Don’t compost those pineapple peels just yet! There are plenty of minerals waiting to be extracted. I’ll show you how to boil the pineapple peels, plus 5 ways to drink it!
Benefits of Pineapple Peel Water
Pineapple is a tropical citrus fruit with many minerals that are good for your health. Pineapples are full of potassium, magnesium, calcium, copper, iron, zinc, and manganese.
Pineapples are also very rich in an enzyme called- bromelain. Bromelain has many health benefits including:
Reduces inflammation all over the body, including in the gut, sinuses, and joints
Provides oxidative repair
Improves digestion
Helps leaky guts
Boosts the immune system
Although it has all these minerals and health benefits, one would need to eat 1 cup per day to see the benefits on areas such as swollen joints or leaky guts. The problem with that is that 1 cup of pineapple per day is a lot of fiber and may induce symptoms like abdominal pain to diarrhea. 1 cup of pineapple also contains 16 grams of sugar and 22 grams of carbs. Although it is a natural sugar, those with conditions like Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and hypertension, should stick to a low-carb diet.
Therefore, the pineapple peel water allows you to have pineapple everyday, while keeping the sugar at bay!
How to Make Pineapple Peel Water
Cut up your pineapple into chunks and store them in an air-tight container. I like to freeze mine. Place the peels in a pot with water ready to boil.
On the stovetop, bring the water to a boil then reduce heat and let simmer for 15 – 20 minutes.
Strain with a cheese cloth and press down with a wooden spoon to get the last bit of nutrients out.
Let it cool down; should look nice & golden!
While it's still warm, enjoy a cup of pineapple tea, as stated below. Once it's cool, separate as needed in glass containers.
5 Ways to Drink It
1. While it’s still warm, transfer the water to a mug or teacup and drink it as a tea. Add a dash of cinnamon for more anti-inflammatory benefits.
2. When chilled, pour it in a glass and simply enjoy your new pineapple peel water!
3. When chilled, add it to your seltzer or bubble machine like a Soda Stream, and enjoy fizzy pineapple water.
4. Make a tropical vanilla protein shake! When chilled, use it as your water base in your protein shake.
Pineapple-Vanilla Protein Shake:
Fill ½ your shaker with the pineapple water
Fill the other ½ with unsweetened nut milk of your choice
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder (I use ATP Lab organic grass-fed whey vanilla)
Add ½ cup pineapple chunks
Blend and enjoy.
5. Make your favorite summer cocktail with the pineapple water. A great base for a low-calorie alcoholic beverage, like a classic Piña Colada, but without all the sugar!
Piña Colada with Pineapple Water:
In a blender or shaker, use 1 cup of pineapple water
1/2 cup of ice
¼ cup pineapple chunks (fresh or frozen)
1-2 tbsp of coconut whipped cream or coconut milk
3 oz of Rhum of your choice (dark or light)
Squeeze the juice of ½ a lime
Blend and enjoy
Makes 1
This Piña Colada saves calories and sugar by making it with the pineapple peel water instead of a store-bought pineapple juice filled with refined sugars. Keep in mind, the alcohol you choose still has sugar, that's why I like to stick to one source of sugar at a time when I do indulge.
Sip on 1 cup of the plain pineapple peel water per day to use as a detox, may last about 3-4 days.
Refrain from drinking if you’re pregnant or have liver or kidney issues.
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