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By CONSTANCE JOHNSON.
Like every other seasonal fruits, pineapple is available all year round while its peak season runs from March to July together with other tropical fruits like Mangoes, Bananas, Papayas, and Avocados.
Pineapple is a shrub with an edible fruit that can be enjoyed either eaten as solid or when its juice is extracted..
It starts its flowering from five to ten months and fruiting in the following six months and being a tropical fruit, its demands are usually high when in season and cheap too, compared to when it is out of season.
John Ajibonohan, a wholesale Pineapple seller at the Fruit Market Ketu in Lagos said when Pineapple is in its season, a dozen is sold between N3 to N5,000 and a dozen is around N5,000 to N8000 while out of season from August depending on the size.
However, retailers bring them close to the people by dividing a bunch of it which may be sold between two to five hundred N200 to N500, making them very much affordable.
Pineapple is very sweet to eat and this endear it to people in addition to its health benefits.
From observations, 80 out of 100 percent of people who buy and eat this fruit that contains vitamins and beneficial to the body does so because it is in season.
The good news is that, Pineapple, which scientific name is Ananas comosus, aside from its sweet taste, is loaded with lots of healthy benefits which many people do not know,.
According to researchers, Pineapple is the only known source of an enzyme called bromelain which is helpful in digestive system. It also contains vitamins and minerals such as thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, manganese, potassium, beta-carotene and other antioxidants.
Health Benefits of Pineapple:
Digestion
Pineapple, because of its fiber and water content, help to prevent constipation and promote regularity and a healthy digestive tract. It is rich in bromelain, anenzyme that helps the body digest proteins.The bromelain also reduces inflammatory immune cells, called cytokines, that damage the digestive tract lining.
The inedible stems are the most concentrated source of bromelain, which can be extracted and is readily available in supplement form.
Fertility
Pineapple is rich in fertility because it contains Antioxidant. The properties in antioxidant such as Vitamin C and beta-carotene, vitamins and minerals like copper, zinc, and folate affect both male and female fertility, hence improves fertility.
For Healing and Inflammation
The major source in Pineapple called bromelain, which is primarily in the stem, can reduce swelling, bruising, healing time, and pain associated with injury and surgical intervention.
Healthy Heart
The fiber, potassium, and vitamin C content in pineapple all promote healthy heart. According to research, people who consumed 4,069 mg of potassium per day reduced the risk of death from ischemic heart disease of 49 percent when compared with those who consumed less potassium.
Researchers link high potassium intakes to a reduced risk of stroke , protection against loss of muscle mass, preservation of bone mineral density, and reduction in the formation of kidney stones.
Benefits of Pineapple to your skin
Skin
Vitamin C, which is among its nutrients is used for the formation of collagen which serves as a support system of the skin. It improves overall skin texture, and reduces wrinkles. It promotes a healthy complexion and hair.
Also, the antioxidant vitamin C, when eaten in its natural form or applied topically, can help to fight skin damage caused by the sun and pollution.
BADEJO ADEMUYIWA has 23 years experience as a Finance Writer, specialising in Insurance and Investigative Reporting.
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