Yes, grapefruit has many contradictions. Pineapple causes undesirable reactions with some antibiotics and can be a problem if on blood thinners or a diabetic. Pineapple used to bother my teeth, but since that isn't an issue anymore, I should try it again along with papaya to help my stomach. The only caution on my antiviral is to not eat grapefruit or pineapple within an hour of taking it. I think that has more to do with a stomach reaction and not a bloodstream issue. So much to consider that sometimes it makes my head spin.
I've bought one or two in my life, most recently to put in my dehydrator (tastes just like candy.) I really don't recall what I did with the other ones, but the dehydrated ones obviously have a pretty long shelf life..
I like to grill fresh pineapple, or put it on a baking sheet and turn on the broiler for a couple of minutes. Nice with a slice of ham.
Yeh, the same as I buy my cantaloupe. Sniff the stem end. ps: Thanks for the opportunity to get my Lewis Black on. He's my idol.
I think that I have written elsewhere about the healing benefits of pineapples, and more than just the bromelain, and that I discovered this kind of by accident. Many years ago, when my heart failure first started, I suddenly went from being able to walk for miles every night after work, to not even being able to make it to the mailbox and back. My legs and feet were so swollen that my knees would not bend, (I lurched like Frankenstien’s monster) , and I had to change shoes during the day as my feet swelling became worse, ending up wearing a man’s 10-11 size wide moccasin by night, and even that left bruises. I was desperate, and somehow found a fruit diet (Beverly Hills Diet) that started people off with a couple of days of only pineapple. When I announced that I was going to get a pineapple or two and not eat anything else for the day, Bobby was almost horrified. He gave me a look that seemed to say that he didn’t think people could survive even one day on nothing but pineapple; however, he could see that I was determined. By the next morning, I could almost walk without lurching (knees starting to bend a little) and I felt better, so I decided to do another day of pineapples. By the third whole day of pineapples, I was practically dancing around the house (I was so happy), but my mouth was sore from some of the pineapples being too green; so I had to stop the pineapple fast. Now, my heart failure is much better, but when I have days that I feel like I am getting swollen and bloated on my feet and legs, or I am in pain from arthritis (or that nasty gout); I know to get a pineapple and do the pineapple fast for a day or so until I get better. Not only is it anti-inflammatory, but pineapple also has a natural pain-killer, so you can start feeling better, even as the pain and inflammation are going down.
So I bought a pineapple today...the power of suggestion, huh? How I tested for ripeness is between me and my consenting fruit.
Regarding grapefruit juice: I used to love it. I would always have a glass half gallon container of Tropicana unsweetened in the fridge. I was on an extensive supplement program, and would put powdered potassium chloride in it so (a) it was absorbed better, and (b) it added a nice salt taste to the G.F. juice. When I went on statins, I had to stop because the two are contraindicated. When you have time, read this Drugs.com article and this NIH article on statins and grapefruit juice. Even this 23 page Pfizer Lipitor dosing information pdf says "...especially with excessive grapefruit juice consumption (>1.2 liters per day)." They are now admonishing moderation but not abstinence, or so it would seem.
Grapefruit juice and, to a lesser extent, orange juice, can enhance the potency of some medications, so it might be that pineapple has a similar effect.
I don't do grapefruit or it's juice for that reason. I decided against the pineapple. I did have a plate of fruit, a dozen grapes, a banana sliced, a peeled orange, its slices cut in half, and a gram graham cracker with peanut butter spread on it. A sweet delight.
I would be more concerned about taking statins and the high risk they offer for a heart attack. Statins at any level that reduces ALL cholesterol both good and bad will effects one's muscles. The heart is a muscle and the chances of having heart problems from cholesterol are less than from taking statins. There is a very informative book about this a heart specialist wrote years ago. It was met with disapproval because of the big dollars made and lesser patient lifestyle changes required with dispensing statins. An easy fix for both the doctor and patient until muscular and heart problems from taking statins prevail. The benefits of fresh pineapple far outweigh the benefits of long-term medication. I would stop taking anything that contradicted with a short-term necessary medication, but I would choose fresh pineapple or grapefruit over any long-term medication that it contradicts. In my thinking when a natural healthy food contradicts a medication needed long term, then I see the natural food as being the real medication and call for a lifestyle change. The contradiction is trying to tell your body where the problem really lies. I am not opposed to long-term necessary medication, just those with contradictions with healthy naturally occurring otherwise healthy foods. Daily eating of fresh grapefruit and/or pineapple or drinking their natural unsweetened juice, will reduce cholesterol in a safe and healthy way provided one deduces bad fats and gets daily exercise.