Effects of Pineapple to the Body

With its rough and textured skin and a crown of spiky green leaves, the pineapple doesn't appear to be a very appealing fruit from the outside. But once you cut the citrus fruit open, it presents a vibrant yellow, juicy flesh with a sweet flavor and delicious aroma. Although the fruit is bursting with healthy nutrition, too much pineapple can produce unpleasant side effects.

 

Nutrition

Packed full of vitamin C and low in calories, pineapple can be a healthy addition to nearly any diet. One slice of the juicy fruit contains roughly 60 calories, with a small amount of sodium. However, it's free of fat and cholesterol. 

With just over 1 gram of fiber per 100 g of fruit, pineapple can also help maintain a healthy digestive system. Pineapple is a good source of calcium, potassium, vitamin A and folate. Pineapple is also an excellent source of vitamin C, with approximately 100 mg of vitamin C in just two slices of the fruit.

Medicinal Uses

Along with its many nutrients, pineapple also contains bromelain, an enzyme that digests protein. Derived from the fruit's stem and juice, this enzyme is used to treat an extensive array of medical conditions. Bromelain can reduce inflammation, swelling, bruising and pain associated with muscle, tendon and skin injuries. Because it helps digest proteins, the enzyme can also be used to relieve digestive disorders and heartburn.

 

Side Effects

After eating a large amount of pineapple, you might experience swelling or tenderness on the lips, inner cheeks and tongue. Typically, this reaction is caused by pineapple's meat-tenderizing properties, and it should resolve itself within a few hours. 

However, if the swelling is accompanied by a rash, hives or difficulty breathing, it could indicate a pineapple allergy. In this case, stop eating and seek medical attention immediately. 

Pineapples are a nutritious tropical fruit, available fresh, canned or as juice. The fruits contain a number of nutrients, including sugars, fiber and a range of vitamins and minerals essential for your health. Pineapple juice has a number of health effects, and can make up a part of a nutritious and well-balanced diet.

Protection Against Cancer

One positive effect of pineapple juice is consumption of vitamin C. The vitamin is found at high levels within pineapple fruit, and remains dissolved in water within pineapple juice, so each serving of pineapple juice contains high levels of vitamin C. 

The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University explains that vitamin C acts as an antioxidant -- it prevents and protects against damage by free radicals. Over time, free radical damage can lead to DNA damage in cells, leading to genetic mutations that can lead to diseases such as cancer. 

As a result, the antioxidant activity of vitamin C is linked to a lower risk of breast, and vitamin C can prevent the formation of cancer-causing chemicals in the stomach, reports the Linus Pauling Institute.

Strong Teeth and Bones

Pineapple juice also contains other essential nutrients, such as calcium. As a result, drinking pineapple juice has a number of health benefits associated with adequate calcium consumption. 

Among these is the maintenance of strong teeth and healthy bone tissue. Both your bones and teeth are partially composed of a mineral called hydroxyapatate, which contains calcium. 

Dietary calcium consumption supports the formation of new mineralized bone tissue, allowing your body to maintain proper bone density, explains the Linus Pauling Institute. Including calcium-rich foods, like pineapple juice, into your diet may help maintain health bones and teeth.

Effect on Blood Sugar

One effect of drinking pineapple juice is an increase in blood sugar shortly after consumption. Like many fruit juices, pineapple juice contains high amounts of natural sugar, called fructose. 

When consuming pineapple juice, a large amount of sugar becomes available for absorption immediately after consumption, with little digestion required.You body absorbs the fructose from the juice, then can easily convert it into glucose -- the sugar "fuel" used by your cells. 

This leads to a temporary blood sugar spike. If you suffer from disorders related to blood sugar regulation, such as diabetes, The University of California San Francisco recommends avoiding sugar-rich foods, including juices, to help regulate your blood sugar.

Taking in too much vitamin C is generally quite safe. As a water-soluble vitamin, excess vitamin C is generally excreted through the urine. However, extremely high doses of vitamin C can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, heartburn, headaches and insomnia. 

Taking in too much of the fruit's bromelain can result in skin rash, vomiting, diarrhea and excessive menstrual bleeding. Large doses of the enzyme could also stimulate uterine contractions, potentially leading to miscarriages in pregnant women.

Interactions

The bromelain in pineapple could potentially interact with certain medications. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends consulting your physician before eating pineapple or taking bromelain supplements if you are currently taking antibiotics, anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, blood thinners, insomnia drugs and tricyclic antidepressants. Alcohol and certain herbs, such as valerian root or kava, might also interact with bromelain.

Unripe Pineapple

Eating the fruit or drinking the juice of an unripe pineapple can be extremely dangerous. In fact, the Drugs.com website explains that it's quite toxic to humans, often causing excessive diarrhea and severe vomiting.