8 Benefits of Eating Pineapple on a Daily Basis
Many people choose to eat pineapple regularly, since this fruit isn’t only very tasty but also has a very pleasant aroma that delights the senses both on its own, as well as combined with other fruits and various foods.
If you don’t like eatign fruit every day, but you like pineapple, perhaps you should consider incorporating it more frequently into your diet. Not only will you give yourself a treat but you can also benefit your health in several ways.
Below, we’ll tell you more about this fruit and its contributions when you include it regularly in your diet.
Facts about pineapple
Pineapple is a fruit that comes from Brazil, South America. It contains a lot of water. However, this doesn’t mean that it lacks nutritional value. In fact, according to data from the Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN), pineapple is a source of iodine, vitamin C, organic acids, and bromelain.
Experts from the Association 5 a Day state that “If it’s well-matured, it contains about 11% carbohydrates. It contains significant amounts of vitamin C, B1, and B6. Like most fruits, its potassium and magnesium content is also significant”.
Pineapple is one of the most delicious tropical fruits. You can consume it in several ways:
- Cooked
- Canned.
- In a juice.
- Fresh.
- Combined with other foods, in smoothies and shakes.
- In an infusion (some prepare an infusion with the peel).
However, it’s true that the best way to reap its benefits is consuming it naturally. You must remember that, like other fruits and foods, when processed or prepared in different ways, its nutritional contribution varies.
By eating pineapple, you provide your body with minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, as well as soluble and insoluble fibers and bromelain, an enzyme with proteolytic action. All of these are essential for properly bodily functioning.
1. It aids the immune system
Due to its vitamin C and antioxidant content, pineapple is a fruit that helps keep your immune system healthy. Additionally, vitamin C is often associated with a reduced risk of disease and of the impact of oxidative stress.
It doesn’t help cure or prevent colds, the flu, and viruses on its own, but it does contribute to general health.
2. Contributes to skin health
Since vitamin C contributes to collagen production and wound healing, among other issues, eating pineapple could help care for your skin health. In addition, this fruit also provides various antioxidants that reinforce nutrient action.
Find out more here: Aging of the Immune System and How to Fight It
3. Provides iodine
Eating pineapple regularly allows you to get a certain amount of iodine, an essential mineral for the production of thyroid hormones and performing different vital functions that promote balance and, therefore, contribute to well-being.
4. Helps eliminate retained fluids
As it’s rich in water and fiber, pineapple favors digestion processes and, in turn, improves intestinal transit. On the other hand, it also contributes to the elimination of retained fluids, since it has a diuretic effect.
Eating pineapple stimulates peristaltic movements and the release of gastric juices that help dissolve food in a better way.
5. Promotes bone and muscular system health
Eating pineapple is beneficial due to its magnesium and potassium content. These are two essential nutrients for the bones and muscles.
Experts from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) comment that “The body needs potassium for many functions, including proper kidney and heart function, muscle contractions, and nerve transmission”.
On the other hand, they comment that magnesium is essential to regulate the function of the muscles and the nervous system, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure. In addition, it helps build protein, bone mass, and DNA.
6. Doesn’t alter blood sugar levels
Eating fresh pineapple in a natural way, without any additive (syrups, sugar, etc.), can be delicious (as well as beneficial) for patients with diabetes. This fruit doesn’t alter blood sugar levels and, on the contrary, helps balance the diet.
Julio Basulto, a diet and nutrition expert, comments that daily fruit consumption is healthy and, contrary to popular belief, doesn’t promote weight gain or sugar spikes.
7. Helps regulate blood pressure
Do you remember that we mentioned that this fruit contains potassium? Well, this is one of the most important minerals for the body. Potassium also has a vasodilator effect. This can translate into better blood circulation.
8. Hydrates
Due to its high water content, pineapple helps to supplement daily hydration, which is essential for the health of the entire body and the fulfillment of multiple vital processes.
You can enjoy pineapple in many different ways
In short, pineapple is a delicious fruit that’s worth consuming naturally often, within a balanced diet. Once you include it in your diet, you can see how delicious and refreshing it is. In addition, try to integrate fruits and prepare mixed salads and many other preparations such as smoothies, juices, jams, etc.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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Carcamo, G. I., & Mena, C. P. (2006). Alimentación saludable. Horizontes Educacionales. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD000371.pub6.
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Benítez Rubio, M. R., & Medranda De Lázaro, I. (2007). Minerales y vitaminas. Pediatria Integral. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.02.036.
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Nutrición. (2017). Archivos de Bronconeumologia. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0300-2896(17)30365-4.
