Spring is the season for eating pineapples. The aromatic and sweet-and-sour pineapple is also very nutritious. Pineapples are rich in fructose, glucose, malic acid, and citric acid, and contain vitamins C, B1, B2, niacin, and elements such as calcium and phosphorus. They are also rich in dietary fiber.
The bromelain in pineapples can break down proteins, eliminate inflammation, and reduce swelling. Eating a piece of pineapple after a greasy meal can refresh the palate and cut through the grease, and it also aids digestion. However, this enzyme has a special irritating effect on the tongue and oral epithelium, and salt can control the activity of bromelain. Therefore, when eating pineapple, the peel and spines should be trimmed, the flesh should be cut into pieces, soaked in dilute salt water, and then eaten.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers pineapple to be slightly cold in nature. Eating too much can easily damage the gastrointestinal tract. People with poor gastrointestinal health, in particular, may experience diarrhea from eating too much, and the maximum intake should not exceed half a pineapple per day.
When people eat pineapples, they often throw away the pineapple core because it is hard and has a poor texture. In reality, the pineapple core contains far more fiber than the flesh on the surface of the pineapple, and its coarse fiber is more beneficial for promoting gastrointestinal motility and enhancing the body's metabolism.
If people find the texture too hard, they can stir-fry the pineapple core to cut through grease, increase appetite, and increase dietary fiber intake. Hu Youli, an associate professor in the Department of Fruit Tree Cultivation at the College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, explains, "Not all pineapple cores are edible. The fiber particles in the core of an unripe pineapple are too large and difficult to digest. When buying pineapple, try to choose smaller, egg-yellow ones."