Pineapple

1. Rich Source of Immune-Boosting Vitamin C

While there are relatively few pineapple calories in a cup, one serving has a whopping 131 percent of your daily value of the antioxidant vitamin C. Vitamin C is commonly used to support immune system function and minimize coughs, colds and flu symptoms.

Studies suggest that children and adults who consume fruits high in vitamin C regularly may experience protection against infections, both viral and bacterial, as well as greater protection against cancer.

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a role in maintaining the health of the body’s connective tissue as well as acting as an antioxidant. As an antioxidant it has the ability to synthesize collagen.

What is collagen? It is the main protein in the body responsible for maintaining healthy blood vessels and organs.

Vitamin C can also help with skin problems, like a sunburn or dried and irritated skin.

You can add pineapple to homemade body scrubs to get these benefits. Because of the vitamin C content in it, this amazing fruit can help your body fight off free radical damage and reduce inflammation, which are known to contribute to the development of cancer.

2. High in Fiber

Fruits that are high in fiber may help lower your risk of chronic diseases, including colorectal cancer. Fiber can also lower your blood glucose levels.

Type 2 diabetics are encouraging to consume whole fruits and veggies, according to the American Diabetes Association, for their fiber and essential nutrients. They may show signs of improved blood sugar, lipids and insulin levels when including these foods in their diets.

Are pineapples good for weight loss? Fiber is the reason there may be pineapple benefits for weight loss.

Because of its high fiber content and volume, one of the benefits of pineapple is that it can help make you feel full with little calories.

Can pineapple reduce belly fat? It can help prevent constipation and promote regularity and a healthy digestive tract, which means it’s helpful for reducing a bloated stomach.

3. Helps Protect Against Cardiovascular Disease and Obesity

The benefits of pineapple extend to heart health because of its potassium, vitamin C and antioxidants. Studies conducted on both humans and animals have found that one of the benefits of pineapple juice is that it has cardioprotective abilities.

High fruit intake is known to have disease-preventing effects, while high potassium intakes are also associated with a reduced risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and stroke; protection against loss of muscle mass; preservation of bone mineral density; and reduction in the formation of kidney stones.

Additionally, studies have found that pineapple juice may have beneficial effects on body weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat accumulation, liver fat deposition and blood lipids due its impact on levels of hormones that regulate hunger and obesity. It’s been shown that pineapple juice supplementation may help significantly decrease insulin and have anti-obesity effects, which can lower the risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Pineapples also help improve heart health because of the effects of powerful bromelain, which can fight blood clotting and is nature’s answer to those taking an aspirin a day to lower the risk of heart attack. Bromelain has been shown to stop blood platelets from sticking together or building up along the walls of blood vessels — both known causes of heart attacks or strokes.

4. May Help Prevent Asthma

The beta-carotene that is found in plant foods like pineapples may help lower the risk of respiratory inflammation and asthma.

Toxins, poor nutrition, pollution, antibiotic abuse and stress play a large role in the development of asthma. All of these factors cause inflammation, but luckily one of the benefits of pineapple is that it can help reduce inflammation through its detoxifying capabilities.

5. Provides Nutrients that Aid in Mental Health

A 2020 study found that consumption of vegetables and fruits that have a high content of nutrients may be of importance in the case of preventing depressive disorders.

Nutrients such as carbohydrates and antioxidants found in pineapple may help improve your mood and fight depression and anxiety. It is a good source of the amino acid tryptophan, which studies show is used by the body to produce enough serotonin, one of our main “happy hormones.”

Consuming enough of this amino acid, in addition to other nutrients like B vitamins, is important to support your neurological system, for energy and for the production of good mood hormones.

6. Reduces Inflammation

The benefits of pineapple include the ability to help those suffering from arthritis and joint pain. This is due to bromelain, which has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.

It is also very useful for treating sporting injuries, including sprains, and can help counter pain.

Bromelain works on inflammation by blocking metabolites that cause swelling. It also decreases swelling by activating a chemical in the blood that breaks down fibrin, thus leading to reduced swelling.

Bromelain is often recommended to be taken before surgeries to speed healing time and decrease inflammation commonly associated with surgical procedures.

A study done at Duke University Medical Center that was conducted on 100 mice that suffered from colitis (inflammation of the colon) showed that long-term dietary supplementation with fresh or unpasteurized frozen pineapple juice with active bromelain enzymes is safe and effectively decreases inflammation severity.

Another study was done on patients who suffer from sinusitis, which is the inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. This can be caused by an infection, an allergy or an autoimmune issue.

7. Aids Digestion

For digestion, eating pineapple serves as a powerful aid in breaking down proteins into peptides and amino acids. It can ease the symptoms of ulcerative colitis and acid reflux, and it helps the general digestive processes.

Does pineapple make you poop? While it doesn’t typically have laxative effects, it provides water and electrolytes (like most fruits and veggies do) that can aid in regularity.

Bromelain also seems useful in helping prevent autoimmune responses due to common food allergies. Studies have found evidence that eating pineapple may help those who had celiac disease, an allergy to the protein gluten that is found in wheat, barley and rye products, due to the presence of the bromelain enzyme.