Pineapple is one of those go-to fruits when you’re looking to eat a little lighter. Here’s everything you need to know about this fruit, which is as delicious as it is easy to cook with: what it contains, the myths surrounding it, how to pick a good one and four easy recipes.
Pineapple: what makes it so good?
First, the good news: pineapple contains around 50 calories per 100 grams. It can easily be enjoyed at breakfast, as a dessert, or even as a snack.
It’s also rich in water and fibre. Thanks to this composition, it fits easily into a varied diet. If, like many of us, you often feel bloated, our article on water retention helps you better understand the main causes.
Pineapple is particularly well known as a natural ‘fat burner’, but there’s no evidence that it supports weight loss or helps smooth away dimples. It’s above all a fruit to enjoy for its flavour, as part of a balanced diet.
When preparing a pineapple, we tend to discard the core — that tough, slightly tart part of the fruit. Yet the pineapple core contains bromelain, an enzyme found naturally in the fruit. It’s often nicknamed ‘the fat-eating enzyme’, but there’s no evidence that eating the fruit stimulates fat burning or helps prevent the build-up of stubborn bulges and cellulite.
If you don’t like its texture, the core can still be used: cut it into small pieces and add it to a smoothie, or leave it to infuse in a jug of water.
Finally, pineapple contains vitamin C, other vitamins and antioxidant compounds.
The experts at Cellublue have also chosen to incorporate pineapple into several of their product formulas. Pineapple stem has been used in the formula of our drink mix. You’ll also find pineapple in our nighttime belly cream. Both products can be part of a body-contouring routine.
The evening treatment with Ginger & Slimsize® for the belly and hips
- Targeted night treatment for belly & hips, to massage in every evening before bed
- Ginger & Slimsize®, with a patented active ingredient at the heart of the formula
- Helps smooth and firm the skin
Four plant extracts, one dose a day
- Instructions for use
- Friendly advice
How to choose the right pineapple?
To choose a good pineapple, weigh it in your hand. The heavier it is, the riper it will be. Make sure it feels firm to the touch. Don’t pick one that’s overripe — instead, look for bright, deep green leaves.
To check whether a pineapple is ready to eat, try pulling out one of its leaves: if it comes away easily, the pineapple is ripe and ready to enjoy!
Store your pineapple at home for up to two days at room temperature, or up to three days in the fridge once cut. Opt for fresh or frozen pineapple where possible. If you opt for canned, make sure the fruit is preserved in its own juice rather than syrup.
What should you do with the skin and core of a pineapple?
The skin needs to be removed, along with any brown bits embedded in the flesh. The core is more fibrous, but it’s worth keeping: it adds lovely flavour to infused water, as in the last recipe below.
4 delicious pineapple recipes
Now that you know all about how to choose the right pineapple, here are 4 delicious, simple and indulgent recipes to try!
Citrus, pineapple and blueberry smoothie
Serves 1
Ingredients
- 1 orange
- ½ lemon
- ½ grapefruit
- 2 slices of pineapple
- 10 blueberries
Method
- Squeeze the orange and lemon.
- Peel the grapefruit and cut the pineapple into chunks.
- Place all the ingredients in a blender and blitz for a few seconds. That’s it!
Green smoothie with pineapple and mango
Serves 1
Ingredients
- 2 handfuls of spinach
- 150 ml water
- 100 g pineapple
- 100 g mango
- 2 bananas
- A few ice cubes
Method
Simply place all the ingredients in a blender, blitz, and serve well chilled.
Pineapple carpaccio
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 pineapple
- 2 tbsp liquid honey
- 1 lime
- 1 vanilla pod
- 1 tablespoon white rum
Method
- Carefully peel the pineapple without crushing it, removing the skin and any brown bits embedded in the flesh.
- Slice the pineapple into very thin rounds using a sharp knife. Zest the lime, then squeeze it for its juice and mix the zest with the juice.
- Split the vanilla pod in half and scrape out the seeds, then add them to the lime juice.
- Mix together the honey, vanilla-infused lime juice and white rum.
- Spread this citrus marinade over the base of a large dish, then arrange the pineapple slices on top and coat them with the mixture. Cover the dish with cling film and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Before serving, you can garnish your carpaccio with a few fresh mint leaves.
Pineapple and ginger infused water
Ingredients
- 1 pineapple
- 3 cm fresh ginger
- 1 litre water
Method
- To prepare this infused water, start by peeling the pineapple and cutting it into chunks. Don’t forget to use the core too, so nothing goes to waste!
- Slice the ginger into thin rounds, then place everything in a lidded jug. Leave to infuse in the fridge for several hours, then enjoy!
Pineapple is a fruit you can include in your diet regularly, as part of a varied menu. To complement this habit, embrace the trio of a balanced diet, regular physical activity and pinch-and-roll massages with your Cellublue Cup.
And to round off this routine, the anti-cellulite programme combines the Capsules and our drink mix. This combination can be part of a routine focused on your skin and your figure.
Frequently asked questions
Can pineapple be part of a lighter diet?
Yes. Pineapple contains around 50 calories per 100 grams and is high in water. You can enjoy it at breakfast, as a dessert or as a snack, as part of a varied diet.
Can you eat the core of a pineapple?
Yes, although it’s often thrown away because it’s tough and slightly tart. It contains bromelain, an enzyme found in the fruit. Chopped into small pieces, it can go into a smoothie or add flavour to infused water.
How do you choose a good pineapple?
A heavy pineapple is usually riper. Choose one that feels firm to the touch, with bright, deep green leaves. If you’re still not sure, gently pull on a leaf: if it comes away easily, the fruit is ready to eat.
Is tinned pineapple a good option?
Yes, but fresh or frozen pineapple is still the better choice. If you buy tinned, go for pineapple in its own juice rather than in syrup, which adds sugar.
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Useful categories: Slimming Nutrition.
