Tough on the exterior but with a sweet and heavenly interior, pineapples are a summer favorite. This delicious tropical fruit is loaded with beneficial nutrients.
Generally, people are eager to chop off the spiky, inedible skin so they can get to the pulpy, golden interior of this tropical fruit.
As delicious as the sweet interior is, this fruit has a lot more to offer. As with many other fruits, there are quite some benefits inside the pineapple’s tough, inedible skin.
Hold on a minute, though. This does not mean you start munching on the peels like they’re candy.
Pineapple peels are one of the many foods that reduce inflammation. Here are some health-packed reasons why you may want to keep your pineapple peels and reuse them.
Benefits of Pineapple Peel And How it May Reduce Inflammation
Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a nutritious fruit hailed for its numerous culinary and gut-healing applications across the globe.
A 2016 study reported that pineapples had been widely used in folk medicine for healing purposes since ancient times and to help promote health.
Below are some of the ways they may help to alleviate inflammation.
Anti-inflammatory
Beyond the pineapple’s plump golden interior, its peel and stem are hailed for immunes-supporting and anti-inflammatory properties. That is because they have high bromelain concentration – a powerful digestive enzyme that has several therapeutic abilities.
Bromelain helps to cut down inflammation and has been praised for reducing swelling after an injury or surgery. Its anti-inflammatory properties also help with sinuses, cardiovascular disease and reduce oxidative stress.
So, what’s stopping you from adding pineapple peel to your anti-inflammatory diet?
Immune Booster
Pineapple and its peel are rich in vitamin C, which helps to fight and prevent infections.
A study showed that a good portion of vitamin C is present in the peel. When the peel was removed, around 41.8 percent of vitamin C was lost.
The power of vitamin C and bromelain anti-inflammatory abilities act as a wound healer, cough suppressant, mucus cutter, bacteria fighter, and overall immune system booster.
Digestive Aid
Not only do pineapple peels smoothen digestion, but they also help fight constipation, intestinal parasites, and possibly the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). They also help to accumulate healthy gut flora.
Pineapple contains certain enzymes that can help break down protein in your gut and can help with constipation.
However, more research is needed to assess the impact of pineapple and its peel on digestion.
Joint Pain And Arthritis
The anti-inflammatory properties of pineapple peels also help with osteoarthritis – the most common form of arthritis or joint pain that affects millions of people around the globe.
Mixing up pineapple peels with vinegar works directly on the pain’s source.
Fertility Booster
Again, pineapple and its skin are favored due to their bromelain and beta carotene content.
These can help reduce inflammation in the womb to create a perfect environment for embryo implantation, thereby helping women conceive.
We should mention that there are no formal studies conducted to test the benefits of pineapple on conception or as an aid to embryo transfer.
However, anti-inflammatory studies have been conducted on human and rat cells, showing that bromelain can reduce inflammation. Unfortunately, studies on actual humans have not been conducted to confirm this.
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Anti-Cancer
Studies show that the amounts of antioxidants, bromelain, vitamin C, and manganese in pineapple peels can aid in cancer prevention and fight tumors.
The pineapple peels’ copper content improves healthy red blood cell formation. The bromelain helps stimulate the production of white blood cells, which effectively prevents the growth of cancer cells.
According to some test-tube studies, bromelain has also been effective in preventing the growth of breast cancer cells.
6 Unusual Ways To Use Pineapple Peel That May Reduce Inflammation
Pickle Them Out
Have you ever pickled veggies or fruits before?
If yes, then you know that this type of food preparation comes with multiple benefits. Pickling is not only a convenient and planet-friendly method of food preservation (and for making food taste delicious); it is also an innovative outlet with endless iterations.
If you want to add more flavor to your homemade pickle with pineapple peel and other fruits, follow our guidelines.
Before starting, here are some supplies that you’ll need:
- Jars
- Vinegar
- Salt
- Garlic
- Spices and herbs of choice
- Vegetable(s) of choice
The recipe may vary a little depending on the type of pickle you’re making, but here’s the general method:
- Start by adding vegetables, garlic, and herbs/spices to your jar.
- Then you need to add salt to hot water and dissolve.
- Add vinegar to the mixture, then pour into the jar.
- Cover the jar with a cloth and let it sit in a dark spot for a few days.
- The longer you keep your jar to ferment, the more sour your pickle will be.
Before adding pineapple skin to your pickle jar, we suggest washing it properly to ensure you’ve gotten rid of all the pesticide and dirt.
Gulp Down Pineapple Peel Tea
As it is one of the foods that reduce inflammation, drinking pineapple water is an excellent and easy way to reap the benefits of pineapple peel. One way of drinking it is by making tea with its peels.
Here’s an easy way to make pineapple peel agua or tea:
- Start by placing the peels in a medium saucepan.
- Add two or three cinnamon sticks, one peeled ginger knob, and cloves (optional).
- Cover it with about four quarts of water and allow it to boil for about 25 minutes on low heat.
- Turn off the heat and wait for another 30 minutes to allow the concoction to cool down before you strain the peels out.
You can now serve your pineapple peel-infused agua cold or hot and sweetened according to your taste. You can also keep this pineapple water around your kitchen and use it as an excellent water-based flavoring that you can use any time for your anti-inflammatory diet.
Make A Tasty, Antioxidant-Rich Cocktail Or Juice
Another great way to make the most of pineapple peel is by adding it to a cocktail or juice.
Pineapple peel can be an excellent ingredient for making a healthy drink (and making it tangier).
You can use the pineapple peel agua as your juice base. Simply put it in your blender, add the other ingredients that you like, and voila!
Try A Pineapple Bowl
If you’re thinking of adding a tropical lift to your meal, then you should try eating a fresh bowl of pineapple.
Simply mix a nutritious and healthy filling with the tasty juice that accumulates at the bottom of the fruit and enjoy!
You may even try filling the bowl of pineapple with your preferred smoothie recipe and gulp it down.
Use It As A Topical Glow-Up
Applying bromelain topically on your skin can help alleviate acne by removing dead skin cells and enhancing your skin’s overall complexion.
As mentioned earlier, pineapple peel is rich in bromelain content. In addition, it contains vitamin C and E, both of which can help brighten your skin and even out your skin tone.
As mentioned earlier, pineapple peel is rich in bromelain content. In addition, it contains vitamin C and E, both of which can help brighten your skin and even out your skin tone.
It can also act as an antioxidant and protect your skin from being damaged by pollutants in the air.
Even though bromelain-infused products are not new to the world of beauty, you can go the DIY route. For example, you can use the pineapple peel agua recipe we mentioned above as a gentle, anti-inflammatory toner that is rich in vitamin C.
However, if your skin is on the dryer end of the spectrum, it might be best to stay away from the pineapple peel toner.
Make Stock
Add clean pineapple peels to your beef, seafood, chicken, or veggie stocks.
If beef takes too long to cook properly, adding, pineapple stock can ensure your meat cooks all the way through.
It will pack a nutritious and flavorful punch to your dish.
Pineapple stock works well for seafood soups, tomato soups, and spicy soups. If you’re a fan of Thai tom yum soup, Korean kimchi soup, or Chinese hot and sour soup, pineapple stock will really help bring out the flavors.
Pineapple peel can improve our outer and inner health. If you do not use the peels immediately, you can preserve them by placing them in an airtight bag and storing them in the freezer.
Final Words
Pineapple peels are very versatile and possess several health benefits. They’re one of the many foods that reduce inflammation, making them a great option to add to your daily routine.
You can add them to your anti-inflammatory diet by using them in your broth or making a pineapple peel tea. We hope this article helped you know about the amazing benefits of Pineapple peel and how you can use it to reduce and ease inflammation.
