The Delectable Pineapple (Health Benefits + Recipes)

As I slice past the spiny exterior, revealing the golden, sticky-sweet flesh of the fruit inside, I know I’m in for a treat. I love the uniquely sharp and sweet flavor of the pineapple. Chopped and added to fresh salsas, it brightens meat, chicken and fish. Broiled to a syrupy golden-brown and spooned over vanilla ice cream, it’s divine.

Because pineapple is a whole food and full of good stuff for your body, you can enjoy this guilt-free sweet. A cup of cubed pineapple delivers almost a full day’s Daily Value of manganese. This essential trace mineral is essential for healthy skin and bones, cartilage formation and glucose tolerance. Manganese helps activate one of the most powerful antioxidant enzymes ever studied, superoxide dismutase (SOD.) This helps protect your body from cellular damage caused by free-radicals.

Although the same cup of pineapple has about 17 grams of sugar, its glycemic load is actually relatively low. And it contains anywhere from 25 to 93 mg of vitamin C along with other vitamins and minerals such as folate.

So are you ready to cut open a pineapple and enjoy some delicious goodness?

Here’s a round-up of some terrific looking healthy pineapple recipes from around the web: