The pineapple is a scrumptious and nutritionally packed fruit to say in the least. From the pulpy interior, to the luscious flavor it provides eaten alone or as a compliment to savory dishes, to its low-calorie count, the pineapple serves to be a fruit worth implementing in your diet. Continue reading below to discover exactly how many calories are in a Pineapple.
Calories in Pineapple
One whole pineapple fruit contains approximately 450 calories. It contains 10 calories from fat. This is for a fruit that weighs 1.8 pounds or 816 grams on average. Calories in raw pineapple will vary depending on weight, but the calorie count will generally be in the 450-475 calorie range.
Nutritional Content of Pineapples
The majority of calories come from carbohydrates. Eating whole pineapples are not ideal if you are on a carb restricted diet or if you are watching your daily sugar intake.
Speaking of sugar, pineapples carry about 90 grams of it truly making the pineapple a sweet fruit. High levels of sugar in pineapples are not choice when trying to lose weight or combat diabetes. If you are trying to lose weight eating pineapples or control sugar levels, cut the pineapple in small chunks and eat them in moderation.
As with most fruits, the pineapple is extremely low in total fat (1g). An entire pineapple fruit contains just 10mg of sodium – which is only 0.5 percent of the recommended sodium one needs in a day. Because of the pineapple’s low sodium content, eating raw pineapples are ideal if on a low sodium diet.
While a whole pineapple contains a mere 10% of vitamin A and just 12% calcium, the fruit contains a whopping 720% of vitamin C! Vitamin C keeps your immune system in tip top shape, which in-part allows you to thwart off colds and viruses.
Pineapples also contain an excellent source of dietary fiber – 50% of the fiber you need in a day! Fiber is quintessential to your health as it can prevent the birth of cancer and diabetes. Fiber is also good for keeping your stomach full and satisfied making the pineapple a smart choice for people not just wanting a quality food but a high quantity food.
A whole pineapple has 15% of the daily recommended iron. Iron is responsible for making hemoglobin which carries oxygen throughout your body.
Bromelain In Pineapple
What stands out the most about pineapples is the bromelain enzyme in this fruit. Some studies indicate that Bromelain is possibly effective in preventing the following conditions:
- Muscle soreness
- Arthritis
- Sinuses
- Bowel issues
- Blood clotting
- Cancer
You can reap the benefits of this wonderful enzyme by consuming pineapple rather than purchasing bromelain in extract form.
Pineapple Rind
What sets the pineapple apart from most fruits is its distinctive thorny rind – the part of the fruit which is often discarded. What many people don’t know is that the pineapple rind contains hidden vitamin C and bromelain. It is advised to boil the pineapple rind in a covered pot and let the juice cool for a few hours before consuming to take advantage of additional nutrients. Boiling the pineapple skin is the best way of collecting all of the concealed nutrients in this fruit.
What are pineapples used for?
Pineapples are good enough to eat alone, but often enough they are just an ingredient in many dishes. Pineapples are notoriously used in dessert, like Pineapple Upside Down Cake or Pineapple Ice Cream.
It is very common for pineapples to be used in poultry dishes containing ham or chicken. Pineapple is an ingredient often found in Kabob, meatball, potato, pork lion, bacon and baked bean recipes.
……
Now that you know how many calories are in a pineapple along with the nutritional content found in this succulent fruit, the decision is clear to you whether pineapples are healthy for your body or not. Remember that while pineapples are a nutritious fruit, they are high in sugar if eaten in whole.
