foods.
The enzymes in fruits can aid later on, but I like to mainly think of them as a way to free up energy needed for digestion (of the fruit), and to “clean house”. When the body has to supply less enzymes, the more it can focus those enzymes on digesting waste matters that it wishes to be rid of.
Enjoying plenty of greens and steamed “sweeping” veggies, like broccoli, will be beneficial in helping to digest whatever else they may be being eaten with. Living vegetables contain food enzymes that aid in digestion also.
Eat pineapple for nourishment, and for a cleaner house.
Take digestive supplements for denser foods.
Does that make sense?
XO
Thanks for sharing!
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