The Amazing Pineapple, Hawaii’s Natural Health Booster

By Linda Orlando

When most people think of pineapples, they think of Hawaii, and images of pineapple plantations like the one Elvis gyrated on in the movie Blue Hawaii. But although Hawaii is one of the world’s leading producers of pineapple, it wasn’t even grown there until the late 1700s. Pineapples probably originated in the Brazil and Paraguay areas of South America, and from there it was transplanted to the Caribbean. When Columbus discovered the Caribbean islands in 1493, he also discovered the pineapple.

Christopher Columbus took pineapples back to Europe with him, and the fruit became an instant royal favorite because of its exotic appearance and sweet flavor. The British dubbed the odd-looking fruit pineapple because of its resemblance to a pine cone, but most other people in Europe called it "anana," its original Indian name, meaning "excellent fruit." It took almost 200 years for Europeans to devise a way to grow pineapples in hothouses, so as a result, pineapples were a rare and coveted treat enjoyed by the upper class. Because it was such an honor to be served pineapple, the image of a pineapple eventually became a universal symbol of hospitality.

Pineapple has been used by many people for centuries as a folk remedy for numerous ailments, particularly digestive problems. Modern research has shown that bromelain, an enzyme found in both the stem and the fruit of a pineapple, may be where pineapple gets many of its health benefits. Pineapple contains substantial amounts of both vitamin C and manganese, so eating pineapple can help strengthen bones, relieve cold symptoms, aid digestion, and stop diarrhea.

A cup of fresh pineapple chunks contains 73% of the manganese the body needs for the day. Manganese, a trace mineral, is needed to build bone and connective tissues. A recent study found that a combination of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and manganese offered significant improvement of symptoms for people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee.

Although many people instantly reach for a glass of orange juice when they feel a cold coming on, it might be a better idea to take a swig of pineapple juice instead. They both contain healthy amounts of vitamin C, but the pineapple also contains bromelain, which helps suppress coughs and loosens mucus. Studies have found that bromelain is effective in treating upper respiratory conditions and acute sinusitis. You can make a natural cough syrup by mixing 2 teaspoons of honey into 8 ounces of warm pineapple juice. Sipping the soothing liquid will ease the pain of a sore throat and help quiet coughs.

Pineapple’s enzyme powers are lauded for helping the body combat numerous ailments, but its most unusual claim to fame in the area of natural healing may be to dissolve warts. Most warts eventually go away on their own, but studies have shown that you can speed up the process by soaking a cotton ball with fresh pineapple juice and applying it to the wart.

Canned pineapple is good for you, and it tastes good, but for health benefits fresh pineapple is much better if you can find it. Choosing a good fresh pineapple may be a bit tough, because unlike most fruits, the color of the outside doesn’t tell you how ripe it is. A pineapple with a green shell might be just as ripe as one with a golden yellow shell. Some people believe they can judge the ripeness by sniffing at the stem end or by looking for one with fresh-looking deep green leaves. But the best way to judge freshness may be simply checking out the tag. If the labeling says the pineapple was jet-shipped, it is more likely to be ripe. Pineapples do not get any riper or sweeter once they are picked, they just get older. So the more quickly the pineapple gets to the store, the fresher it will be and the better it will taste. Once you get it home, refrigerate it to keep it fresh. But don’t let it sit in the fridge long—get busy eating it, so you can reap the many health benefits it has to offer.