As a rich source of vitamin C, pineapple is excellent for strengthening immunity. Vitamin C is commonly used to support the functioning of the immune system and relieve cough, cold and flu symptoms. Research shows that children and adults who regularly consume fruits with a high vitamin C content can be more protected from infections, viral and bacterial, as well as from the risk of cancer.
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, and it plays a role in maintaining the health of the body’s connective tissue. As an antioxidant, it has the ability to synthesize collagen, the main protein in the body responsible for maintaining healthy blood vessels and organs.
Fruits that are rich in fiber can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including colorectal cancer. The fiber in pineapples can also lower blood glucose levels.
Fiber is the reason pineapple can also be beneficial for weight loss. Due to its high fiber content, one of the benefits of pineapple is that it can help you feel full with few calories.
Pineapple can also help prevent constipation and maintain a healthy digestive tract, which means it’s useful for reducing bloating.
According to the US Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, studies show that eating foods rich in antioxidants can help prevent infertility. Since free radicals can damage the reproductive system, foods with high antioxidant activity, such as pineapple, are recommended for people trying to become parents.
Antioxidants in this fruit, such as vitamin C, beta-carotene and other vitamins and minerals, including copper, affect both male and female fertility. As for the benefits of pineapple for men, antioxidants have been shown to help increase blood flow and restore proper tissue formation in the genital organs – plus they can help increase sperm count. Similarly, the benefits of eating pineapple for women include reducing inflammation and supporting connective tissue healing.
Studies conducted on both humans and animals have revealed that one of the benefits of pineapple juice is that it has a beneficial effect on the cardioprotective system, mainly because it is rich in potassium.
High fruit intake is known to have positive effects on disease prevention, while high potassium intake is also associated with a reduced risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and stroke. There is also protection against loss of muscle mass, preservation of bone mineral density and reduction of the possibility of kidney stone formation.
Additionally, studies have found that pineapple juice can have beneficial effects on body weight, body mass index (BMI), fat accumulation, liver fat deposition, and blood lipids—due to its effects on hormone levels that regulate hunger and obesity. It has been shown that pineapple can help significantly reduce insulin and have anti-obesity effects, which can reduce the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
The enzyme bromelain in pineapple can also help improve heart health, as it can fight blood clotting. Bromelain has been shown to prevent blood platelets or plaque from sticking to the walls of blood vessels – both known causes of heart attack or stroke.
Beta-carotene found in plant foods such as pineapple can help reduce the risk of respiratory infections and asthma.
Toxins, poor diet, pollution, antibiotic abuse and stress play a major role in the development of asthma. All of these factors cause inflammation, but luckily one of the benefits of pineapple is that it can help reduce inflammation as this fruit has high detoxification capabilities.
Pineapple also provides nutrients that support mental health. A 2020 study showed that consuming vegetables and fruits with high nutrient content can be important in the prevention of depressive disorders.
Nutrients such as carbohydrates and antioxidants found in pineapples can help improve mood and fight depression and anxiety. It is a good source of the amino acid tryptophan, which studies show is used by the body to produce enough serotonin, one of our main “happy hormones”.
Consuming enough of this amino acid, in addition to other nutrients like B vitamins, is important for supporting your neurological system, for energy, and for the production of feel-good hormones.
According to recent studies, bromelain in pineapple also has anti-cancer activities. Bromelain has been found to have selective cytotoxicity and can help kill cancerous cells in a self-destructive process called apoptosis, while leaving healthy cells unharmed.
The benefits of pineapple include its ability to help those suffering from arthritis and joint pain. This is again due to its bromelain enzyme, which has shown anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
That’s why it’s very useful for treating sports injuries, including sprains, and can help fight pain. Bromelain works on inflammation by blocking metabolites that cause swelling.
A study conducted at Duke University Medical Center in 100 mice suffering from colitis (inflammation of the colon) showed that long-term feeding of fresh or unpasteurized frozen pineapple juice with active bromelain enzymes was safe and effective in reducing the severity of the inflammation.
Another study was done on patients suffering from sinusitis, which can be caused by an infection, allergy or autoimmune problem.
The study showed that the bromelain found in pineapple caused significantly faster recovery than standard therapy.
Bromelain also appears to be useful in preventing autoimmune responses due to common food allergies. Studies have found evidence that eating pineapple can help those with celiac disease, an allergy to the protein gluten found in wheat, barley and rye products.
Source: www.sitoireseto.com
