- Hypochlorhydria (scanty gastric juice), which is manifested by slow digestion and a sense of heaviness in the stomach.
- Gastric ptosis (prolapsed stomach) caused by the stomach's inability to empty itself (gastric atonia).
In both cases pineapple must be eaten fresh (not canned) and ripe either before or after a meal.
- Obesity: Pineapple or fresh pineapple juice consumed before meals reduces appetite and constitutes a good complement to weight-loss diets. It is also slightly diuretic (facilitates urine production).
- Sterility: This tropical fruit is one of the richest foods in manganese, a trace element actively involved in the formation of reproductive cells, both male and female. It is therefore recommended for those suffering from sterility due to insufficient production of germinal cells (sperm in men and ova in women).
- Stomach cancer: It has been shown that pineapple is a powerful inhibitor of the formation of nitrosamines. These carcinogenic substances form in the stomach as a chemical reaction between nitrites and certain proteins contained in foods. Nitrosamines are known to be one of the leading causes of stomach cancer.
Vitamin C alone impedes the formation of nitrosamines, but pineapple (whole or fresh juice) has been shown much more effective. Consequently, pineapple is recommended as a preventive for those at high risk for stomach cancer. Those who have suffered from this desease can also benefit from this delicious fruit in preventing recurrence.
Pineapple is not recommended during the active phase of a gastroduodenal ulcer since there is usually excess gastric juice present.
Pineapple: Choose Well and Gain Greater Benefit
Pineapple only ripens properly on the plant. If it is harvested early to meet the needs of transport, it is very acid and poor in nutrients.
It is important to know how to choose fruit that is ripe. Pineapple is ripe when:
1. The pulp yields to finger pressure
2. Its aroma is intense
3. Its leaves are easily removed.
To prepare a pineapple, it must be peeled and cut into 2 cm slices.
Pineapple juice is prepared by placing chunks of pineapple in a blender. The resulting juice should be drunk immediately to prevent the loss of its properties. It must be drunk slowly and well salivated.
Fighting Cancer with Pineapple
According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer has now surpassed cardiac disease as the largest killer in the United States. The incidence of cancer increases with age, with approximately 80 percent of cancers occurring in people over the age of 55.
However, according to researchers at the Queensland Institute of Medical Researcher, preventing cancer may be as simple as eating pineapple.
Pineapple Fights Cancer Growth
While analyzing bromelin, an extract of crushed pineapple stems, researchers found that two molecules isolated from the extract showed promise in fighting cancer growth:
- One molecule, known as CCS, blocks a protein called Ras, which is defective in approximately 30 percent of all cancers.
- The other, called CCZ, stimulates the body's own immune system to target and destroy cancer cells.
Researchers discovered these two molecules work simultaneously to block the growth of a broad range of tumor cells including breast, lung, colon, ovarian and melanoma.
And while CCS and CCZ are protease enzyme (usually associated with breaking down proteins, as in the digestive process), the above findings distinguish the molecules as a new way of treating disease and potentially a whole new class of anti-cancer agents.
What's more, bromelin, a rich source of enzymes, has also been found to modulate immunological responses and has been proposed to be of clinical use. (BBC News)