Health Benefits of Pineapples

Consuming fruits and vegetables have health benefits and it’s associated with reduced risk of many lifestyle-related health conditions, increasing consumptions of plant foods like pineapples reduce the risk of developing diseases. Pineapples have great impact on health and the medicinal benefits include the ability to improve respiratory health, cure coughs and cold, help the digestive system, prevent cancer, fight infections, boost immune system, increase circulation, stronger bone and it also promotes a healthy complexion and hair, increased energy and help to lose weight. Pineapples can be eaten fresh, juiced, cooked, and preserved.

Pineapples and the sweet juice are used and enjoyed around the world, even as a popular flavour in alcoholic drinks. Pineapple has a Nutritional Value, it contains vitamins, and minerals, including potassium, copper, manganese, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, beta- carotene,  thiamin, B6, and folate, also soluble and insoluble fibre and bromelain.

Health Benefits of Pineapples

Pineapple has many benefits to health; here are few health benefits of pineapple:

• Age-related macular degeneration: Vision is one of the most important senses for human beings; pineapples boost eye health and prevent the age-related deficiencies. The higher intake of fruits decreases the risk and progression of age-related macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is the loss of vision, it happens when the small part of the retina called macula deteriorate. It is a painless eye condition usually happens to both eyes. By eating fruits can reduce this condition developing early.
• Arthritis:  The health benefits of eating pineapple is its ability to reduce swelling of joints and muscles, particularly those associated with arthritis, which is one of the diseases that affects millions of people around the world. Pineapples contain Bromelain primarily associated with breaking down complex proteins, but it also has anti-inflammatory effects, and reduces the signs and symptoms of arthritis.
• Immune System: Pineapple serves as antioxidant protection and immune support. A single serving of pineapple has more than 130% of the daily requirement of vitamin-C for human beings, making it one of the richest and most delicious sources of ascorbic acid.  Vitamin C reduces illness and boosts the immune system by helping the white blood cells function; it also acts as an antioxidant to protect against the harmful effects of free radicals. 
• Fertility: Foods with high antioxidant like pineapple can battle free radicals. Pineapple contains antioxidant such as vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamins and minerals, copper, zinc and folate, which can fight free radicals that can damage the reproductive organs both in male and female fertility.
• Tissue and Cellular Health: Another benefit of vitamin C is creating collagen, and collagen is an essential protein base of blood vessel walls, skin, organs, and bones. The High vitamin C content in pineapple helps you heal wounds and injuries to the body, it also protect against infections and illness.
• Cancer Prevention: Pineapple is an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin C; it helps to combat the formation of free radicals, which causes cancer. Pineapples are known for preventing cancers of the mouth, throat, and breast.
• Digestion: Pineapples are rich in fibre, they contain both soluble and insoluble fibre and because of the fibre and water content in pineapple help to prevent constipation and promote healthy digestive tract. This means that eating a healthy amount of pineapples can protect you from a vast amount of health conditions. It helps the passage of food through the digestive tract at a normal rate; stimulates the release of gastric and digestive juices to help food dissolve. The fibre in pineapple strips the blood vessels clean of excess cholesterol also eliminates it from the body, thereby boosting cardiovascular health.
• Coughs and Colds: Pineapple contains Vitamin C, which boost the immune system, also the bromelain in Pineapple, is also connected with the reduction of phlegm and mucus build up in the respiratory tracts and sinus cavities; It prevents the illnesses that cause phlegm and mucus build-up, also treating them by loosening those materials and helping you eliminate them from your body.
• Skin: Pineapple contains antioxidant vitamin C that can help fight skin damage caused by the sun and pollution, it also reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture. The vitamin C in pineapple also helps with the formation of collagen.
• Bone Health: Pineapple has some amount of manganese, which is another trace mineral that is vital in bone strengthening, growth and repair.
• Oral Health: Pineapple contains antioxidant compounds that protect against oral cancer, it also has astringent properties, which strengthen the gums and make the teeth stronger. Pineapples are very powerful astringents and are often prescribed as a natural remedy to fix the gum and loosening of teeth.
• Blood Pressure: Pineapples are a valuable source of potassium, which is one of the most important minerals in the body; one of the most important functions of potassium is to ease the tension and stress off the blood vessels and promotes blood circulation to various parts of the body. When your blood vessels relax, your blood pressure is reduced and the flow of blood is less restricted preventing clots from blocking the flow of blood and reduces the accumulation of plaque in the arteries and vessels. This can help people prevent conditions like atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes. So eat your pineapples for a healthy heart!
• Blood Circulation: Pineapples provide the body with copper, another essential mineral. Copper helps in the formation of healthy red blood cells; It also increases cognitive abilities and can maintain neural pathways to prevent neural disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease!

Advice

Having said that pineapple has its health benefits, it also has some disadvantages if eaten too much, the bromelain in pineapples is meat-tenderizing enzyme, which is why it is so helpful in the digestion of tough foods; it can also soften or make of your “meat” tender as well, meaning that your lips, gums, and tongue might experience some tenderness or sensitivity if you eat too much pineapple.

Bromelain and vitamin C are powerful chemical, and they are both present in pineapple, if taken too much can lead to vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, and nausea.

Bromelain has been known to stimulate menstruation; so pregnant women should avoid excessive pineapple, as the high levels of bromelain can actually lead to a miscarriage.