Pineapples are pretty, but it's more than a centerpiece for your fancy fruit tray. It's loaded with manganese, which your body uses to build bone, and collagen, the protein that builds connective tissues like cartilage and skin.

You need calcium to keep your bones strong, but you need manganese too. Doctors at the University of Texas in Austin say studies show that people with osteoporosis generally have low levels of manganese in their systems. Drinking pineapple juice is an excellent way to add it to your diet.

There's more. Pineapple has a potent enzyme called bromelain. It is the basis for pineapple's centuries-old reputation for relieving indigestion by helping to break down protein. While you probably won't eat pineapple after every meal, adding a few pieces to your dessert can help to keep your stomach calm. Bromelain reduces inflamation, working in much the same way as aspirin. And it helps your heart by keeping blood platelets from clumping. (There is more bromelain in fresh pineapple than in canned, according to Prevention.) A great source of vitamin C, pineapple works as a powerful antioxidant, cleaning up free radicals that damage cells and contribute to the development of cancer and heart disease. One cup of pineapple juice contains more vitamin C than the same amount of apple, cranberry, or tomato juice.