A pineapple a day keeps us healthy, wealthy and wise

MANILA, Philippines - We’ve heard it said often enough — fruits and vegetables are an indispensable part of a healthy and well-balanced diet. There is the popular saying: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” While all fruits are considered healthy, fruits specifically rich in vitamin C are better suited to boost the immune system. Pineapple is one of the fruits with the highest concentration of vitamin C.

A recent study conducted by Dr. Leonora Panlasigui, dean of the PWU School of Nutrition, “established a positive relationship between the consumption of canned pineapples and the development of a stronger immune response against bacterial and viral infection in school-aged children.”

The results of the study showed that the consumption of canned pineapple “increased the production of granulocytes, which make up 60 percent of the body’s white blood cells, known as the body’s first line of defense against infection,” Dr. Panlasigue explained.

The study, conducted within a period of nine weeks, divided 98 randomly selected school children, seven to 12 years old, into three groups. Two groups were given regular servings of Del Monte canned pineapple, with one group getting one serving and the other, two servings. The third group served as the control and was not given any fruit.

“The groups that were given pineapples showed an increase in granulocyte count, which may have helped in decreasing the incidence of infection as well as in shortening recovery time,” Dr. Panlasigui noted. “Even a single serving of fruit a day could make all the difference in your child’s health. One serving is good, but the general consensus recommends two servings a day.”

However, a National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute showed that “fruit consumption in school-aged children has been decreasing over the decades. Since 1978, a decline in the consumption of fruits has been noted, with the latest NNS reporting a cumulative drop by 50 percent,” the report said.

Del Monte’s “Pineapple a Day” campaign, which aims “to raise awareness among parents all over the country about the importance of incorporating pineapples in the daily diet of their children,” comes at just the right time. Del Monte, which supplies 10 percent of the world’s canned pineapple products, “is committed to promoting health and wellness among our consumers,” Bianca Tiam-Lee of the marketing department of Del Monte Philippines said. Del Monte canned pineapple provides the convenience of getting your daily fruit requirement while assuring the high quality and freshness of its product.

“The pineapple fruit is picked and packed within the same day, ready to be shipped out within 24 hours,” Bianca shared. The 20,000-hectare Del Monte pineapple plantation in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental produces 700,000 tons of fruit every year.

“The Del Monte pineapple packaging format allows you to store it over time without fear of spoilage, so it can be bought in larger quantities,” Bianca noted. “It saves you from too-frequent trips to the supermarket.

“Our advocacy is to inform moms of the health benefits of Del Monte pineapple,” she added. Del Monte also prepared some recipes to make it more fun for your kids while they get the proper nutrition that they need.

Recipe File

Pineapple with salted caramel

Ingredients:              

120 g Del Monte pineapple chunks (drained)

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter

1 cup all purpose cream

1 pinch of rock salt

Procedure:   

Melt the sugar in a pan, stirring occasionally until caramel colored. Turn off the heat. Add butter, cream, and salt. Stir until smooth. Allow to cool. Put the Del Monte pineapple chunks in a glass container; then drizzle.