By Roland Joseph Tetteh
Pineapple is one of the most important fruit crops in the world. It is widely cultivated for its edible fruit in the Tropics and parts of the subtropics. In the wild, pineapples are pollinated normally by hummingbirds. Certain wild pineapples are foraged and pollinated at night by bats. The pineapple carries out CAM photosynthesis, fixing carbon dioxide at night and storing it as the acid malate, then releasing it during the day aiding photosynthesis.
Pineapple is a shallow-rooted tropical plant with a fruit that is grown outdoors in frost-free areas where temperatures typically range from 65 to 95 degrees F. The most economically significant plant in the family Bromeliaceae. The plant is normally propagated by crowns from the offset produced at the top of the fruit, or from a side shoot, and typically mature within a year.
In temperate regions, pineapples are grown indoors in warm greenhouses or in containers as houseplants.
The Tupinambá people from Indian describes pineapple fruit as a Nana made in the manner of a Pineapple. The Tupi word nanas, meaning "excellent fruit". This usage was adopted by many European languages and led to the plant's scientific binomial Ananas comosus, where comosus means "tufted", refers to the stem of the plant and the fruit as Ananas.
In India naming the pineapple has Nana is not strange to know that it is masculine in Ethiopia and India
Nana is a given name to pineapple by Tupi word.
In Ghana, among the Akan people, particularly the Akyem, Ashanti and Akuapim peoples, Nana is used as the title of a monarch to signify their status. Furthermore, the stool name of kings and queens is always preceded by Nana. Non-royal Ghanaian people also use Nana as a given name.
Ghana pineapples contain a higher amount of reducing sugar levels. The whole plant is used to treat typhoid fever in Ghana.
Pineapple is also recommended as a medical diet for a certain diseased person. The ripe fruit contains a lot of vitamin C. The taste and flavour alone, it contains an excellent fruit enzyme called “bromeline”, which reduces inflammations and also aid in the healing of wounds and burns.
Ananas comosus leaves have antihyperglycemic and analgesic properties. That can be used as a cheaper and alternative source of medicine for reducing high blood sugar level of diabetic patients.
The root and fruit are either eaten or applied topically as an anti-inflammatory and as a proteolytic agent.
Green pineapple is also used for making pickles. After extraction of its juice, the leftover is used as livestock feed and also the tender leaves are used for the same purpose. Various food items like squash, syrup, and jelly are produced from pineapple. Vinegar, alcohol, citric acid, calcium citrate etc.
Nutritional Value
Pineapple is more than just a delicious tropical fruit and has immense health benefits. In fact, it’s been used in folk medicine since ancient times.
Pineapple contains a considerable amount of calcium, potassium, vitamin C, carbohydrates, crude fibre, water and different minerals that are good for the digestive system and helps in maintaining ideal weight and balanced nutrition.
Pineapple is also a good source of vitamin B1, vitamin B6, copper and dietary fibre.
Pineapple may Ease Symptoms of Arthritis and also Speed Recovery after Surgery or Strenuous Exercise.
Pineapple juice contains ascorbic acid and is a good source of Vitamin C. Ascorbic acid or vitamin C fights bacterial and viral infections which is an effective antioxidant and helps the body absorb iron.
Medicinal Value
Pineapple can be used as supplementary nutritional fruit for good personal health. Pineapple fruits are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals.
Eating pineapple may boost the immune system and provides antioxidant benefits.
Eating Pineapple May Enhance Your Weight Loss
Along with calcium, the trace mineral manganese in pineapple is essential for maintaining strong bones pineapple is a great source of antioxidants, specifically phenolics, flavonoids, and vitamin C.
“Antioxidants are compounds in food that may help fight inflammation and free radicals in the body, Pineapple Is Packed with Disease-Fighting Antioxidants
When abnormal cells in the body multiply and take over the healthy tissue it causes cancer, pineapple has antioxidants to fight cancer.
Too much inflammation can lead to many diseases, including coronary artery disease, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer's therefore Pineapple Fits in an Anti-Inflammatory Diet.
Pineapple Fruit Can Help Boost Immunity!