Pineapple

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is the common name for a tropical plant and its edible fruit, which is actually a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries. Pineapple can be consumed fresh, canned or juiced and can be used in a variety of ways. It is popularly used in desserts, salads (usually tropical fruit salads, but it can vary), jams, yogurts, ice creams, various candies, as a complement to meat dishes and in fruit cocktail. The popularity of the pineapple is due to its sweet-sour taste.

Pineapple is used for many other things aside from consumption.

Pine-apple juice is the specific for diphtheria. This seems to have been first brought to the notice of Europeans by the fact that negroes living round about the swamps of Louisiana were observed to use it with great success. A writer who records this says: "The patient should be forced to swallow the juice. This fluid is of so pungent and corrosive a nature that it cuts out the diphtheria mucous and causes it to disappear."

Dr. Hillier, writing in the "Herald of Health" in 1897, says "Sliced pineapples, laid in pure honey for a day or two, when used in moderation, will relieve the human being from chronic impaction of the bowels, reestablish peristaltic motion, and induce perfect digestion."

"A slice of fresh pine-apple," writes Dr. Fernie, "is about as wise a thing as one can take by way of dessert after a substantial meal." This is because fresh pine-apple juice has been found to act upon animal food in very much the same way that the gastric juice acts within the stomach. But vegetarians should eat fresh fruit at the beginning of meals rather than at the end.

Date

The nourishing properties of dates are well known. They are easily digested, and for this reason are often recommended to consumptive patients.

Dates have a sweet taste that can be described as a mixture of honey and sugar syrup. Apart from its sweet taste, the fruit is highly nutritious as it is rich in vitamins A1, B1, B2, B3, B5 and has around twenty essential amino acids. If you are looking for dates fruit calories, then, it is around 500 per cup (178 grams) of pitted dates.

Dates fruits is also known to boost sexual stamina. Being rich in beta-carotene and other flavonoids, dates protect the cells from the damage that can be caused by free radicals.

According to Dr. Fernie half a pound of dates and half a pint of new milk will make a satisfying repast for a person engaged in sedentary work.

Caraway Seed

Caraway Seed is a wonderful digestive aid, used to relieve indigestion, upset stomach, gas, constipation, heartburn, colic, and irritable bowel syndrome. Caraway seeds sharpen the vision, promote the secretion of milk, and are good against hysterical affections. They are also useful in cases of colic. When used to flavour cakes the seeds should be pounded in a mortar, especially if children are to partake thereof.

Caraway Seed is famous for improving the appetite and treating conditions of the digestive system, including heartburn, indigestion, colic, nausea, upset stomach and stomach ulcers. It is also considered a harmless calmative. Caraway Seed is considered an antispasmodic and helps to relieve uterine and menstrual cramps. As an effective herbal expectorant, Caraway Seed is said to encourage productive coughs due to colds and relieve bronchitis.

As a further aid to the digestive system, Caraway relieves constipation, expels flatulence and eases the "griping" (pain and grumbling) in the bowels and intestines that frequently accompanies gas. Herbalists consider it one of the most important herbs for strengthening the intestines.

When used medicinally 20 grains of the powdered seeds may be taken in a wineglass-full of hot water. But for children half an ounce of the bruised seeds are to be infused in cold water for six hours, and from 1 to 3 teaspoonfuls of this water given. A poultice of crushed caraway seeds moistened with hot water is good for sprains. Caraway seeds are narcotic, and should therefore be used with caution.