Top 5 pineapple health benefits
1.May aid digestion Pineapples, a fruit rich in fiber, may support a healthy digestive system. Bromelain, a pineapple enzyme, also breaks down proteins into their smaller building blocks of amino acids and peptides. It works in both the acidic stomach environment and the alkaline small intestine environment. Because of this, it is a very helpful digestive aid for people who can’t properly digest their food, especially people with pancreatic insufficiency, which is a condition in which the pancreas doesn’t make enough digestive enzymes.
Although research into bromelain’s anti-inflammatory properties for relieving the symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis appears promising, there is still a need for additional evidence before this benefit can be demonstrated in humans.
2. May aid in wound healing Injuries and surgeries may benefit from reduced inflammation, swelling, and bruising caused by bromelain, according to a number of studies. It appears to help alleviate pain and provide as much relief as anti-inflammatory medications when taken before dental surgery.
Bromelain’s effectiveness in wound healing has also been demonstrated by in vitro research in a test tube.
3. May help alleviate arthritis symptoms Bromelain has been shown to be effective in relieving the inflammatory pain associated with arthritis in numerous studies dating back to the 1960s. It seems to have this analgesic effect by directly affecting the chemical mediators that help us perceive pain.
4. May boost immunity In a nine-week study, schoolchildren who consumed 140g or 280g of canned pineapple daily had a significantly lower risk of contracting a viral or bacterial infection than those who did not consume any. In addition, the number of white immune cells that fight infections was four times higher in those who consumed more.
Bromelain’s anti-inflammatory properties appear to also be useful in regulating the immune system, which may be especially true for people with auto-immune conditions.
5. May help the cardiovascular system Again, bromelain appears to be beneficial to the heart and circulatory system because it reduces the severity of angina attacks and transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs). Bromelain is also thought to be able to break down cholesterol plaques, which are the cause of hardening of the arteries and may cause atherosclerosis.
According to research conducted on animals, bromelain also has an effect on blood clotting by preventing the production of a protein called fibrin, which is necessary for blood coagulation.
