Pineapple

Tasty, juicy and hydrating, pineapple is among the world’s most popular fruits and a favorite fruit in Southeast Asia, where it is heavily grown. A herbaceous perennial, the pineapple scores a 97 out of 100—among the very highest ratings—in Dr. T.C. Fry’s “A General Guide to Food Selection.”

Pineapple is in season from June to August. An average-size pineapple weighs 905 grams and contains 453 calories. Pineapples range in weight from 1 to 8 or more pounds.

Pineapple belongs to the family Bromeliaceae. Pineapple cultivars include Hilo, Kona Sugarloaf, Natal Queen, Pernambuco, Red Spanish and Smooth Cayenne.

Pineapple is a rich source of Vitamins B1, B6 and C as well as the minerals copper and manganese. It contains the enzyme bromelain, which is rich in anti-inflammatory, anti-clotting and anti-cancer properties. They contain 86 percent water by weight.

Southeast Asia produces the most pineapple. The Philippines produced 2.2 million tons and Thailand, 1.9 million tons, in 2009. Costa Rica produced 1.9 million tons and Indonesia, 1.6 million tons, the same year. China, Brazil and India are other major producers.

Stats for 100 Grams of Pineapple (Raw, All Varieties)

• 50 calories

Notable Nutrients

Percentages based on the Reference Daily Intake for a 2,000-calorie diet

• Fiber: 5.6%
• Vitamin B1: 5.3%
• Vitamin B6: 5.6%
• Vitamin C: 79.7%
• Copper: 5.5%
• Manganese: 46.4%

Carbs/Protein/Fat

• Carbohydrates: 94.4%
• Protein: 3.6%
• Fat: 2%

Food Type

• Acid fruit

Sources

• Self Healing Colitis & Crohn’s by Dr. David Klein
• http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2415
• http://www.cronometer.com
• http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/pineapple.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapple