A Pineapple A Day May Keep The Doctor Away

For my well-being, I am finding a pineapple a day may help in keeping the doctor away.

A couple years ago, my dietitian recommended I add kale to my diet. I have to admit I was not much of a fan, but working with her I was given the idea of incorporating it into a smoothie that I can drink. I realized a great food to help with taste and wellness would be pineapple.

Pineapple is a favorite food of my family's and my step-father would tell stories of visiting his uncle and their pineapple plantation in Hawaii when growing up. I learned pineapple is slow-growing, but is easy to plant and harvest if patient. Pineapple is easy for me to grow in Florida and when my own pineapples are ready to harvest they make a great addition to my kale smoothie. When not in harvest, I find purchasing a fresh pineapple can last from one to two weeks depending on how many smoothies I make or if I use it in other meals during the week.

According to the author of 50 Shades of Kale, Drew Ramsey; one cup of kale can have more vitamin C than an orange and more calcium than a cup of milk. I had the honor of meeting Drew and hearing him speak about the benefits of kale back in 2015. I learned how kale supports healthy brain function while also supporting a healthy overall diet.

The benefits of pineapple, according to Healthline, are also quite sexy in terms of benefits it offers in also being a great antioxidant, along with helping with digestion, speeding up recovery from surgery and helping to boost immunity. I have often heard that pineapple is good in helping the body fight inflammation and some say it can help fight against certain types of cancer due to the chemical "bromelain," so my idea along with the support of my dietitian was to combine kale and pineapple together to create my own super smoothie. I add plain Greek yogurt, organic unsweetened almond milk and add some chia and flax seeds to help boost my omega 3 levels, fiber, and help my cholesterol levels which were a goal with my dietitian. To be more efficient with my time when making a smoothie, I make two at a time and drink one a day about two to four days a week. My goal has been to incorporate more foods into my diet to help lower the risk of diabetes, cancer recurrence, and help in maintaining a healthy heart. Pineapple has been one of my go-to favorites along with other supportive choices to include kale.

If your looking to incorporate more pineapple into your diet maybe you could also consider growing your own. In my experience pineapple is slow-growing and one plant may only produce once every 18 to 24 months, but requires little to no care. To start my pineapple garden, I cut off the tops of pineapples I had purchased and then planted them. Planting them in different time frames can help to space out the development of the plant and provide a rotating crop to support your health.