103 Facts About Pineapples: Read About The Delicious Tropical Fruit

Native to South America, pineapples are affiliated to the bromeliad family that contains around 3,000 species, pineapple being the quotidian one.

Pineapple is that one favorite fruit most of us enjoy. The fruit varies in its size, a bit in color but all are just as flavor-some.

Ok, it is clear that fresh pineapples are appetizing, but they are also rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and enzymes that succor to fight off diseases thus being healthy for our overall health.

There are also some compounds present in a pineapple that benefit in ways you never would have imagined, such as in a faster recovery after surgery, by boosting our immunity, among other things.

The fruit generally grows in countries with hot temperatures.

Also called Ananas comosus, the fruit is abundant in Vitamin A and manganese. If you are worried about sugar content, then go for fresh pineapples for your fruit salads or pina colada than canned pineapples.

Did you know that people on Azores Islands discovered that smoke can be used to trick the pineapple plant in flowering?

Come check out some exhilarating and well-researched facts about the delicious pineapples. From why they are called pineapples to if it's a fruit or a vegetable, let us explore it all. Afterward, also check figs nutrition facts and grapes nutrition facts.

Fun Facts About Pineapples

When did these first come to light? The year was 1493 and the explorer Christopher Colombus unearthed pineapples on Guadeloupe Island in the Caribbean. These were so rare at the time that the elite class in America took them to be a royal food item, and were also high in cost.

So, why is the pineapple called the way it is? It is because the fruit bears resemblance to a pine cone and the inside of the fruit was much like a fine apple, so we combine them both and get the name pineapple. The top of the pineapple is a crown.

But if you are wondering if you can grow a pineapple or not, then yes you can.

They can flourish with a divergent variety of topography, but here's the catch, pineapples plump for acidic soil. A perennial herbaceous plant, one which does not have a wood stem continuously rising above the ground and lives for more than two years, pineapples can reach the height of 3.3-4.5 ft (1.0-1.5 m).

The fruit generates CAM photosynthesis, which as a result, the plant can exchange glasses at night and photosynthesize during the day.

When in the process of giving rise to a fruit, the fusion of at least 200 flowers takes place. They also have beautiful colors including red, purple, or lavender.

Pineapples can be categorized into two types- cayenne pineapple and red Spanish pineapple. Talking about their pollination process, birds like hummingbirds do the task of pollinating, while some, often that are wild, are pollinated by bats at night. The biggest producer of pineapples is South East Asia.

Pineapples are also used in producing alcohol and vinegar. Currently, the countries that produce the most pineapples are Brazil, the Philippines, Indonesia, and India.

Nutritional Facts About Pineapples

A tropical fruit, pineapples are profuse with vitamins, proteins, enzymes, and antioxidants, not to mention they are piquant.

They are a convenient choice for a healthy body and give rise to benefits such as boosting the immune system, establishing robust bones, and helping overcome dyspepsia or indigestion. Additionally, they are abundant in Vitamin C and manganese.

Low in calories, pineapples are lavish with nutrients, just the perfect combination and a great addition to your everyday diet. Let's check out some facts about the same, assuming the amount is 5.8 oz (165 g):

Fat= 0.05 oz (1.7 g), protein= 0.03 oz (1 g), carbs= 0.76 oz (21.6 g), fiber= 0.08 oz (2.3 g), vitamin C= 131% of the RDI, manganese= 76% of the RDI, vitamin B6:= 9% of the RD, copper= 9% of the RDI, thiamin=9% of the RDI, folate= 7% of the RDI, potassium:=5% of the RDI, magnesium= 5% of the RDI, niacin= 4% of the RDI, pantothenic acid= 4% of the RDI, riboflavin= 3% of the RDI, iron=3% of the RDI.

RDI here stands for Recommended Dietary Intake.

Did you know that the Guinness World Record for the heaviest pineapple belongs to a pineapple weighing 8.06 kg (17 lb) from Papua New Guinea.

This helps fight the mere cold to severe diseases such as cancer. Pineapples are also beneficial for your eyes due to them being a rich source of Vitamin C. You will be less prone to arthritis, because of the bromelain that is present in the fruit.

Similarly, bromelain in pineapple helps in recovery after surgery. You can avoid eating the eyes of the pineapple.

It is to be noted that canned pineapples have different nutritional values and are not at par with raw pineapples. Canned pineapples contain higher levels of sugar and calories. As such, they consist of vitamins and minerals, and thus a raw pineapple is a better option.

Scary Facts About Pineapples

Other than the health benefits of pineapples, there are some risks associated with them. Eating too much pineapple can cause tenderness and result in rashes, hives, or obstruction in breathing.

Though this is unlikely and will happen only if you eat too much fresh pineapple, it is a possibility that you might have generated pineapple allergy. If you experience any of the above signs, go see a doctor.

While their abundance of Vitamin C is a boon, things can change for the worse. It is said that due to the rich character consisting of a load of vitamin C and if you consume it in large quantities, there are chances of you developing diarrhea, stomach pain, and feeling nauseous.

Other than vitamin c, pineapples are also rich in bromelain, and too much of it has its consequences. Its high amount intake can cause skin rashes, nausea, diarrhea, and more than usual bleeding during the menstrual cycle.

Further, be careful if you are taking any of the following medications: blood thinners, antibiotics, anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, insomnia drugs, and tricyclic antidepressants. Bromelain is known to have adverse effects when it comes to contact with these medicines.

Next, it is proven that having a pineapple or a juice from such a pineapple that is still undeveloped can be treacherous.

Its side effects include diarrhea and vomiting. Too much pineapple could also form fiber balls inside your abdomen. Too much of anything can be dangerous.

Facts About Pineapple's History

Not much is known of its history, but pineapples are largely grown in South America, the earliest known cultivators of the wild plant are Mayas and the Aztecs.

It became known to the rest of the world around the late 15th century and constituted a common part of the Native Americans’ diet. Christopher Columbus was the first one to have brought the fruit and introduced it to Europe in 1493. While in India it was introduced in the 17th century by the Portuguese.

Did you know, Columbus called the plant piña de Indes, which translated to 'pine of the Indians.' The fruit was a rare entity and so, was also expensive.

Not everyone could purchase it and was thus the food of royals. King Louis XV was introduced with the fruit in 1773 and Catherine the Great of Russia presented the fruit in 1796. In Hawaii, the pineapple fruit was introduced by the Spanish in the 18th century.

Also, in Hawaii, it is called ‘Hala kahiki’ meaning, foreign hala. It started to be more persistently distributed after 1886 in Hawaii.

Interestingly, people have also started to use pineapples as a topping on Hawaiian pizza. Today, the Philippines exports the most pineapples around the globe and this journey started in 1920. Additionally, the flowers of the fruit can be flourished well before time using smoke, which was first experimented on the Azores Island.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 103 facts about pineapples: read about the delicious tropical fruit then why not take a look at kiwi fruit nutrition facts, or jackfruit nutrition facts.