Top 4 Reasons to Eat Pineapple

Archives for July 2016

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The mere thought of pineapple brings images of the tropics and a memory of sweetness.

But there’s more to this spiny fruit than a warm weather treat.

Pineapples are one of the healthiest foods you can eat, and are also one of the most interesting.

Did you know that the scales of a pineapple are berries that have fused together? It’s true!

Pineapples have A TON of Vitamin C and a mineral called manganese that’s important to bone formation. And that’s just the start!

Top 4 Reasons to Love Pineapple

1. Pineapples are great for weight loss 

Fresh pineapple has less than 100 calories per cup. (In case you're still counting calories.)

It has no fat or cholesterol, is low in sodium and high in fiber.

Just be mindful of the sugar content, as that 1 cup has 16 grams of sugar.

2. Great way to get Vitamin C

We all think of oranges as the best source of Vitamin C, but while 1 cup of oranges has 69.7 mg, pineapple boasts 78.9 mg of the immune booster.

Studies have shown Vitamin C can decrease how long colds last. It also can fight heart disease and joint pain.

Vitamin C has been shown to protect DNA from damage by free radicals. It also helps produce collagen and helps your body absorb iron. It has even been credited with cutting the risk of macular degeneration.

3. Bromelain breaks food down

Pineapples contain a special enzyme called bromelain that cuts down on bloating. It helps us break down the protein in our food, and speeds up our digestion.

It’s also a great post-workout food, as bromelain has been shown to help fight inflammation.

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There’s even word that people who eat pineapple cuts the risk of blood clots, as the bromelain it contains can reduce excess blood coagulation.

4. Manganese helps bone strength and skin glow

Manganese is a mineral that builds our connective tissue and bones. It is great for women who want to cut their risk of osteoporosis.

It also works with an enzyme called prolidase that increases the collagen in our skin.

Pineapple Smart Shopping Tips

Assuming you don't live in a tropical paradise, you'll need to remember a few tips when shopping for pineapples.

There's a big difference between eating fresh pineapple and canned, which has more calories and sugar.

  • Whenever possible, buy your pineapple fresh or frozen.
  • If you have to buy canned, look for fruit that has no added sugar and that’s packed in juice instead of syrup.

Fresh pineapples are available all year round, but how can you tell if they're ripe? The secret is in the smell at the bottom of the pineapple.

If it smells like pineapple juice, then it’s ripe and ready.

If it doesn’t smell like anything, then it won’t be sweet.

Pineapples are versatile too.

You can add them or their juice to smoothies, toss them into a salad, or bake them with fish or chicken. The recipe below is one of my favorite ways to enjoy pineapple as a delicious, healthy dessert.

Grilled Pineapple

1 Fresh Pineapple, sliced thick

Marinade

2 Tbsp. raw honey
1 tsp olive oil
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
8 pineapple slices, ½ inch thick

Combine first four ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

Heat grill. Brush pineapple on both sides with marinade, then place on grill.

Turn once marks form on grill side, baste once and grill until other side is also golden.

Serve warm.

Prefer your pineapple chilled? Try my easy 2 Ingredient Tropical Whip. It's amazing and will help you beat the heat!

Yours in Health,

Danette

P.S. Please share this with your pineapple loving friends and I welcome your comments below.

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I'm sure that by now you've heard, nuts are a great choice for just about any diet plan.

Nuts are full of healthy fats, offer a good dose of fiber and also offer an assortment of vitamins and minerals like:

  • vitamin E
  • iron
  • zinc
  • potassium
  • magnesium

But, not all nuts are created equally.

Here's why raw nuts are better than roasted nuts (well mostly, I'll explain more later.)

1. Less Sodium

One of the biggest reasons to choose raw nuts is because they aren't loaded with sodium. Most roasted nuts are packed with salt, which could cause an increase in blood pressure.

For those looking to avoid heart disease and stroke, you just don’t want roasted nuts in your diet plan.

2. Unhealthy Fats

Another big issue with roasted nuts is they are often roasted in unhealthy oils that may be rancid.

You can opt for dry-roasted nuts instead to avoid this, but then the problem is the temperature used to roast those nuts may actually denature the nutrients in the nuts causing them to break down and be less effective.

And, this can increase the free radical level in those nuts, making them less healthy for you to eat.

Raw Nuts Are Better But…

Now this said, raw nuts are not without their own set of issues.

Raw nuts contain phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors, which can bind to minerals in the body and prevent their absorption.

So in essence, you may not be getting the nutrients you think you are from those nuts. The more of this phytic acid you eat (which is also present in some legumes and seeds as well), the more harmful its effects on your body.

To get past this, soaking your nuts is a smart move.

By soaking the nuts in water and then using a low level of heat to dehydrate them, you can break down the phytic acid making the nuts more nutritious to your body.

Here’s a quick how to:

Dissolve 1 tbsp of sea salt in about 3-4 cups of warm water. Once dissolved, add nuts (or seeds) and make sure they're fully covered by the water.

Now, leave this uncovered on the counter overnight.

The next day, rinse the nuts in a strainer and then place on a baking sheet. Bake at 150 degrees F until they are completely dry.

This can take up to 24 hours, so note that you will have your oven on for quite an extended period of time.

Once finished dehydrating, place in an air-tight container until ready to serve. You'll want to keep them in a cool, place away from sunlight.

So now you know the best way to get the most out of the nuts in your diet. Always opt for raw nuts and to get the most benefit from those nuts, soak and dehydrate them.

Yours in Health,

Danette

P.S. Please share this info. and I welcome your comments below.

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Think the best way to better health is through low-fat foods? It might be time to think again.

The fact is that if a food is naturally low in fat, chances are, it’ll do your health right.

Likewise, certain foods that are naturally high in fat such as nuts, olive oil, or coconut are also a sound part of any smart strategy.

It’s foods that are altered to be low fat that you need to watch out for. These ‘diet’ foods, as they’re often marketed, do you more harm than good.

4 Low-Fat Foods to Avoid

1. Fat-Free Yogurt 

Topping the list of potentially harmful low-fat foods is low-fat yogurt. You would think that yogurt, being a good source of protein as well as calcium would be a wise choice.

But, this isn’t always the case.

Often when yogurt is converted into low-fat or even fat-free yogurt, sugar is added to improve the flavor.

Take a 6 oz. container of low-fat Vanilla Dannon yogurt. This yogurt provides 150 calories, 7 grams of protein, and a whopping 25 grams of sugar.

That means this yogurt is about 66% sugar content.

By now you should know the harmful effects that sugar has on the body and to steer clear of it.

2. Fat-Free Potato Chips

Another fat-free doozy to avoid if you can is any fat-free potato chips. These came out a while back and seemed like every dieter’s dream come true. The only issue?

They’re made with a substance called Olestra, which in most people, can cause serious digestive upset and diarrhea.

Unless you plan to spend the few hours after eating these next to a bathroom for emergencies, you’ll want to avoid them at all costs. Here's a better way to enjoy the crunchy goodness of potato chips.

Skip all those added ingredients!

QUICK TIP: Use Greek Yogurt to replace sour cream

3. Low-Fat Cookies 

Third on the list of unhealthy ‘low fat’ items are any cookies that are made to be reduced fat.

Here’s a quick trick that you can use to determine if a low-fat food is a smart option. Ask yourself, if it was full fat, would it be a healthy choice?

Cookies are not a healthy choice regardless of their fat content thanks to the abundance of wheat flour, sugar, and oil added in. Even if you remove the sugar and other fats, you still have the wheat flour and butter in the picture.

Leave them on the shelf and opt for this guilt free chocolate chip cookie dough instead.

4. Low-Fat Peanut Butter 

Finally, give that low-fat peanut butter you have in your cart a second thought. Usually, all you do by going this route is replace a couple grams of the fat with sugar instead, so you aren’t that much better.

Also, the fact that it’s low fat is a sign that it’s likely gone through more processing than the higher fat option. This only reduces the health and weight loss benefits it provides.

Natural peanut butter – where the ingredient listing isn’t much more than peanuts and salt (look for brands with less than 1% salt) is the best form of nut butter to be putting in your body.

Remember, the fat from peanuts is a healthy fat so as long as you eat it in moderation, it’s a great addition to any diet plan.

If any of these 4 foods are in your kitchen right now, it's time to toss them out and make room for healthier options.

Yours in Health,

Danette

P.S. Please share this info. and I welcome your comments below.

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.