11 Amazing Benefits Of Pineapples

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Pineapple, a delicious tropical fruit, has been celebrated for centuries not only for
its unique taste but also for its miraculous health benefits. The health and
medicinal benefits of pineapple include boosting the immune system, respiratory
health, aiding digestion, strengthening bones, reducing inflammation, curing
coughs and colds, and weight loss.

Table of Contents
What is Pineapple?
Nutritional Value of Pineapple
Health Benefits of Pineapple
o Treats Arthritis
o Boosts Immunity
o Speeds-up Wound Healing
o Prevents Cancer
o Aids Digestion
o Treats Cough and Cold
o Improves Bone Health
o Improves Oral Health
o Improves Vision
o Regulates Blood Pressure
o Improves Blood Circulation

What Is Pineapple?
Pineapple, also known as ananas, is a delicious tropical fruit that is surrounded by
thorny spikes and topped with hard, waxy leaves that are sometimes up to thirty
per fruit. The fruit is up to a foot long and has a combination of sweet and tart
taste.
Pineapple belongs to the Bromeliaceae family and is actually a composite fruit
made of coalesced berries that grow at the crown of a fruiting tree. The name
pineapple evolved in the 17th century due to its structure and appearance being
similar to pine cones.

Historically, Hawaii had the largest production of pineapples, but they are now
cultivated in large quantities in Brazil, the Philippines, and Costa Rica. That being
said, the fruit is native to Paraguay and Brazil, and possibly parts of the Caribbean.
The exact evolution of pineapple as a popular global fruit is still unknown;
however, it is believed that pineapple was first brought to Europe following
Christopher Columbuss return there in 1493.

The fruiting season of pineapple runs from March until June, and each tree can
produce a number of fruits. It is eaten fresh, juiced, cooked, and preserved, and its
leaves are even used as wallpaper and ceiling insulation. Pineapple and its juice are
enjoyed around the world, even as a popular flavor in alcoholic beverages, the
most famous of which is the tropical drink, pina colada!

Nutritional Value Of Pineapple

Pineapple is a storehouse of several health benefits due to its wealth of
nutrients, vitamins, and minerals,
including potassium, copper, manganese, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, beta-
carotene, thiamin, vitamin B6, and folate, as well as soluble and insoluble fiber,
and bromelain.

Health Benefits Of Pineapple

The pineapple fruit is known to offer several benefits. Let us discuss each benefit
in detail below.

Treats Arthritis
One of the most celebrated uses of pineapple in terms of health is its ability to
reduce the inflammation of joints and muscles, particularly those associated
 with arthritis, a debilitating disease that affects millions of people around the
world. Pineapple contains a relatively rare proteolytic enzyme called bromelain,
which is primarily associated with breaking down of complex proteins and has
serious anti-inflammatory effects. Bromelain is also positively correlated with
reducing the signs and symptoms of arthritis in many.

Also see

Can Dogs Eat Pineapple?

10 Amazing Health Benefits Of Pineapple Juice
Boosts Immunity
A single serving of pineapple has more than 130% of the daily requirement of
vitamin C for human beings, making it one of the richest and most delicious
sources of ascorbic acid. Vitamin C helps in reducing illnesses and boosting the
immune system by stimulating the activity of white blood cells and acting as an
antioxidant to defend against the harmful effects of free radicals. Free radicals are
dangerous byproducts of cellular metabolism that can damage various organ
systems and disrupt function, as well as cause healthy cells to mutate into
cancerous ones. The vitamin C content of pineapple defends against this.

Speeds-up Wound Healing

One of the commonly overlooked benefits of vitamin C is its essential role
in creating collagen. This is partly the reason why it is seen as a healing vitamin
because collagen is the essential protein base of blood vessel walls, skin, organs,
and bones. High vitamin C content in pineapple helps you heal wounds and
injuries quickly, along with defending your body against infections and illnesses.

Prevents Cancer
Pineapple has been directly related to preventing cancers of the mouth, throat, and
breast, as it is rich in various antioxidants, including vitamin A, beta carotene,
bromelain, various flavonoid compounds, and high levels of manganese.
Manganese is an important cofactor of superoxide dismutase, an extremely potent
free radical scavenger that has been associated with a number of different cancers.

Aids Digestion
Eating pineapple regularly can protect you from a vast amount of health
conditions, including constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel
syndrome, atherosclerosis, and blood clotting, as well as high blood pressure.
Pineapple, rich in fiber, promotes the passage of food through the digestive tract at
a normal rate and stimulates the release of gastric and digestive juices to help food
dissolve. It also bulks up the loose stool, which helps in treating diarrhea and IBS.
 Furthermore, bromelain in pineapple stimulates protein digestion, reduces gut
inflammation, and therefore, treats digestive diseases.

Treats Cough and Cold

Pineapple is rich in both bromelain and vitamin C, therefore eating pineapple helps
in preventing and treating respiratory illnesses, and eliminating phlegm and mucus
from your body if youve already contracted an illness or infection. The immune
system boosting property of vitamin C is well known, but that special enzyme,
bromelain, is also connected with the reduction of phlegm and mucus build up in
the respiratory tracts and sinus cavities.

Also see

10 Wonderful Benefits Of Pineapple Guava (Feijoa)

9 Amazing Benefits of Persimmons

Improves Bone Health

Although pineapple is not famous for having strong calcium content, which most
people immediately associate with bone health, it does have an
impressive amount of manganese. Manganese is another trace mineral essential for
the strengthening of bones, as well as its growth and repair. It is the most
prominent mineral in pineapple, and a single serving can provide you with more
than 70% of your daily requirement of this mineral.

Improves Oral Health

Along with the antioxidant compounds that protect against oral cancer, pineapple
also has astringent properties, which strengthen gums and teeth. Astringent agents
help to tighten up tissues and tone the body so that tooth loss, hair loss, and muscle
weakness or skin loosening do not occur. Pineapple is a very powerful astringent
and is often prescribed as a natural remedy to fix the loosening of teeth or for the
retraction of gums.
Improves Vision
The eye is the most important sensory organ of the human body and pineapple has
the ability to improve eye healthand prevent other age-related eye diseases.
Macular degeneration affects many elderly people, and beta-carotene present in
pineapple can help delay this vision problem.

Regulates Blood Pressure

Pineapple is a valuable source of many minerals, and potassium is among them.
Potassium deficiency can result in a wide array of health hazards. The
vasodilator action of potassium eases the tension and stress of the blood vessels
and increases blood circulation to various parts of the body. When your blood
vessels relax, the blood pressure is reduced and the flow of blood is less restricted.
This can prevent clots from blocking the flow of blood and reduce the
accumulation of plaque in the arteries and vessels which, in turn, help prevent
conditions like atherosclerosis, heartattacks, and strokes. So, eat pineapples for a
healthy heart!

Improves Blood Circulation

In a related benefit to the vasodilating potential of potassium, pineapple
also provides the body with copper, another essential mineral that functions in a
number of enzymatic reactions and compounds in the body. Most notably, copper
is a necessary element for the formation of healthy red blood cells. High red blood
cell count increases oxygenation to the various organ systems and makes them
function at optimal levels. It also increases cognitive abilities and can maintain
neural pathways to prevent neural disorders like dementia and Alzheimers disease.

Word of Caution

The benefits of eating pineapple are clear from the impressive list of qualities that
you just read, but any food or fruit should be eaten in moderation, including
pineapple. The bromelain enzyme present in pineapple is primarily a meat-
tenderizing enzyme, which helps in the digestion of tough foods. This can result in
the softening or tenderness of your meat as well, meaning that your lips, gums,
and tongue may experience some tenderness or sensitivity if you eat too much
pineapple. Bromelain and vitamin C are present in high proportions in pineapple,
and an overdose can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and nausea. Also,
bromelain has been known to stimulate menstruation, so pregnant women should
avoid excessive intake of pineapple in order to prevent any chances of a
miscarriage.

Keeping the health concerns in mind, grab one of these spiky tropical fruits and dig
in. Your body will thank you for it!
+ References
Article last updated on October 07, 2017 by OrganicFacts