A PINEAPPLE A DAY KEEPS THE WORRIES AWAY
We present to you PINEAPPLES…
“When life gives you lemon sell them and buy a pineapple”—Davin Turney
Pineapples are an international symbol of welcome and it is also a symbolic way of saying “you are perfect” when presented.
Did you know pineapple was first named “Pina” because it looks like a large pine cone? Now you know.
Pineapple (Ananas Comosus) is a tropical plant with edible fruit. It is native to South America before Christopher Columbus discovered them in 1493 and he brought them from South America to Europe. The introduction of the pineapple to Europe made it a significant cultural icon of luxury. Pineapple has a short stocky stem with tough, waxy leaves and could grow to a height of 3.3 to 4.9ft.
Pineapple plants have beautiful flowers which can vary from lavender, through light purple to red. When creating its fruit, it usually produces up to 200 flowers. Once its flowers, the individual fruits of the flowers join together to create what is commonly referred to as a pineapple.
The word “pineapple” was first used in 1398 in reference to a pine cone, it is derived from the Spanish word “Pina” which means pine cone. There are two types of pineapples called “Cayenne Pineapple” and “Red Spanish Pineapple”. They have exceptional juiciness and vibrant tropical flavor that balances the taste of sweet and tart.
Pineapple is the only edible fruit of its kind, the Bromeliads. They are made up of 86% water and 13% carbohydrates with almost no fat or protein. Pineapples take up to 18-20 months to become ready to harvest they can live and produce fruit for up to 50 years in the wild. Almost all parts of the pineapple can be used in the production of vinegar and alcohol.
After cleaning the top of a pineapple and drying it can be planted in soil and a new plant will grow, the pineapple itself is actually a bunch of “fruitless” fused together. They can grow in a different type of terrains but it prefers slightly acidic soil.
‘When life hands you a pineapple, you best make Pina coladas’. Pina Coladas is a popular drink that is made of pineapples. Pineapples contain the bromelain enzyme which can break down proteins, so you can use them to tenderize meat.
Pineapple has nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, including copper, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, vitamin C, thiamin, B6, beta-carotene, folate as well as soluble, insoluble fiber and bromelain. It is used to alleviate symptoms of nasal congestion, common cold, and cough.
Pineapples can reduce inflammation and prevent the development of blood clots. Pineapples are rich in antioxidants which help us to combat oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a state in which there are too many free radicals in the body.
Some facts about pineapple;
- The Guinness world record for the heaviest pineapple was set by a pineapple weighing 8.06kg grown by E. Kamuk.
- There are 50 calories in 3.5 ounces of fresh pineapple.
- Hawaii produces 1/3 of all pineapples in the world.
- Pineapple can be tricked into flowering using smoke! This was first discovered on the Azores Island using smoke.
Be a pineapple, stand tall, wear a crown and be sweet on the inside.