Pineapple Story
about-pineappleAn Overview of Pineapples
Among tropical fruits around the world, the pineapple is widely regarded as one of the most iconic, ranking second in global production after bananas.
It is believed to have originated in the tropical regions of the Americas and was reportedly brought back to Europe by Columbus, eventually spreading across the globe.
As for its name, as the words “pine” and “apple” suggest, it is said to have been named for its resemblance to a pine cone and its sweet, apple-like fragrance.
What do you think?
Pineapple is a tropical fruit native to South America and is cultivated worldwide. Its flesh is yellow, sweet, and slightly tart. The rind is covered with tough, scale-like segments, and the inside contains many fibrous cores. Pineapples are consumed in various ways, including fresh, as juice, or in processed foods. They are known not only for their delicious flavor but also for their high nutritional value.
Pineapple contains a variety of nutrients, including vitamin C, manganese, copper, and B vitamins. Vitamin C helps strengthen the immune system, while manganese supports bone health. Additionally, bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapple, aids digestion by breaking down proteins.
Pineapple is not only rich in nutrients but also offers notable benefits for skin health. The vitamin C and antioxidants present in pineapple help protect skin cells and inhibit reactive oxygen species, which are responsible for blemishes and wrinkles. Furthermore, bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapple, softens keratinized skin and promotes skin cell turnover, thereby assisting in the removal of dead skin cells and enhancing skin smoothness.
As mentioned above, pineapple is not only delicious and rich in nutrients but also offers beauty benefits. However, excessive consumption may lead to allergic reactions or allergy-like symptoms, so it is important to be cautious. Additionally, due to its acidity, pineapple may place stress on the digestive system.
Pineapple Nutrition
Pineapples contain a wide range of nutrients. They are particularly rich in vitamin B1, which supports the breakdown of carbohydrates and promotes metabolism. In combination with other nutrients such as vitamins B2, C, and citric acid, vitamin B1 contributes to relieving fatigue, preventing summer lethargy, and slowing the aging process.
Furthermore, pineapples are high in dietary fiber and bromelain—a digestive enzyme unique to pineapple—which aid in the digestion of meat, the breakdown of waste products, and the maintenance of a healthy intestinal environment.
Pineapples are also low in calories, making them a popular choice as a health food suitable for dieting. In addition, they contain functional compounds that are particularly beneficial for women’s health and beauty.
Pineapples are rich in a variety of nutrients, including vitamin C, manganese, B vitamins, potassium, dietary fiber, and bromelain. Vitamin C helps support immune function and maintain skin elasticity and firmness, while manganese contributes to bone health. The B vitamins play key roles in energy production and the maintenance of nervous system function. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure, dietary fiber aids in maintaining a healthy gut environment, and bromelain supports the breakdown and digestion of proteins. Given the abundance of these nutrients, pineapples are expected to offer benefits for both health and beauty.
Supervisor
- President
- Born in Gunma Prefecture in 1965, he completed his doctoral studies at the Graduate School of Agricultural Science at Tokyo University of Agriculture (PhD), and served as a special research fellow at the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, a part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of Agriculture, and an associate professor and professor at Takasaki University of Health and Welfare before becoming a professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture in April 2012. He is a professor at the same graduate school, and will be the president of Tokyo University of Agriculture in April 2021. He will be the chairman of Tokyo University of Agriculture in July 2023.
School he attended
April 1984 - March 1988 Graduated from the Department of Forestry (Forestry Science Course), Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture
Degrees he received
Tokyo University of Agriculture - Doctor of Forestry
Career history within the university
April 2012 - Ongoing Professor, Department of Forest Science, Faculty of Regional Environmental Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture
April 2016 - Ongoing Director, Food and Agriculture Museum, Tokyo University of Agriculture (Other organizations)
April 2021 - Ongoing President, Tokyo University of Agriculture
Academic societies and committees he has been affiliated with
April 1985 - Ongoing Japan Wood Research Society
June 1988 - Ongoing Japanese Mushroom Society
April 1995 - Ongoing Japanese Society of Inflammatory and Regenerative Medicine
April 1995 - Ongoing Japanese Society of Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agricultural Chemistry
May 1995 - Ongoing Applied Pharmacology Research Society
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Message from the Founder
With the growing popularity of Foods for Specified Health Uses and the newly established Functional Labeling Food system by the Consumer Affairs Agency, people are increasingly seeking not only to satisfy hunger and taste but also to achieve health and beauty benefits through food. As someone involved with agricultural products, I have been amazed by the many newly discovered functional components. It was particularly fascinating to find beauty-related components in pineapples, a fruit with a long history of consumption, which no one had expected. I believe that such research achievements should be more widely discussed and further developed.
About the Pineapple Ceramide Research Association
This research association was established to provide a platform for publishing research findings on the functionality of pineapple ceramides and for exchanging information and opinions for further study.
Biography
- Born in 1965 in Gunma Prefecture. Completed the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture (Ph.D.). Served as JSPS Research Fellow, part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of Agriculture, associate professor and professor at Takasaki University of Health and Welfare. Appointed as professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture in April 2012 and graduate advisor.
- Appointed President of Tokyo University of Agriculture in April 2021.
- Appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees in July 2023.
Education
- April 1984 – March 1988: Graduated from the Department of Forestry (Wood Science Course), Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture.
Degree
- Ph.D. (Forestry), Tokyo University of Agriculture
Academic Career
- April 2012 – Present: Professor, Department of Forest Science, Faculty of Regional Environmental Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture
- April 2016 – Present: Director, “Museum of Food and Agriculture,” Tokyo University of Agriculture (other affiliated organizations)
- April 2021 – Present: President, Tokyo University of Agriculture
Affiliations and Committees
- April 1985 – Present: Japan Wood Research Society
- June 1988 – Present: Japan Mushroom Society
- April 1995 – Present: Japanese Society of Inflammation and Regeneration
- April 1995 – Present: Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry
- May 1995 – Present: Society of Applied Pharmacology
