When most of us think of pineapples, we think of these delicious yellow tropical fruits which have been famous since ancient times for their remarkable and refreshing taste. But as years passed and science developed, studies have shown that this fruit hides far more things than just a good taste. To be more specific, some of the health benefits pineapples offer is their ability to improve oral health, eye health, reduce inflammation, strengthen bones, help you lose weight, fight off viruses, colds, infections, flus and boost the overall immune system.
This delicious fruit can be eaten fresh, cooked, juices, and you can even put the leaves to use, not for health benefits, but for wallpaper and ceiling insulation. But now let’s get back to the important part. This fruit is loaded with vitamins, minerals, nutrients, including copper, manganese, calcium, potassium, magnesium, beta carotene, vitamin C, thiamin, B6, folate and last but not least, bromelain and insoluble fiber.
Surprisingly enough, when all these properties start acting together, pineapple makes for a fruit which can treat a whole series of health conditions, and down below is a whole list of benefits this fruit provides with its everyday consumption.
11 Health Benefits Everyday Consumption of Pineapple Provides
- Arthritis Management
For starters, one of the most famous uses of pineapple when it comes to health is its ability to reduce inflammation, meaning that it can do wonders against arthritis, the pain caused from the condition, and the inflammation.
2. Boosts Immune System
One serving of pineapple contains more than 130% of the daily requirement of vitamin C, and since this vitamin is associated with reducing illness, boosting the immune system and promoting a healthier and stronger body, it means that this fruit does more than just get the job done.
3. Tissue and Cellular Health
Vitamin C has the ability to create collagen, making it a famous healing vitamin. Collagen on the other hand is the essential protein base of our skin, bones, organs, and blood vessel walls. This means that the high vitamin C content from pineapples also helps heal wounds and injuries faster.
4. Prevents Cancer
Pineapples are packed with various antioxidants such as beta carotene, bromelain, flavonoid compounds, manganese, vitamin A and many other, which do wonders when it comes to eliminating free radicals.
5. Aids Digestion
As we mentioned above, just like most fruits, pineapples are rich in fiber, meaning that their everyday consumption can not only protect you from a large number of health conditions, but you will also be less likely to experience diarrhea, consitpation, irritable bowel syndrome, blood clotting and blood pressure.
6. Treat Colds and Coughs
While vitamin C boost the immune system, bromelain, the special enzyme is connected with the reduction of phlegm and mucus build up in the respiratory tracts and helps treat coughs and colds by loosening these materials and eliminating them from the body.
7. Bone Health
Despite not having an over-the-top calcium content, pineapples contain a large dose of manganese, which is another essential mineral which plays an important part in the strengthening of bones and maintaining their health, growth and repair.
8. Oral Health
Pineapple also possess astringent properties that strengthen gums and make sure teeth don’t become loose throughout the years. These astringent agents also have a role to tighten up tissues and tone the body, meaning that issues such as hair loss, muscle weakness, skin loosening and wrinkling are all postponed and prevented with the everyday consumption of this fruit.
9. Eye Health
Vision is one of our most important senses, and most recent scientific studies have shown that the contents found in pineapples are directly associated with eye health, improving the vision, and preventing age-related deficiencies such as macular degeneration.
10. Blood Pressure
As we already mentioned, pineapples are an excellent source of many minerals, one of them which is potassium. Potassium deficiency results in a number of health conditions, and if our body is lacking the proper dosage, it might experience high blood pressure, increased stressed on our blood vessels, and blood clots. However, by consuming pineapple frequently, our blood vessels relax, blood pressure is reduced and this prevents blood clots from forming.
11. Blood Flow
Related to the blood pressure issue above, pineapples also provide our bodies with copper which is another essential mineral that functions in several enzymatic reactions and compounds taking place in our bodies. Copper is an element required for the formation of healthy red blood cells. This increases oxygenation of our organs and makes them function at optimal levels, while increasing cognitive abilities and maintaining neural pathways, which as a result prevents neural disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Caution: It is highly important to keep in mind that bromelain, the enzyme found in pineapple is a meat-tenderizing enzyme, which is why it is so helpful in the digestion of tough foods. However, this enzyme can also soften your “meat”, such as gums, lips and tongue. These parts might experience sensitivity if you consume too much pineapple, and an overdose can lead to nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and headaches.
Another thing you should know is that bromelain is an enzyme which stimulates menstruation, meaning that pregnant women should avoid excessive consumption of pineapple, as its high levels can lead to a miscarriage in some rare cases.