10 Awesome Health Benefits of Pineapple
The properties of pineapple have long been used in traditional medicine.
This fruit is used, among others, to treat respiratory infections, to improve digestion or to help in healing wounds and fractures, and even to remove parasites from the digestive tract.
Since the 1970s, pineapple has also been used by doctors. All thanks to the vitamins, minerals, fruit acids and bromelain (bromelin) – a group of enzymes with many medicinal properties.
Pineapple has been a star of alternative medicine for years, but only recently the healing properties of pineapple were discovered by doctors.
Mainly thanks to bromelain – a group of enzymes that show, among others, anti-inflammatory, anti-swelling, and slimming properties – pineapple is an awesome fruit that should be added to your diet.
Health Benefits of Pineapple
1. Pineapple relieves inflammation and pain
Bromelain found in pineapples has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, which is why it is successfully used in sports medicine for the treatment of post-traumatic edemas, mainly inflammatory states of the joints.
Bromelain has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, it inhibits the synthesis of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins that cause pain and inflammation. As some researchers have argued, bromelain exhibits similar properties to analgesic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
2. Pineapple for healthy joints
Because bromelain has analgesic properties, it is perfect for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
It is also used in the case of a gout attack because it relieves pain and additionally facilitates the removal of excess uric acid from the body, which is the cause of this disease.
3. Pineapple can prevent osteoporosis
Pineapple is a source of manganese, iron, and copper – elements that are keeping the bones healthy.
Manganese facilitates the absorption of calcium by the body and its absorption into the bone tissue.
In turn, iron prevents bone fragility, and copper plays an important role in the formation of collagen – a protein that comes into their composition.
That is why pineapple protects your bones and also helps to prevent osteoporosis.
4. Pineapple for hard-healing wounds
Bromelain supports healing wounds, including burns and post-operative wounds, and acts on them as a disinfectant.
In some countries, such as Japan and Taiwan, bromelain is also used in the case of insect bites and animal bites.
5. Pineapple supports the work of the digestive system
Bromelain, by degrading proteins to polypeptides, improves and speeds up the digestion process.
Therefore, it is used for indigestion and poor secretion of gastric juices.
It can also prevent constipation and bloat.
6. Pineapple for respiratory infections
Bromelain relieves many infections of the respiratory system. For example, gargling with fresh pineapple juice ease a sore throat.
From the preliminary research, we also know that bromelain reduces the density of mucus, which in the future may prove to be an effective drug for asthma and chronic bronchitis.
7. Pineapple lowers blood pressure and prevents blood clots
It has been proven that bromelain acts as an anticoagulant – it prevents the platelets from sticking together and dissolves already formed blood clots, thus preventing coronary disease or thrombophlebitis.
8. Pineapple supports the immune system
100 g of pineapple contains 48 mg of vitamin C, that’s 80% of the daily demand.
Vitamin C not only supports the immune system. It also acts as an antioxidant that defends the cells from free radicals.
9. Pineapple for muscle mass
Bromelain increases the assimilability of proteins, which are the building material of muscles, and enables their fuller digestion, which indirectly contributes to the increase of muscle mass.
10. Pineapple and weight loss
Pineapple owes its weight loss properties primarily to bromelain, which accelerates the metabolism.
Bromelain also has cleansing properties – it improves microcirculation and helps remove excess fluids from the body.
Pineapple is also a source of pectin – dietary fiber, which swells and fills the stomach, giving a feeling of satiety for a long time. This fiber also supports the detoxification of the body.
It’s important to remember that only fresh and ripe pineapple has such properties. The one from the can, bathed in sugar syrup, is a caloric bomb, devoid of vitamins and minerals.
IMPORTANT! Pineapple is a rich source of simple sugars. So, it’s best to eat it in the first half of the day, so that the body has a chance to burn them.
Pineapple – calories, nutritional value and curiosities
Pineapple and diabetes
Fresh pineapple is a rich source of simple sugars, which quickly and significantly raises the level of glucose in the blood (its glycemic index is high: IG = 59). Therefore, diabetics should consume it in limited quantities.
In turn, dried and canned pineapples, which have a significant amount of carbohydrates, should be completely eliminated from the diet of people with diabetes.
Pineapple and pregnancy
Some suggest that immature pineapple and juice from its leaves are harmful to pregnant women and even can cause miscarriage. There is no scientific evidence for this.
Nevertheless, doctors emphasize that pregnant women should not eat it every day and in very large quantities – like any product. The menu of the future mother should be varied.