Once a symbol of luxury and wealth, pineapples are now as common a sight at supermarkets as a bag of carrots or bin of grubby potatoes.
Britain consumes over 112,000 tonnes of fresh pineapple annually, with consumption steadily rising according to Tesco.
And that’s not including the chunks of the exotic fruit that come tinned or frozen.
Previous polling suggests that pineapple – which takes three years to grow and is actually made up of dozens of tiny fruits that are fused together – is the nation’s second favourite fruit, after strawberries, with the market now estimated to be worth nearly 100million.
And it’s not only because it tastes delicious – it’s packed with health benefits, too.
‘Pineapple is a good source of Vitamin C, which supports immune function and skin health,’ Rob Hobson, registered nutritionist and author of The Low Appetite cookbook, tells the Daily Mail.
‘They’re also rich in manganese, a mineral that helps support energy, wound-healing, metabolism and bone health.’
But that’s not the only reason why adding a few chunks of pineapple to your daily diet can be beneficial… we asked Mr Hobson to share some more.
Polling suggests that it is the nation’s second favourite fruit, after strawberries, with the market now estimated to be worth nearly 100million.
Are pineapples as good as they look?
An 80g serving of pineapple contains 33 calories, 0.3g protein, 0.2g fat, 8.1g carbohydrate, 1.3g fibre, 128mg potassium, and 10mg Vitamin C.
It also contains around 8g of sugar, nearly a third of the NHS’ daily recommendation of 30g per day.
Whether you choose fresh or canned pineapple, an 80g serving counts towards your five-a-day, but if you do opt for the canned variety, choose a product with no added sugar.
A single glass (150ml) of unsweetened pineapple juice also counts, but be aware that this is even higher in the type of sugars, known as ‘free’ sugars, that we are advised to limit.
‘Fresh pineapple contains vitamin C and bromelain which is an enzyme that has the potential to help with digestion and inflammation although it is mostly found in the pineapple stem,’ says Mr Hobson.
‘Frozen pineapple is usually picked and frozen quickly, so it retains much of its nutritional value and is a great option for convenience and saves food waste.
‘Tinned pineapple can also provide fibre and Vitamin C, although some may be lost during processing. I would also advise to choose tinned in juice rather than in syrup, which will have extra added sugar.’
Eating pineapple in its whole form rather than juiced also means you are getting the fruit’s natural fibre – although with 1g per 80g portion, it’s only a fraction of the NHS’ recommended 30g per day.
‘Fibre supports digestion and helps feed beneficial gut bacteria,’ says Mr Hobson.
Pineapple also contains naturally occurring ‘phenolic compounds’. These are naturally present in fruits and vegetables and act as powerful antioxidants, and also have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits.
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Can eating pineapple help your immune system?
One of pineapple’s biggest benefits is its high Vitamin C content, which our bodies need to power its immune system and ward off coughs and colds.
‘No single food can dramatically strengthen your immune system on its own, but the Vitamin C in pineapple can boost the function of immune cells that help defend the body against infection,’ says Mr Hobson.
In 2014, a nine-week study of school children found that those who ate either a moderate amount of canned pineapple (140g) or a large amount (280g) every day, had a significantly lower risk of catching a viral or bacterial infection than those who ate none.
In addition to this, those who ate the higher amount had four times the number of infection-fighting white immune cells.
As well as the Vitamin C, pineapples are packed with bromelain – an enzyme found naturally in the stem and flesh of the fruits – which has also been found to help boost the immune system.
Why does pineapple make some people’s mouths tingle?
Bromelain has the ability to break down proteins in other foods into their smaller building blocks, called amino acids and peptides.
But experts say the enzyme is also the cause of that unique tongue tingling sensation that some people get when they eat pineapple – which, unless you have a pineapple allergy, is nothing to worry about.
‘Some people find their tongue goes tingly if they eat too much pineapple,’ explains Mr Hobson.
‘This is a combination of bromelain and the fruit’s natural acidity irritating the surface of the mouth. It’s completely harmless.’
Much research has been done into the health benefits of bromelain.
A 2023 review of 53 studies found that it was helpful in the management of sinusitis but was not effective for cardiovascular diseases, as many claim.
It was also beneficial for pain reduction, because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
However the research focused on bromelain supplements, and experts warn that it is hard to get the same level of the nutrient from pineapple because it’s at its highest concentration in the tough and fibrous core which is hard to eat and generally unpalatable.
Some claim that bromelain also helps with digestion but experts are not convinced.
‘Fresh pineapple does contain bromelain, but the highest concentrations are found in the pineapple stem, whereas most people eat the flesh,’ says Mr Hobson.
‘Furthermore, the evidence that eating pineapple significantly improves digestion in healthy people is fairly limited.’
Can eating pineapple give you clear skin?
Some research has also suggested that pineapples can be beneficial to the skin – but don’t swap your skincare for a basketful of the spiky fruits.
‘It contains nutrients that can help with skin function like Vitamin C, which is needed for collagen production and helps protect skin cells from oxidative damage but eating pineapple won’t suddenly improve your complexion,’ says Mr Hobson.
Do pink pineapples have extra health benefits?
The Pinkglow pineapple, developed by Del Monte, is a genetically modified fruit that stays pink and sweeter than yellow pineapples
The Pinkglow pineapple, developed by Del Monte over 16 years, is a genetically modified fruit with sweeter, pink flesh.
It was created by disturbing an enzyme which turns naturally present antioxidants called lycopenes – which is what makes tomatoes and melons red – into beta carotene, which is what gives pineapple its golden hue.
It is currently available only in the US and Canada, where it sells in shops and online for between $10 and $39.
It is considered as healthy as a regular pineapple, although it is unclear whether its higher lycopene content offers any additional benefits.
Is pineapple suitable for everyone?
Unless you are allergic to pineapple, it is generally considered safe to eat as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
However, consuming large amounts may cause digestive discomfort, while unripe pineapple can trigger diarrhoea and irritation of the mouth and throat; its acidity may also worsen symptoms in people with acid reflux.
Those taking blood-thinning medication should exercise caution, as bromelain may affect blood clotting and potentially increase the risk of bleeding when consumed in high quantities.
