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We’re going to switch it up a bit on Lloyd’s Corner from our usual discussions about pineapple perks to verse our readers a bit more on another versatile fruit we carry here at Chestnut Hill Farms – the all-purpose plantain.

For those that aren’t as familiar with plantains, get ready to have your world rocked by what we loving like to call “banana’s big brother.” Starchy and low in sugar, plantains are cooked before eating. This tropical fruit is a staple in Caribbean and Latin American dishes and have inspired a variety of culinary creations, most recently in the United States.

In the next few weeks we’ll be sharing some recipes and fun facts about plantains, much like we have with pineapples. However, this week, we wanted to get right to the nuts and bolts of how beneficial plantains can be for your gut. That’s right, your gut!

Plantains & Digestive Disorders

Discussions about gut health have become more and more popular as, unfortunately, more people are being diagnosed with digestive orders. In North America alone about seven in every 100,000 people suffer from Crohn’s disease – an inflammatory bowel disorder. People who suffer from this disease experience pain and digestive discomfort on a regular basis.

The pain comes as a result of a constant, unnatural battle between the immune system and bacteria (even good bacteria) in the intestines. So as a result, the bowel lining becomes a battleground where the immune system is constantly attacking bacteria that attach to it.

Research now suggests that the soluble fibers from plantain plants may block a key stage in the development of Crohn’s disease. By testing to see if the fibers could reduce the movement of E. coli bacteria across cells lining the bowel, they found that plantain fibers prevented E. coli movement by between 45% and 82%. The lack of movement meant that the plantains were almost “overriding” the Crohn’s need to rid the body of bacteria and as a result fight its effects.

A major win for those dealing with Crohn’s disease in their daily life, the study allows plantains to become a safe and healthy part of anyone’s diet with “sensitive” stomachs.

Interesting to see how fresh produce can help alleviate even the most painful disorders, huh? We will be posting some tasty recipes to make the science a bit more applicable to daily life soon.

Stay tuned!

Dr. Lloyd

For the average person not as versed in nutritional science, we’re willing to bet that certain vitamins and minerals are associated with one predominant body function – such as calcium and Vitamin D are with bone health or iron with muscle performance. Likewise, certain vitamins and minerals tend to have their own “poster child” in the grocery aisle. In the above example, usually dairy and meat products come to mind.

Among the many nutrients we need to discuss on a daily basis, sometimes overlooked – for all purposes of the word – is the very important Vitamin C. Usually seen as the best way to boost immunity and get over the common cold, Vitamin C also plays a vital role in vision health. And what lip-smacking fruit at your local grocer provides great amounts of Vitamin C? You guessed it – pineapples!

Why is Vitamin C important to eye health? Virtually all cells of the body depend on Vitamin C, including those of the eye where it is actively concentrated in all tissues and supports the health of ocular blood vessels.

Take care of your eyes! Pineapples have plenty of Vitamin C which is good for eye health.

Evidence suggests vitamin C lowers the risk of developing cataracts and when taken in combination with other essential nutrients, can slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and visual acuity loss. Poor eating habits, smoking, diabetes and use of steroids have actually increased these risks in recent years, causing experts to believe that rates are expected to triple by 2025 – making Vitamin C intake more important than ever.

Pineapple contains 78.9 mg of Vitamin C, which is actually more than oranges – its usual “spokesfruit.” In addition to its flavorful taste and versatile preparation methods, pineapples have plenty of more health benefits not commonly known.

Want to know more? Take a bite of pineapple today and (excellently) view those other pineapple health facts here.

Enjoy,

Dr. Lloyd