Amazing Five Top Benefits of Pineapple Juice

Aside the tantalising sight and taste of the yellowish-fleshed fruit popularly consumed as a major fruit and a base for smoothies and cocktails, pineapple juice has been validated as a natural anticancer, immune booster, skin repairing agents, and so on.

Known as a solid power house for vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, pineapple has long been used as an ancient home remedy for digestive issues and inflammation. It has also been studied for its potential benefits to the immune system and ability to reduce healing time.

Although the juice is readily available in cans at shopping malls, studies have shown that naturally extracted juice from pineapple offers more benefits to the human system than the processed ones- which must have lost some vital nutrients.

According to the Medical News Today report, there are more than 100 different varieties of pineapple, but only eight varieties are grown commercially.

The report, which has reviewed various studies on the health benefits of pineapple, has listed five of those merits for the human system. Although, the yellowish-fleshed fruit is certified very beneficial for human consumption, but there could be contra-indications if taken alongside with some medications.

Five health benefits of Pineapple juice

Five health benefits of pineapple are a number of possible health benefits from drinking pineapple juice in moderation:

1. Boosting the immune system

Drinking pineapple juice may boost the immune system and shorten recovery time from illnesses.

In one study conducted in the Philippines, researchers examined the effects of pineapple in school-aged children. Those who were given canned pineapple daily developed fewer viral and bacterial infections than those who did not eat canned pineapple. Their recovery time from these illnesses was also shortened.

2. Digestion

Bromelain is an enzyme contained in the pineapple stem and juice that helps to break down and digest proteins. Bromelain in capsule form has also been shown to reduce swelling, bruising, healing time, and pain after surgery.

Consuming pineapple and pineapple juice will not provide enough bromelain to be used as medical treatment for healing, however. Common processing procedures used when making pineapple juice severely decrease the amount of bromelain contained in the juice.

3. Cancer

One laboratory study, in which fresh pineapple juice was used, found that the juice from the core, stem, and flesh all suppressed growth of ovarian and colon cancer cells.

Further studies in humans need to be conducted before any connections between pineapple juice and cancer are made.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health's Department of Nutrition, beta-carotene may play a protective role against prostate cancer.

In another study, people who ate more beta-carotene-containing foods than others were found to have a reduced risk of developing colon cancer.

4. Skin

Pineapple juice contains vitamin C and beta-carotene. These antioxidants can help to fight skin damage caused by the sun and pollution, reduce wrinkles, and improve overall skin texture.

Vitamin C also helps with collagen formation, which is a common protein in the body that gives the skin its strength and structure.

The vitamin C found in pineapple may help keep eyes healthy and free from cataracts.

5. Eyes

One study found that diets rich in vitamin C can cut the risk of cataract formation by one third. The researchers examined the effects of such diets in 1,000 pairs of female twins in the United Kingdom.

The fluid inside the eye contains vitamin C, and a diet rich in vitamin C may help to maintain that fluid and prevent the breakdown that leads to cataracts.

Nutrition Content of Pineapple juice

According to the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, one cup (250 grams) of canned, unsweetened pineapple juice contains:

132 calories

0.9 grams of protein

0.3 grams of fat

32 grams of carbohydrate

0.5 grams of fiber

25 grams of sugar

One cup of pineapple juice provides 63 percent of an adult's daily needs for manganese, 42 percent of their daily vitamin C, and 10 percent or more of thiamin, vitamin B-6, and folate.

Pineapple also contains the following nutrients:

potassium

magnesium

copper

beta-carotene