Pineapple is an incredibly healthy and tasty tropical fruit.
It is native to South America, where early European explorers named it for its resemblance to a pinecone.
This popular fruit is packed with nutrients, antioxidants, and other helpful compounds, such as enzymes that can fight inflammation and disease.
Pineapple and its compounds have been linked to numerous health benefits, including aiding digestion , boosting the immune system, and speeding recovery after surgery, among others.

Here are 8 awesome health benefits of pineapple.

1. Lots of macronutrients

Pineapples are low in calories, but have an incredibly impressive nutrient profile. One cup (5.8 ounces or 165 grams) of pineapple chunks contains the following:

- Calories: 82.5
- Lipids: 1.7 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
- Carbohydrates: 21.6 grams
- Fibre: 2.3 grams
- Vitamin C: 131% of the AQR ( Recommended Daily Allowance )
- Manganese: 76% of the AQR
- Vitamin B6: 9% of the AQR
- Copper: 9% of the AQR
- Thiamine: 9% of the AQR
- Folate: 7% of the AQR
- Potassium: 5% of the AQR
- Magnesium: 5% of the AQR
- Niacin: 4% of the AQR
- Pantothenic acid: 4% of the AQR
- Riboflavin: 3% of the AQR
- Iron: 3% of the AQR

Pineapples also contain traces of vitamins A and K, phosphorus, zinc and calcium.
They are particularly rich in vitamin C and manganese, providing 131% and 76% of the daily recommendations respectively.
Vitamin C is essential for growth and development, the proper functioning of the immune system and the absorption of iron from food. As for manganese, it is a natural mineral that promotes growth, maintains a healthy metabolism and has antioxidant properties.

Summary: Pineapples are packed with a variety of vitamins and minerals. They are particularly rich in vitamin C and manganese.

2. Has Disease-Fighting Antioxidants

Not only are pineapples packed with nutrients, but they are also loaded with healthy antioxidants which will boost your health.

Antioxidants are molecules that help your body fight oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress is a condition in which there are too many free radicals in the body. These free radicals interact with cells in the body and cause damage that is linked to chronic inflammation, a weakened immune system and many diseases.

Pineapples are particularly high in antioxidants called flavonoids and phenolic acids.

Additionally, many of the antioxidants in pineapple are linked. This allows the antioxidants to survive harsher conditions in the body and produce longer lasting effects.



Summary: Pineapples are a good source of antioxidants, which may reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. Many of the antioxidants in pineapple are bonded, so they may have longer-lasting effects.

3. Its enzymes help digestion

Pineapples contain a group of digestive enzymes known as bromelain.

They work like proteases, which break down protein molecules into their building blocks, such as amino acids and small peptides.

Once the protein molecules are broken down, they are more easily absorbed by the small intestine. This can be especially helpful for people with pancreatic insufficiency, a condition in which the pancreas cannot produce enough digestive enzymes.

For example, one study showed that participants with pancreatic insufficiency had better digestion after taking a digestive enzyme supplement containing bromelain, compared to taking the same digestive enzyme supplement without bromelain.

Bromelain is also widely used as a commercial meat tenderizer due to its ability to break down stubborn meat proteins.

Summary: Pineapples contain bromelain, a group of digestive enzymes that break down protein. This can aid digestion, especially in people with pancreatic insufficiency.

4. Pineapple protects health by reducing the risk of cancer

Cancer is a chronic disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth.

Its progression is usually related to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation.

Several studies have shown that pineapple and its compounds can reduce the risk of cancer. This is because they can minimize oxidative stress and reduce inflammation.

One of these compounds is the group of digestive enzymes called bromelain. Test-tube studies have shown that bromelain may also help fight cancer.

For example, two test-tube studies found that bromelain suppressed the growth of breast cancer cells and stimulated cell death.

Other test-tube studies show that bromelain suppresses cancer of the skin, bile duct, gastric system, and colon, among others.

Test-tube and animal studies have found that bromelain can stimulate the immune system to produce molecules that make white blood cells more effective at suppressing the growth of cancer cells and eliminating them.

That said, pineapple contains much less bromelain than supplements. More human research is needed before any conclusions can be drawn.

Summary: Pineapple contains compounds that reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, two phenomena linked to cancer. One of these compounds is the enzyme bromelain, which can stimulate cell death in certain cancer cells and facilitate the functioning of white blood cells.

5. Strengthens the immune system, anti-inflammatory

Pineapples have been part of traditional medicine for centuries.

They contain a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes like bromelain that can collectively boost immunity and suppress inflammation.

In a nine-week study, 98 healthy children were fed either no pineapple, a little pineapple (140g), or a lot of pineapple (280g) daily to see if it boosted their immunity.

Children who ate pineapple had a significantly lower risk of viral and bacterial infections. In addition, the children who ate the most pineapple had almost four times more disease-fighting white blood cells (granulocytes) than the other two groups.

Another study found that children with sinus infections recovered significantly faster when taking a bromelain supplement, compared to standard treatment or a combination of the two.

Additionally, studies have shown that bromelain can reduce markers of inflammation.

These anti-inflammatory properties are thought to help the immune system.

Summary: Pineapples have anti-inflammatory properties that may boost the immune system.

6. Soothes Arthritis Symptoms

Arthritis affects more than 6 million adults in France alone

There are many types of arthritis, but most of them involve inflammation of the joints.

As pineapples contain bromelain, which has anti-inflammatory properties, it is widely believed that they can provide pain relief for people with inflammatory arthritis. We also recommend this peeler with an ergonomic grip for people with arthritis.

In fact, research from as early as the 1960s shows that bromelain was used to relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, a type of arthritis that involves inflammation of the joints.

Several recent studies have examined the effectiveness of bromelain in the treatment of arthritis.

A study in patients with osteoarthritis found that taking a digestive enzyme supplement containing bromelain provided pain relief as effectively as common arthritis medications like diclofenac.

Additionally, one review analyzed bromelain's ability to treat osteoarthritis. She concluded that bromelain had the potential to relieve arthritis symptoms, especially in the short term.

However, it is uncertain whether bromelain can be a long-term treatment for arthritis symptoms. Longer studies are needed before recommending bromelain for arthritis symptom relief.

Summary: The anti-inflammatory properties of pineapple may provide short-term symptom relief for people with common types of arthritis.

7. Helps physical recovery after a long effort

Consumption of pineapple can reduce recovery time after surgery or physical exercise.

This is largely due to the anti-inflammatory properties of bromelain.

Several studies have shown that bromelain can reduce the inflammation, swelling, bruising and pain that often occurs after surgery. It also appears to reduce markers of inflammation.

For example, one study showed that people who consumed bromelain before dental surgery had significantly reduced pain and felt happier than people who did not. In fact, bromelain seemed to provide similar relief to common anti-inflammatory medications.

Strenuous exercise can also damage muscle tissue and cause surrounding inflammation . The affected muscles cannot produce as much force and are painful for up to three days.

Proteases like bromelain are believed to speed recovery from damage caused by intense exercise by reducing inflammation around damaged muscle tissue.

One study tested this theory by providing participants with a digestive enzyme supplement containing bromelain after 45 minutes of intense treadmill exercise. Those who took the supplement had less inflammation and retained more strength afterward.

Several other studies have shown that bromelain can speed recovery from damage caused by exercise.

Summary: The bromelain in pineapples may reduce inflammation, swelling, bruising and pain that occur after surgery. Bromelain's anti-inflammatory properties may also aid recovery after strenuous exercise by reducing tissue inflammation.

8. Pineapples are tasty

Pineapples are sweet, convenient, and easy to incorporate into your diet.

Financially affordable and available all year round in many French markets, as they can be purchased fresh, canned or frozen.

You can enjoy them on their own or in smoothies, salads or on homemade pizzas.

Here are some easy recipe ideas that use fresh pineapple:

Breakfast: Pineapple, blueberry and Greek yogurt smoothie.
Salad: Tropical salad of roast chicken, almonds, blueberries and pineapple.
Lunch: Homemade Hawaiian burgers (beef burgers with a ring of pineapple)
Dinner: Baked ham with pineapple and cherries
Dessert: Fruit salad with pineapple

Summary: Pineapples are delicious, accessible and easy to add to the diet.

Conclusion: pineapples are good for your health , so don't deprive yourself of them.

the team of my-peeler-vegetables.fr