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Focus on Pineapple
The pineapple is a funny sort of fruit. Coming into season in spring, it is often regarded with suspicion because it seems too difficult to prepare and eat. With all of those spikes and sharp bits, its outside appearance seems to be saying: ‘Stay out!’ But once you look at the huge benefits of this humble fruit, you’ll soon change your mind.

Include just one cup of pineapple juice in your diet each day and you’ll be getting 50 per cent of your RDA of vitamin C. It also boosts fertility and provides antioxidants, which help protect the immune system.

Pineapple enzymes have also been successfully used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and to help speed tissue repair after injuries, diabetic ulcers and general surgery. Pineapple are also beneficial for relieving bronchitis, throat infections and helping to clear digestive inflammation and intestinal fevers.

What’s in them?
Pineapples contain carbohydrates, proteins, calcium, phosphorous, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chlorine, sulphur and manganese. They are an excellent source of vitamins A, B1 and B2 and C, and they are also the main source of bromelain enzymes, which have been shown to help ease arthritis, digestion and blood clots by improving digestion.

Pineapple for strong bones
It’s common knowledge that we need calcium for strong bones, but there’s another mineral that’s also vital: manganese, according to nutritionist Jeanne Freeland-Graves, whose research has found that women who suffer from osteoporosis have about 20 per cent less manganese in their blood than healthy women.

What is bromelain?
Bromelain is one of a group of enzymes that are capable of digesting protein. It is an anti-inflammatory and is helpful in healing sprains, strains, muscle injuries and swelling. It is also beneficial for sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, osteoarthritis, bursitis, scleroderma and tendonitis.

It may also be applied topically to wounds as a cream and may be beneficial in cleaning debris from burns and frostbite. Bromelain has also been found to dramatically reduce post-operative swelling in controlled human research. Take bromelain on an empty stomach at least 90 minutes before - or three hours after - eating.

How bromelain and pineapple enzymes can help

They reduce pain, bruising and swelling from trauma (for example, sports injuries) or surgery, and speed the healing process.
They relieve symptoms of gastrointestinal upset. Taking bromelain may help in the healing of gastric ulcers.
They relieve the symptoms of angina. Bromelain or pineapple enzymes help with clot formation, and break down build-up of plaque in arteries, which could prevent thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, varicose veins and atherosclerosis.
They reduce joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, sciatica, bursitis, tendonitis and scleroderma.
They aid skin and tissue repair in the healing of burns or scalds.