Recently, while gorging on pineapple with a few of my coworkers, we fell into an argument about the health benefits of the exotic fruit. On one side, a co-worker swore that her doctor had expressly told her that pineapple caused bloating. On the other, a coworker claimed the opposite, that her doctor told her pineapple was great for digestion. To resolve the issue I took it upon myself to examine the issue more closely.

Everyone knows that fruits are a healthy alternative to sugary sweets like chocolates. As it turns out, the health benefits of pineapples in particular are extraordinary. The king of fruits is high in potassium, which helps all sorts of areas.

For example according to Medical News Today, increasing potassium intake can significantly help lower blood pressure. High potassium consumption can reduce your risk of stroke, protect from the loss of muscle mass, prevent kidney stones and preserve your bone density. This being said, despite all of these benefits, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, fewer than 2% of American adults meet the daily 4700 mg recommendation.

Another member of the high potassium club is the banana, so be sure to make that a staple in your diet as well. Best benefit of all for those who consume a lot of potassium? High potassium intake is associated with a 20% decrease in dying from all causes.

It turns out that my second coworker was right. Not only does pineapple not cause bloating, it actually does the opposite. Due to their high fiber and water content, pineapples help to prevent constipation and promote regularity of bowel movements.  High fiber also helps colon help and leads to a lowered risk of colorectal cancer.

Pineapples are also an excellent source of antioxidants like Vitamin C. These antioxidants give your immune system a boost, so they make pineapple the perfect snack for days when you’re feeling a little off. To top it off, these antioxidants also help to fight the formation of free radicals within your body, preventing other kinds of cancer!

The high level of vitamin C in pineapples also has a variety of other health perks! The vitamin helps with our heart and skin. When you eat or topically apply vitamin C, you are effectively fighting off skin damage. Vitamin C gives a great boost for those of us looking to keep a youthful appearance, as the vitamin plays an essential role in the formation of collagen.

Wondering what other vitamins and minerals to look forward to consuming when you eat a pineapple? Get excited- you’ll be receiving a dose of thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, folate, bromelain, pantothenic acid, magnesium, manganese and the king of them all: potassium.

I don’t think you need any more excuses to take a little bite of paradise and add pineapple to your diet today.

Good luck and get to snacking!

By Destiny Kanu

By Destiny Kanu