Are candied pineapple fruits healthy? Dried pineapple: benefits and harms

Candied pineapple is a delicacy that has long been included in our diet. Pieces of aromatic fruit pulp, boiled in very thick sugar syrup and thoroughly dried, can be purchased at any supermarket at an affordable price. Candied fruits are sold both by weight and in packaged form.

Natural candied pineapple - rings, half rings or cubes of pale golden color. Their smell is very natural. As a rule, this product is quite hard and fibrous due to the fact that, according to the existing manufacturing technology, moisture is removed from the fruit as much as possible during drying. Despite such a modest appearance and not particularly outstanding taste, this particular version of the delicacy is considered the most healthy.

However, sadly enough, candied fruits that have gone through the “beauty factory” are much more popular among consumers. Unscrupulous manufacturers tint them with bright food colors to give them a more attractive appearance. With the help of flavorings and food additives, the cubes are given the smell of a variety of tropical fruits - papaya, mango, orange. Such a dubious delicacy is usually sold under the very “streamlined” name “candied tropical fruits,” and its composition and health benefits raise many questions.

That is why, when choosing a delicacy, you should choose a natural product.

Calorie content and vitamin-mineral composition

Pineapple itself is considered a low-calorie product, and therefore candied fruits from it, unlike oriental delicacies made from other fruits, have a rather modest energy value. It is only 91.43 Kcal per 100 g of product.

The nutritional content is as follows: 1.66 g protein; 2.2 g fat; 17.9 g carbohydrates.

Candied fruits made from pineapple retain most of the beneficial substances present in fresh tropical fruits.

The vitamin composition also looks impressive. Vitamin PP helps control blood cholesterol levels, thus preventing the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. In addition, it normalizes metabolism and emotional background. Vitamin A stimulates the production of collagen, which helps maintain skin elasticity and is responsible for cell regeneration. It is also an effective antioxidant. Vitamin B2 helps increase the body's resistance, regulates the activity of the thyroid gland, and is necessary for maintaining normal intestinal microflora. Finally, vitamin B1 takes part in protein and carbohydrate metabolism, slows down the aging process, and helps maintain the tone of the heart muscle.

How to eat candied fruits without harm to health

The amount of carbohydrates in a person’s daily diet should not exceed 50%. Depending on your lifestyle, work activity, and desire to lose weight, this figure may be more or less.

Candied fruits, like any carbohydrate food, are best consumed in the first half of the day. This way the calories will be consumed and will not end up as fat on your sides. There are no restrictions for people engaged in heavy physical labor. Candied fruits will only bring benefits in the form of additional energy.

This fruity treat will be a complete mid-day snack. You can replace sweets with it and wash it down with unsweetened tea. Nutritionists do not recommend consuming this product after 2 p.m. If an evening workout is just around the corner, a handful of candied fruits (20-30 g) won't hurt. One of the beneficial properties: decreased appetite. The daily intake of candied fruits should not exceed 50 g for those losing weight and 100 g for everyone else.

Technology for the production of candied pineapple

The industrial technology for producing candied pineapple is no different from the production of this delicacy from other fruits. The peel is cut off from the fruit and the core is cleaned. The pulp is cut into cubes or strips and boiled for a long time in concentrated sugar syrup until the liquid evaporates. After this, the slices are dried and sprinkled with sugar or powdered sugar.

It should be noted that unscrupulous sweets often use waste from the production of ordinary candied fruits for their production - for example, the core of pineapples.

How to cook candied fruits at home

Homemade candied treats cannot be stored for a long time. It should be prepared in small quantities. The easiest way to prepare candied fruits is from citrus peels, but you can also use slices. They are cut into medium-sized pieces so that they do not fall apart. Then put in ice water for a few minutes.

Preparation of syrup: take 1 part of water and refined sugar, mix until it is completely dissolved. Dip chilled fruits into this liquid and place the pan on low heat. Cook them for an hour, without bringing to a boil. Afterwards, the slices are thrown into a colander and the syrup is allowed to drain.

At this time, preheat the oven to 50 °C, cover the baking sheet with parchment paper. Place pieces of boiled fruit on it in one layer. Leave to dry in the oven with the door open for 5 hours.

After this time, the cooled product is ready for use. The benefit of candied fruits prepared at home is its naturalness. It is important to store them correctly: in a dry, dark place at a low temperature so that the fruit does not lose its properties.

Beneficial features

Natural candied pineapple owes its beneficial properties to the minerals, vitamins and dietary fiber present in fresh fruit.

Thus, the chemical composition of pineapple contains the substance bromelain. This is a special plant enzyme that has a wide range of beneficial properties. For example, it improves tissue regeneration, has anti-cancer properties, and prevents the formation of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels. In addition, it accelerates metabolism, promoting rapid fat burning. Bromelain is preserved in candied fruits even after heat treatment, and therefore they also have all of the above properties.

In addition, candied pineapple fruits are rich in dietary fiber. Natural fiber works as a kind of “scrub” for the intestines, binding and naturally removing toxins, mucus and poisonous substances.

The minerals contained in the treat make it an effective way to strengthen the immune system. In addition, this product has a mild choleretic effect and helps get rid of edema.

And finally, this delicacy is a natural antidepressant that helps to level out the emotional background, strengthens resistance to stress, increases performance and makes it easier to bear intellectual stress.

Calorie content of cottage cheese Easter with candied fruits per 100 grams

The calorie content of Easter cottage cheese with candied fruits per 100 grams is 280 kcal. In 100 g of flour product:

• 8.84 g protein;
• 14.7 g fat;
• 30 g carbohydrates.

Recipe for Easter cottage cheese with candied fruits:

• 1 kg of cottage cheese is rubbed through a sieve;
• cottage cheese is mixed with 200 g of soft butter;
• Beat 4 chicken eggs with 0.5 kg of powdered sugar;
• The egg mixture is mixed with the curd mixture. When kneading, add 200 g of cream;
• crush 100 g of walnuts;
• nuts and 300 g of candied fruits are added to the dough of cottage cheese and eggs;
• Easter is baked in a special form.

Harm and contraindications

However, despite such an impressive list of positive properties, candied pineapple fruits have a number of contraindications.

First of all, people suffering from any inflammatory processes of the digestive system should avoid eating this delicacy. It is not suitable for those who have been diagnosed with gastritis with increased acidity and peptic ulcer disease.

Despite the fact that the sugar content in candied pineapple is less than in a similar delicacy from other fruits, these oriental sweets are also contraindicated for people with diabetes.

Types of candied fruits

Lovers of overseas sweets are well versed in the assortment of candied fruits, which come in different colors and tastes. The most popular today are candied coconut, papaya, pineapple and orange. It should be said right away that these types of candied fruits contain a lot of calories.

Based on the manufacturing method, candied fruits are divided into folded, condied and rolled. In addition, there are several more types of candied fruits depending on their size and shape - candied fruits come in the form of cubes, rings, tablets, leaves and segments. This does not affect the taste, but is important when decorating desserts.

How to choose and store candied pineapple correctly

To purchase a truly high-quality and healthy product, you should approach the choice of delicacy responsibly.

1. First of all, despite the fact that this delicacy is cheaper by weight, you should buy packaged candied fruits. Moreover, it is desirable that it be transparent - this way you can immediately assess the appearance of the product.
2. Of course, you should not choose very bright candied fruits - they were given such an attractive shade using a chemical dye.
3. When pressing on the slices, no moisture should be released from them. If you do notice drops of water, this indicates a violation of the manufacturing technology.
4. If you still have doubts about the quality of the purchased candied fruits, put a few slices in a glass of boiling water. If the water changed color, then dyes were used in production. If the candied fruits have noticeably decreased or dissolved altogether, this indicates that they are not natural.

Since candied fruits have the ability to actively absorb moisture, they should be stored in a hermetically sealed glass container. They retain all their beneficial properties and taste throughout the year.

Is it possible to eat candied fruits while losing weight?

Due to the increased concentration of sugar, this product can hardly be called dietary. The lowest calorie glazed fruit contains 216 kcal. For comparison, chocolate has 500 kcal. Replacing sweets with candied fruits when losing weight will be correct and effective. The harm and benefits of candied fruits for the body are not comparable with the same indicators of confectionery products.

Beneficial properties of candied fruits for weight loss

The following beneficial properties are significant for weight loss:

1. A person on a diet has problems with bowel movements. The coarse fiber found in fruits will cleanse the body gently and quickly.
2. Dietary restrictions during weight loss can be harmful and lead to loss of vitamins and microelements. Some of them: A, B, PP, as well as potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc are stored in fruits and will usefully replace any useless confectionery product. Microelements help speed up metabolism, which is important when losing weight.
3. A person who restricts his diet is more susceptible to respiratory diseases than those around him. Candied citruses and ginger help strengthen the immune system and have natural antiseptic properties.
4. Ginger and pineapple slices in syrup help break down fatty tissue. This is the benefit of candied fruits for women, who, according to statistics, are more likely than men to suffer from a sweet addiction.

With a total calorie intake of 1200–1400 kcal, no more than 50 g of candied fruits are eaten per day. They will only bring benefits: no vitamin deficiency, loss of strength, or stress associated with carbohydrate restriction. The harm from food abstinence is minimal.

The nutritional value

The calorie content of a product depends on the raw materials from which it is made.

Table of BZHU per 100 grams:

You can eat candied fruits while on a diet, but you should choose them based on calorie content. It is better to choose candied vegetables or unsweetened fruits.

Candied fruits are rich in fiber and help cleanse the intestines. In addition, the product will help saturate the body with vitamins and minerals, protect against exhaustion and decreased immunity.

While losing weight, you should eat no more than 50 g of candied fruits per day. You should choose candied fruits of natural color and without added preservatives. It's better to prepare a healthy treat at home.

The benefits of candied fruits

The benefits of candied fruits are as follows:

• high-quality, properly prepared candied fruits are characterized by a high content of vitamins B, A, C;
• this product is indicated for restoring energy balance in the body (candied fruits are enriched with quickly digestible carbohydrates);
• when consumed in moderation, sweetness helps remove toxins from the body;
• Quite often, candied fruits are used as an alternative to chocolate, flour products, and confectionery products during diets, after operations and infectious diseases. This is due to the fact that such sweets do not contain harmful vegetable fats, margarine and other components harmful to the gastrointestinal tract;
• Some types of candied fruits contain a lot of pectin substances, which normalize intestinal function, reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood, and reduce the likelihood of skin cancer.