IT remains a paradox that a fruit so sweet and precious as the pineapple can really be secluded in a rough and horny covering, fiercely guarded by a crown of spikes -– its only defence against  impending danger.

 But, given a chance to delve into and feast on  the core of the precious pineapple, you’ll find that its outer looks convey exactly the opposite of what lies beneath that rugged outer covering.
 Not to be taken for granted, the pineapple is one of nature’s sweetest, juiciest, and most satisfying fruits ever.  But more than that, it has valued medicinal properties, and an amazing range of vitamins and micro-nutrients, without which the human body cannot function properly.  
 The pineapple bears the well deserved scientific name, ‘ananas comosus’. The word   ‘nanas’ in Tupi means ‘excellent fruit’, and the pineapple has, in every way, been found to be an excellent fruit, for not only is it used and relished for its meaty, juicy core, and flavoured juice, which is rich in vitamins and minerals, but every part of the fruit has healing value, and can certainly contribute to enhancing the health and wellbeing of those using it.
Brought to the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico by the natives of southern Brazil and Paraguay, in 1493, it was discovered in the Caribbean by Christopher Colombus.
 
The core
 The meaty and juicy part of the pineapple, which traditionally has been thought to be the only good part of the fruit, apart from being a great dessert and widely used to enhance both appearance and taste of fruit salads or fruit cups, is also made into jams, jellies, pineapple stews, as well as to flavour ice-cream and shakes.  
The core also has an abundant supply of dietary fibre, which is known to aid digestion. So, if ever you’re feeling bulky, and suffering the effects of indigestion, try using a few slices of pineapple.  Half of a medium-sized fruit will do.

Pineapple juice
The juice is rich in vitamins and micro-nutrients.  Essential vitamins in large quantities include: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B6.   Micro-nutrients comprise Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calories and Foliate.
Hypertensive people need have no fear of using the pineapples, since the fruit is low in fat, cholesterol and sodium.
     
The stem  
The stem of the pineapple (that hard, fibrous core down the centre or ‘heart of the pine’), which we usually throw away after eating around it, ironically, contains  one of its most valuable properties: Bromelain.   
Bromelain is an enzyme which has been used medicinally to help reduce inflammation, slow up blood clotting where required, and enhance the absorption of antibiotics.  It is also recommended for persons with allergies, such as hay fever.   More recently, bromelain has been reported as also being capable of controlling the growth of tumors and malignant cells.
In fact, persons with fractured bones are well advised to eat a half of a pineapple every day until the fracture is completely healed, according to the healthierLive.co.uk .  It advises that bromelain helps to reduce swelling and inflammation.
The advisory cautions against using the following when seeking to recover from fractured bones:
Do not eat canned or processed pineapples.  Use the fresh fruit.
Do not eat red meat, and avoid drinking colas and all products containing caffeine.
Avoid using foods with preservatives, they contain phosphorus which can lead to bone loss.
In addition to using pineapple, it is advisable that you take Calcium plus magnesium plus potassium.  These are essential to repair bone damage and to maintain a good muscle and heart condition.  Take zinc, it helps repair tissue damage.
For bone fractures, avoid pain killers.  Broken bones can take longer to heal with pain killers.

Other ailments for which bromelain (from the stem of the pineapple) is recommended (according to  GreenMedInfo )  include:
•    Asthma
•    Colitis
•    Colon Cancer
•    Constipation: post-operative
•    Dyspepsia
•    Immune Disorders: low function
•    Inflammation
•    Irritable Bowel Disease
•    Influenza
•    Liver Damage
•    Osteoarthritis of the knee
•    Sinusitis
•    Tendon injury

Pineapple leaves
That acutely thorny crown atop of the fruit which offers protection against invasion by rodents and other wild creatures constitutes the cluster of leaves. The pineapple leaf is said to have anti-diabetic and insulin-sensitizing properties, and is also recommended for use in lowering bad cholesterol.
The leaves are also a rich source of dietary melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone made by the pineal gland, a small gland in the brain. It helps control one’s sleep and wake cycles.  As natural melatonin levels decrease with age, the use of pineapple juice is recommended for older folk as a source of melatonin to aid sleeping at nights.