An occasional pineapple has many benefits
- col-bobbie-randall
- March 20, 2025
- 765
Ever wonder about a pineapple?
There is no other fruit that even resembles this odd-shaped, lopsided sphere with spikes. One pineapple is a combination of dozens of individual flowerets to form the entire fruit.
An important fact about this unusual fruit is it is a nonclimacteric fruit. It does not ripen after picking. There is no way to ripen a pineapple that is picked before its prime. When selecting a whole, fresh pineapple, choose a heavy, solid fruit that has dark-green spikes. It will smell sweet at the base. The spikes can be plucked out without much effort. Don’t eat unripe fruit.
Archaeological evidence reveals pineapple has been found as far back as 1,200-800 B.C. in South America. It was widely distributed and became a staple food of Native Americans.
The first Europeans to encounter the pineapple were the explorers in the late 1,400s. Pineapples are synonymous with hospitality, warmth, friendship and generosity.
Botanists of that time used the term “apple” to describe any unfamiliar fruit that resembled an apple. They also thought this fruit resembled a pinecone on the outside and an apple on the inside. Thus the name pineapple stuck.
Don’t let that spiny skin intimidate you. Pineapple is sweet enough to rival most candies, and it has many health benefits. Aside from satisfying tastebuds, pineapples are packed full of fiber, vitamins and minerals, but its magic ingredient is an enzyme called bromelain. Pineapple is the only food known to contain bromelain.
Pineapples are powerhouses when it comes to boosting our health. It has been used as a home remedy for digestive issues, and it is bursting full of antioxidants. It can reduce the risk of inflammatory diseases and may help prevent cancer. Pineapple can support iron absorption, promote healing after injury and may help relieve arthritis symptoms.
The compounds in pineapple support the cardiovascular system, may promote healthy skin, contain antioxidants that protect the liver from damage, prevent osteoporosis and protect the eyes from age-related macular degeneration. Pineapple contains serotonin and tryptophan, which have mood-boosting and calming effects.
Medicinal uses have elevated pineapple to a functional food. Evidence shows bromelain can help stop coughs and loosen mucus in the throat. To get the most out of pineapple and bromelain, eat a slice of pineapple three times daily or drink 4 ounces of fresh pineapple juice a day. During cold, flu and RSV season, the additional vitamin C and mucus-loosening may bring relief.
Bromelain also has antibacterial properties that can protect your gut from diarrhea-causing bacteria. The enzymes in pineapple help break down protein in your gut, which can help reduce constipation, gas and bloating. It is even a meat tenderizer used before cooking.
You don’t need to eat pineapple every single day to see its benefits. Just eat it at least a few times a week. The enzymes in this tasty fruit can stay in your system for up to two days.
If you have a history of latex or pollen allergies, it’s possible to have an allergy to pineapple. Beware of itchiness, hives and redness around your mouth after eating pineapple.
Bobbie Randall is a registered, licensed dietitian. Email her at bobbierandallrd@gmail.com.