Meet Every Runners Favorite Post-Run Snack
Pineapples: they taste great with drinks, in salads, and in many other meals (though some may argue they should be kept away from pizza at all costs). In the fitness world, pineapples are a superfood packed with important vitamins that runners love to snack on. Eat them raw or toss them in your post-workout smoothie for a boost to your recovery and immune system.
While everyone can benefit from a healthy snack of pineapple, there are about 50 million people across the United States that can get an even bigger boost from this tropical fruit. That number refers to the roughly 15% of the United States population who run or jog regularly. The 83 calories in a single cup of pineapple can provide them with the nutrients necessary to run faster, farther, and stronger.
So skip the staid post-running snack of tofu, yogurt, and eggs, and dig into the sweet, yet tart flavor of the pineapple. Let’s dive into why pineapple is your new favorite superfood!
Pineapple Eases Muscle Soreness in Runners
Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme and the most important nutrient contained within the pineapple. This nutrient is a natural pain fighter that can help ease post-workout muscle soreness. It’s not just for your muscles—bromelain can also provide relief to burns and overall pain.
It doesn’t stop there. Bromelain can also improve overall health by slowing blood clotting and helping to prevent heart attacks. It’s the perfect ingredient for those running to keep or improve their health and physical conditioning.
Prevent Joint and Bone Pain
Shin splints and other bone ailments can be a runner’s worst nightmare. The nutrient manganese is a great way to avoid potential joint and bone pain. Bet you can guess that pineapple contains a heaping helping of manganese. But, bet you can’t guess just how much. 109%.
Yep, that’s right. A single cup of pineapple contains more than 100% of your daily value of manganese. This nutrient is a powerhouse, helping keep bones strong and aiding your overall metabolism.
Bonus points for manganese: it can help prevent osteoporosis and arthritis. You’ll be in tip-top shape for all of your long runs for a long time coming.
Vitamin C Stands for Collagen
Maybe the best-marketed vitamin, vitamin C, is found in many fruits. More than apples and oranges, pineapple contains 88% of the daily value for a runner. While best known for preventing and healing infections in the body, vitamin C is also used to make collagen.
Collagen is the connective tissue between skin, bones, and muscles. For any runner, vitamin C plays an important role in keeping the body in peak health for any professional marathon or amateur training for a cross-country meet.
Where to Fuel Up with Chestnut Hill Farm’s Perfect Pineapple
Prepare for your next long-distance run with the perfect pineapple from Chestnut Hill Farms. Sign up for our newsletter to get pineapple reports and other fun updates delivered to your inbox.