By John Salak –
Pineapple. Just the sound of the word has a friendly, reassuring ring. Not surprisingly, people are going wild over this sweet, luscious tropical fruit. In fact, in the last 20 years, the average per capita U.S. consumption of pineapple has almost tripled to over 8 pounds.
And why not. It’s used in smoothies, frozen fruit treats and cocktails (think Pina Coladas). The juice is even used to tenderize meat. What’s not to like.
But just because pineapple is adored, doesn’t mean it’s healthy or nutritious. Think about it. Junior’s cheesecake has legions of fans, but that doesn’t mean eating four slices a day is a good idea. Thankfully, pineapple fruit and juice largely come up as healthy winners—with certain caveats.
In fact, various reports tout that pineapple juice offers up anywhere from 5 to 14 major health benefits.
Home Remedies, an online health information platform, notes Americans are drawn to pineapple juice because it’s sweet and low in calories at 132 per cup. It is also chocked with “important enzymes, minerals, and vitamins, including vitamin B6, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and thiamine, which provide various health benefits.”
This storied juice can also boost immune systems, aid digestion, help fight cancer, support vibrant skin and improve eye health, according to MedicalNewstoday.com.
Healthline.com added that the high level of bromelain in pineapple juice may reduce inflammation and, by preventing the formation of blood clots and minimizing the severity of angina pectoris, promote heart health.
Not enough? OrganicFacts.net doubled down on the juice’s worth, citing 14 different benefits. It cited that pineapple juice improves mood swings, helps aid coughing, lowers blood pressure, enhances muscle function, spurs growth and assists in reducing body fat. Apparently, just about the only thing pineapple juice is reveal what happened on the grassy knoll in Dallas in ’63.
Okay, that’s the good news about pineapple juice—and there’s plenty of it. There are, of course, some warnings and drawbacks.
First off, Home Remedies recommends never consuming unripe pineapples. It is highly toxic and be dangerous to people. Since most people get their fruit from stores, there is little concern here. But there are other issues to watch.
Eating too much pineapple can lead to diarrhea, excessive menstrual bleeding, skin rashes and vomiting.
Also, watch drinking pineapple juice if you’re pregnant. It can lead to uterine contractions that could result in a miscarriage or premature labor.
In addition, people can be allergic to the fruit and juice. Symptoms would include a swollen tongue, lips or inner cheeks, hives or rashes and even difficulty breathing. If these surface, stop consuming pineapple in any form and call a doctor.
Finally, in rare cases, pineapple can react to certain medicines.
Ultimately, if you’re not impacted by these concerns, then drink up and enjoy.
