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Pineapples can be a wonderful fruit to include in your diet on a regular basis as they have many beneficial healing properties.
According to Jan Dries, in his book The Dries Cancer Diet: A Practical Guide to the Use of Fresh Fruit and Raw Vegetables in the Treatment of Cancer, pineapples have the highest vibrational frequency of all of the fruits.
He advises cancer patients to consume pineapple every day as part of his fruit-centered approach to healing this condition, which also emphasizes melons, berries, kiwi fruit, cherries, mangoes, persimmons, apricots, and papaya.
He claims that pineapples have a particular affinity for assisting in cancer recovery.
Additionally, pineapples are an excellent source of many nutrients including:
- Vitamin C
- Manganese
- Vitamin B1
- Vitamin B6
- Copper
- Folate
They are also very high in the enzyme, bromelain, which provides an anti-inflammatory effect and may assist with protein digestion.
Unfortunately, much of the pineapple available in stores is harvested before ripe, leading to an acidic content that is too high, which can potentially trigger certain health problems. Excessive acids from unripe fruits can lead to gastric distress as well as issues with teeth sensitivity and/or loss of tooth enamel.
So if you really want to enjoy pineapples and gain from their unique properties you may need to consider taking a visit to the tropics!
Fortunately, I have been blessed to have lived in this region of the world for almost five years now and have had the opportunity to enjoy some amazing pineapples. While the pineapples in Bali were not so good, those in Thailand were nice and sweet. But the pineapples from Costa Rica are the best in the world!
At our local farmer’s market, we can buy incredible sweet and juicy pineapples, with a vibrant yellow color that provides an indication of their delicious flavor. I’ve been pretty sensitive to pineapple and generally have to take it in small amounts but I can make a meal of one of these huge pineapples and feel great afterward!
Right now I am in the Philippines, and while the pineapples are not as good as in Costa Rica they are still pretty good. I’ve been mostly making green smoothies with them using romaine, parsley, mint, and cilantro.
Pineapple makes a wonderful base for a green smoothie because the combination of sweetness and acidity really tones down the flavor of greens.
If you can’t find perfectly ripe pineapples then I would advise limiting your intake to only occasionally. You might also want to add additional sweetener to your recipes to counteract their acidity. If you are lucky to live on a tropical island or to find a supplier of sweet pineapples in your area, then you can enjoy them on a regular basis.
In the recipe below I used Medicine Flower flavor extracts. These are a fantastic discovery for smoothie lovers as they add a boost of flavor to your blended creations.
So far I’ve tried the dark chocolate, coffee, coconut, and vanilla and they are all wonderful. Just two or three drops is usually enough for an entire recipe so the bottles actually last quite a long time.
They’re optional in this recipe but I think they really do enhance the sweetness of the pineapple and add an extra special dimension of flavor.
Sweet Pineapple Green Smoothie
1 large pineapple, chopped
2-3 cups romaine lettuce
4 drops coconut extract
2 drops vanilla extract
Place the pineapple in the blender first then add the greens and flavor extracts. Blend until completely smooth.
There is no need to add water in this recipe because pineapples are naturally really juicy but if you prefer a cooler smoothie you could throw in a handful of ice cubes.
I enjoyed this for breakfast with a bowl of sliced pineapple. What a great way to start the day!
