Pineapple Day – Benefits, Recipes & Fun Facts!

What’s “National Pineapple Day?”

Summer’s here and we’re thinking beaches, swimwear and of course piña coladas! Pineapple is one fruit that has always been associated with tropical vacations and bright sunny days. It’s one among the most loved fruits all over the world by people of all ages. So much so that there’s an actual day named after it! June 27^th is celebrated as National Pineapple Day in the USA every year and it serves as a wonderful excuse for people to enjoy this delicious fruit in many different kinds of ways.

Any history behind it?

The word “pineapple” originated in the year 1398 when it was used to describe the reproductive organs of coniferous trees.  However, it was only officially registered in 1664 when European scientists discovered this tropical fruit and replaced the original meaning with “pine cones”. By 1677, the pineapple was such a desired fruit that it became a symbol of royal privilege. King Charles II got a portrait made of himself receiving this precious fruit as a gift.

How do we celebrate this day?

Celebrate this fabulous day by sharing entrées, cocktails, and desserts made of pineapple, with your near and dear ones. Spread the love for this delectable fruit with social media hashtags for Pineapple Day and pictures of yourself devouring it.

How does eating pineapple benefit us?

The tangy foot long fruit is celebrated not only because it’s absolutely delicious but also because of its numerous health benefits. Read along to know more.

1. Aids in digestion: Pineapple is rich in fiber than can help bulk up the stools and make the passage of juices through the digestive tract easier
2. Helps in cough & cold: Pineapple contains both bromelain as well as Vitamin C that help in preventing buildup of phlegm in the respiratory passages and sinus cavities
3. Speeds up wound healing: The Vitamin C in pineapple helps in creating collagen that forms the essential protein in blood vessel walls, skin, organs and bones. Thus it can help bruises heal more quickly
4. Good for diabetes patients: It could help patients with Type 1 Diabetes by aiding in lowering blood glucose levels and in Type 2 patients it helps with insulin & lipid levels
5. Skin care remedy: Vitamin C is a super antioxidant that not only helps fight nasty acne but also helps repair damaged skin tissue and slow down early aging
6. Improves vision: This amazing tropical fruit contains beta carotene that helps fight macular degeneration – a common eye disorder in old age

These are just a handful of the many benefits of pineapple. Other interesting advantages include bone strength improvement, immunity maintenance, anti-inflammatory uses, kidney stone help, blood circulation improvement, oral healthcare, fertility help and blood pressure regulation.

Celebrate Pineapple Day by making different kinds of dishes incorporating this wonderful fruit. Here are some fun ideas:

1. Hawaiian Meatballs - Enjoy some tangy pineapple wedges with cilantro flecked pork meatballs on a hot summer day
2. Pineapple Mint Daiquiris - Prepare this classic cocktail by simmering pineapple with sugar and water, pureeing and then straining it for delicious sweet & sour taste in your drink of the day
3. Pepper Pineapple & Bean Breakfast Tacos - Add a little extra flavor to your normal bean tacos with pieces of pineapple slow cooked till light brown – a great veggie delight!
4. Beef & Pineapple Thai Curry - This scrumptious dish can be prepared easily using beef, some great nutritious veggies and tiny bits of flavorful pineapple!
5. Light Pineapple Upside Down Cake - What better way to end your meal than with a nice nutty pineapple scented vanilla cake made of whole wheat flour and topped with fruits?

Since learning new things is important to us here at QOL, we wanted to also share with you some fun and interesting facts! Did you know…

1. Hummingbirds are the most common pollinator of pineapple
2. Columbus named the fruit after the Spanish term “piña” and called it “Piña de Indes” meaning “Pine of the Indians”
3. Pineapples take up to 2 years to grow to their full size. We eat them when they’re much smaller. The world record for the biggest pineapple is 8.28 kg or 18.25 lbs!
4. Pineapple plants have really pretty flowers ranging from a lavender color to cherry red
5. Hawaii is the only US state that currently grows pineapples. Countries that commercially grow pineapples include Thailand, Mexico, Brazil and the Philippines.

We hope you have truckloads of fun on this “National Pineapple Day” with your friends and family!