José Manuel Felices, doctor: “For cravings, this fruit is the best because it contains bromelain”

No one should feel guilty about wanting to eat something at a random moment during the day. It is called a craving. The Royal Spanish Academy defines it as a “pressing and temporary desire, usually whimsical.”

Although the second part of that definition carries a slightly negative tone, the truth is that there is nothing wrong with it. It is completely normal. Readers should also know that there are many ways to satisfy that feeling without negatively affecting the body.

One of those methods is actually used by Vinícius Júnior. The Real Madrid forward recently told Ibai Llanos in a video that when he feels hungry and wants something to eat, his go-to trick is pineapple.

“Fruit, fruit. I like fruit. And pineapple,” he said. The video caught the attention of physician and science communicator José Manuel Felices, who posted a video on social media explaining why this is actually a great choice.

“Health is balance, not punishment”

“Vinícius chooses pineapple... and he’s a genius,” the doctor said. He added that “pineapple works so well for sweet cravings because it contains bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down proteins.”

According to him, this substance makes pineapple “slightly break down the surface of your tongue, and that tingling sensation saturates the receptors,” which ultimately reduces the urge to eat sweets afterward.

That said, there is no need to panic about sweet cravings. “Keep in mind that Vinícius is an elite athlete who makes a living with his body. You and I are human. If one day you feel like having something sweet, that’s perfectly fine,” he reassured viewers. He encouraged his followers to try “Vinícius’ pineapple trick,” while emphasizing that it does not need to become a strict rule.

“Still, if you feel like eating something sweet one day, nothing happens. Learning the pineapple trick can help keep sweets from becoming a constant habit. Health is balance, not punishment,” he concluded, ending with a simple takeaway that may be the most common piece of nutrition advice of all: “Let this video be a reminder to eat more fruit.”

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