Pineapple Surprise! Better Than Anyone Could Imagine

I got a pineapple whole, which never quite worked before. Christina tried a special pineapple cutter, and I said, "Fingers will come off easier than that outside layer of armor." Cutting that one seemed unusually difficult, so we stuck with Dole.

This is - or was - a fresh pineapple, easily cut with a long, serrated Cutco knife. It seems our other Cutco tools disappeared some time ago. After I made cylinder slices, I looked up the "best way," which was laborious. "Don't eat the core." I just ate the core. I eat apple cores somewhat, depending on hunger.

I ended with four thick triangles per slice. Even with the core, the fruit was heavenly sweet and tasty. Doing everything backwards, I looked up the nutritional value of pineapple.

1. Loaded with nutrients

Pineapples are low in calories but boast an impressive nutrient profile. Just 1 cup (165 grams) of pineapple chunks contains the following nutrients (2Trusted Source):

• Calories: 83
• Fat: 1.7 grams
• Protein: 1 gram
• Carbs: 21.6 grams
• Fiber: 2.3 grams
• Vitamin C: 88% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Manganese: 109% of the DV
• Vitamin B6: 11% of the DV
• Copper: 20% of the DV
• Thiamine: 11% of the DV
• Folate: 7% of the DV
• Potassium: 4% of the DV
• Magnesium: 5% of the DV
• Niacin: 5% of the DV
• Pantothenic acid: 7% of the DV
• Riboflavin: 4% of the DV
• Iron: 3% of the DV

Pineapples also contain trace amounts of phosphorus, zinc, calcium, and vitamins A and K.

As you can see, this fruit is particularly rich in vitamin C and manganese. Vitamin C is essential for immune health, iron absorption, and growth and development, while manganese offers antioxidant properties and aids in growth and metabolism (3Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source).

Antioxidants help prevent oxidation in your body, which may help ward off inflammation that can lead to cancer and other chronic diseases (5Trusted Source).

Pineapples also contain other micronutrients, such as copper, thiamine, and vitamin B6, which are essential for healthy metabolism (6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source).

SUMMARY

Pineapples are especially rich in vitamin C and manganese, as well as numerous other vitamins and minerals.

Facty says that pineapple helps dissolve mucous (in a friendly way), helping with coughs and stuffiness. Sure enough, I felt the impact soon after eating. 

This strikes me as funny because the meat-milk-fat-eggs group is relatively narrow in its nutritional benefits. But mixed greens, vegetables, fruits, and nuts provide 

1. a wealth of vitamins and minerals, 
2. an abundance of protein and trace elements, 
3. a treasury of phytochemicals. 

Those benefits are overlooked in favor of the Standard American Diet - basic vitamins, protein, sugar, fat, corn syrup, and high glycemic food (like popcorn with sugar, white bread, fast food, and rice).

 Wiki - the last word about everything - on chickpeas.

1. Packed with nutrients

Chickpeas boast an impressive nutritional profile.

They contain a moderate number of calories, providing 269 per cup (164 grams). Approximately 67% of these calories come from carbs, while the rest comes from protein and fat (1Trusted Source).

Chickpeas also provide a variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as a decent amount of fiber and protein. A 1-cup (164-gram) serving of cooked chickpeas offers (1Trusted Source):

• Calories: 269
• Protein: 14.5 grams
• Fat: 4 grams
• Carbs: 45 grams
• Fiber: 12.5 grams
• Manganese: 74% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Folate (vitamin B9): 71% of the DV
• Copper: 64% of the DV
• Iron: 26% of the DV
• Zinc: 23% of the DV
• Phosphorus: 22% of the DV
• Magnesium: 19% of the DV
• Thiamine: 16% of the DV
• Vitamin B6: 13% of the DV
• Selenium: 11% of the DV
• Potassium: 10% of the DV

As you can see, this legume is a particularly good source of the mineral manganese and the B vitamin folate.

SUMMARY

Chickpeas contain a moderate amount of calories and several vitamins and minerals. They’re also a good source of fiber and protein.

 

2. May keep you feeling full

The protein and fiber in chickpeas may help keep your appetite under control.

Protein and fiber work together to slow digestion, which helps promote fullness. In addition, protein may increase levels of appetite-reducing hormones in your body (2Trusted Source, 3, 4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source).

In fact, the filling effects of the protein and fiber in chickpeas may automatically lower your calorie intake (6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).

One study compared appetite and calorie intake among 12 women who ate two separate meals (8Trusted Source).

Before one of the meals, they ate 1.25 cups (200 grams) of chickpeas, then 2 slices of white bread before the other meal. They experienced a significant reduction in appetite and calorie intake after the chickpea meal, compared with the white bread meal (8Trusted Source).

Another small study found that those who ate pretzels and chickpea-based hummus for an afternoon snack experienced a 70% reduction in appetite and a 30% increase in fullness (9Trusted Source).

All the same, more research is needed on chickpeas and appetite control.

SUMMARY

Chickpeas are high in protein and fiber, which may keep you feeling full and reduce your calorie intake at meals.

Though scholars are divided and there are many grey areas of nutrition, anyone can look up the beneficial effects of each food, which is a lot of fun.

Going to the freezer section and canned beans at Walmart is an adventure. I get unusual frozen vegetables because a mistake can be mixed in with the favorites in the sauce pan:

1. Roots (not the novel)
2. Asparagus
3. Green peppers and onions sliced
4. Sliced green beans
5. Lima beans
6. Peas
7. Stir fry combo
8. Sweet potatoes
9. Brussels sprouts
10. Mixed vegetables
11. Tomato paste for the lutein and flavor

I stopped buying soup as the starter because of cost and salt. I use V-8 low salt but I doubt whether it contributes much, unlike Tobasco.

When the stomach feels hollow, beans with spinach are good for many reasons. Flavored beans seem much saltier. Garbanzos (chickpeas) seem to be low salt and are easily mixed with other beans or vegetables. 

One objection to processed foods, like pork and beans, is the cost. But the other objection is the sugar and salt added.