Pineapple: Well being advantages, dangers & vitamin details

Pineapples are tropical fruits which are wealthy in nutritional vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants. They could assist enhance the immune system, construct sturdy bones and assist indigestion. Plus, regardless of their sweetness, pineapples are low in energy.

Pineapples are members of the bromeliad household, and are the one bromeliad that produces edible fruit, based on the Purdue College Middle for New Crops and Plant Merchandise. The fruit is manufactured from many particular person berries that develop collectively round a central core. Every pineapple scale is a person flower, or berry.

The dietary advantages of pineapples are as enticing as their distinctive anatomy. “Pineapples include excessive quantities of vitamin C and manganese,” mentioned San Diego-based nutritionist Laura Flores. These tropical fruits are additionally a great way to get essential dietary fiber and bromelain (an enzyme).

“In addition to having excessive quantities of manganese, which is essential for antioxidant defenses, pineapples additionally include excessive quantities of thiamin, a B vitamin that’s concerned in power manufacturing,” Flores mentioned.

For all its sweetness, one cup of pineapple chunks accommodates solely 74 energy, based on the USDA Nationwide Nutrient Database. Pineapples are additionally fat-free, cholesterol-free and low in sodium. Not surprisingly, they do include sugar, with about 14 grams per cup.

Diet details

Listed here are the vitamin details for uncooked pineapple, based on the U.S. Division of Agriculture:

Serving measurement: 1 cup chunks (165 g)

Quantity per serving:

Energy 74

Complete Fats 0 g

Ldl cholesterol 0 mg

Sodium 2 mg

Potassium 206 mg

Complete Carbohydrate 19.5 g

Sugars 13.7 g

Protein 1g

Vitamin C 28 mg

Calcium 21 mg

The dietary profile for canned pineapple is completely different from uncooked pineapple. In response to the USDA, canned pineapple is usually increased in energy and better in sugar. It additionally accommodates fewer nutritional vitamins and minerals. When you do go for canned pineapple, attempt to get it with no added sugar or search for a range that’s canned in fruit juice as an alternative of syrup.

Pineapples develop on the central stalk of a big plant with swordlike leaves (Picture credit score: Getty)

Well being advantages

Pineapple accommodates a big quantity of vitamin C, a water-soluble antioxidant that fights cell harm, based on the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State College. This makes vitamin C a useful fighter in opposition to issues akin to coronary heart illness and joint ache.

Pineapple might assist you to maintain standing tall and robust. One cup of uncooked pineapple chunks accommodates 2.6 mg of manganese, a mineral that is essential for growing sturdy bones and connective tissue, based on the Linus Pauling Institute. A 2020 examine additionally recommended that manganese might assist decrease the danger of kind 2 diabetes in post-menopausal ladies.

The number of nutritional vitamins and minerals in pineapples have many different well being advantages, too. For instance, “pineapples may also help scale back the danger of macular degeneration, a illness that impacts the eyes as folks age, due partly to its excessive quantity of vitamin C and the antioxidants it accommodates,” Flores mentioned.

Like many different vegetables and fruit, pineapple accommodates dietary fiber, which is crucial in protecting you common and in protecting your intestines wholesome, based on the Mayo Clinic.

However in contrast to many different fruits and veggies, pineapple accommodates vital quantities of bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down protein, which can assist with digestion, based on the American Most cancers Society. A number of research have recommended that bromelain is also useful in treating osteoarthritis.

Extreme irritation is commonly related to most cancers, and based on the Memorial Sloan Kettering Most cancers Middle, bromelain and different proteolytic enzymes have been proven to extend the survival charges of animals with varied tumors.

Pineapples have quite a few confirmed well being advantages (Picture credit score: Getty / Royalty Free)

Flores famous that due to their bromelain ranges, pineapples may also help scale back extreme coagulation of the blood. This makes pineapple a great snack for frequent fliers and others in danger for blood clots.

Along with having plenty of vitamin C, pineapple’s bromelain might assist scale back mucus within the throat and nostril together with honey, based on a examine on the US Nationwide Library of Medication. So in case your chilly has you coughing, attempt some pineapple chunks. These with allergy symptoms might need to contemplate incorporating pineapple into their diets extra recurrently to scale back sinus mucus long run.

Well being dangers

“As a result of pineapple is a good meat tenderizer, consuming an excessive amount of can lead to tenderness of the mouth, together with the lips, tongue and cheeks,” Flores mentioned. “However, [it] ought to resolve itself inside just a few hours.” But when the sensation persists, or in case you expertise a rash, hives or respiration difficulties, you need to search medical assist instantly, as you possibly can have a pineapple allergy.

Flores identified a doable damaging to pineapple’s excessive ranges of vitamin C. “Due to the excessive quantity of vitamin C that pineapples include, consuming massive portions might induce diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, belly ache or heartburn,” she mentioned.

Moreover, extraordinarily excessive quantities of bromelain may cause pores and skin rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, and extreme menstrual bleeding, based on Medical Information At present. Bromelain may also work together with some medicines. These taking antibiotics, anticoagulants, blood thinners, anticonvulsants, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, insomnia medication and tricyclic antidepressants ought to be cautious to not eat an excessive amount of pineapple.

Consuming unripe pineapple or ingesting unripe pineapple juice is harmful, based on the horticulture division at Purdue College. Unripe pineapple is poisonous to people and might result in extreme diarrhea and vomiting. You need to keep away from consuming an excessive amount of of the pineapple core because it might trigger fiber balls to kind within the digestive tract.