The discovery of pineapple can be traced back to the year 1493 in Guadalupe, a Caribbean island, by the Europeans. Columbus brought back the fruit to Europe and cultivated it. However, because the fruit can only grow in tropical climate, the pineapples were introduced and grown for commercial purposes in Asia, South America and Africa by the explorers from Spain and Portugal. Pineapple in Europe, particularly the fresh pineapple, became a symbol of social class and prestige. Fact is, placing it as a table centrepiece evokes a feeling of awe among visitors of celebrations.

However, pineapple is not just known for its prestige, it is also highly known for the health benefits it can provide. A cup of fresh pineapple, weighing 155 grams, contains 128 percent of the daily value of manganese. 40 percent of the daily requirement of vitamin C can also be provided by a cup of pineapple. Below are some of the diseases that can benefit greatly from the nutritional content of pineapples.

1. Sinusitis

   Sinusitis is the inflammation of the para-nasal sinuses due to infections of bacteria, fungi or virus. There are several self-care treatments available to reduce the symptoms of sinusitis – from  inhaling steam two to four times every day, to the application of a washcloth that is warm and moist on the face for several times daily, to drinking generous amounts of fluids for the purpose of thinning the mucus. Doctors also prescribe decongestants, either oral or nasal, to ease the clogged nose especially to those who are suffering severe forms of sinusitis. But the pineapple is a natural anti-inflammatory agent that can reduce the inflammation process that causes sinusitis. Pineapple contains bromelain, an extract that is found in high amounts at the stems and the core of the pineapple fruit. Bromelain, according to a double blind study made in 1967, resulted to complete resolution of sinusitis and other related upper respiratory tract infection in 85 percent of the patient receiving this substance. In Germany, treatment for sinusitis has been approved for bromelain. Compared to other treatments for inflammation, bromelain has reduced the length of illness of children who are suffering from acute sinusitis.

2. Heart Health

   Pineapple is also beneficial to those who are suffering from some types of cardiovascular diseases because of the substance, bromelain. Aside from its anti-inflammatory characteristics, bromelain that is abundantly found in pineapples, seem to have the ability to destroy the plaques of cholesterol found in the arteries and it has shown to have some fibrinolytic activity that allows the thinning of the blood. In a 1978 research, patients who are suffering from symptoms of angina pectoris (chest pain) have reported a reduction of the symptoms within 4 to 90 days after a bromelain therapy. Those who discontinued the therapy have reported return of symptoms, especially after stress episodes. Another study has also shown that those who are suffering from thrombophlebitis showed that bromelain potentiated the effects of analgesics by reducing further the symptoms of inflammation.

3. Arthritis

   Arthritis has many types; osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the common ones. The general symptoms of the disease are also that of the inflammation process: pain, swelling and redness. Studies were made on the effects of bromelain found in pineapple towards the reduction of symptoms of arthritis. One important study showed that patients suffering from mid knee pain who are dose dependent of bromelain has shown reduction of symptoms. Another study of patients with arthritis has proven that bromelain can help subside the swelling of the soft tissues of the joints. Additionally, for those arthritis sufferers who are taking glucosamine, pineapple’s bromelain can enhance its effectiveness by increasing its absorption by up to 90 percent.

4. Heartburn

   Heartburn is the indigestion of acid that causes the burning sensation in the chest, which results when the gastric acid regurgitates. Bromelain has several components in the extract which are being studied by many scientists. Among the well-studied components are cysteine proteinases, a protein-digesting enzyme – an enzyme that is capable of digesting protein components of the food. It helps in the digestion process by assisting trypsin and pepsin, two protein-digesting enzymes, thus, digestion is enhanced. If digestion is enhanced, there is improvement of the acid reflux. With improvement of acid reflux, there is a decrease in tendencies of getting heartburn.

5. Anti-thrombosis

   Thrombosis is a condition where there is formation of blood clot inside the blood vessels which results to the obstruction of the flow of the blood. Several studies were made on bromelain found in pineapple and it has shown that bromelain is demonstrating fibrinolytic and anti-thrombotic effects on the body. Fibrinolysis is when the body prevents the growth of blood clots in the body. Anti-thrombotic, on the other hand, is the reduction of size of thrombus – a blood clot that is already formed in the blood vessel and has a way of clogging the blood vessels. Bromelain and pineapple itself has the capability to eliminate these conditions that are harmful not just to the blood vessels but also to the heart through the circulatory process.

6. Bronchitis

   There are two categories of bronchitis, acute and chronic. Bronchitis happens when there is inflammation of the air passages in the lungs, the bronchus. When this happens, the person affected by it will have difficulty of breathing, cough with yellow-green mucus, fever, wheezing and chest discomfort. There are several remedies for this condition, which is caused usually by viral or bacterial respiratory infection. But researches for years have shown that the symptoms can be effectively managed by bromelain. Bromelain has an anti-inflammatory effect, it can therefore help reduce the symptoms of inflammation, such as pain and swelling of the mucous membrane of the airway.

   There are still several health benefits of the pineapple and its major component, the bromelain. Being highly rich in vitamins C and B1, it is a good source of antioxidant that can protect the immune system of the body. Manganese is also beneficial in the production of energy. And lastly, pineapple has been implicated in the prevention of the development of macular degeneration, the main reason for the loss of vision in the older population.

Sources
bouldernaturallabs.com
naturalnews.com
elements4health.com
whfoods.com