Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a juicy, delicious, tropical fruit packed with essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other helpful compounds that can protect against inflammation and disease.
While pineapple and its compounds have been linked to several health benefits, one may wonder whether this sweet fruit offers any advantages for women.
May protect against osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a disease that’s characterized by weakened, fragile bones due to a reduction in bone mass density. It’s an irreversible condition that increases your risk of bone fractures, which can be quite debilitating and even require surgery.
While any individual can develop it, osteoporosis is four times more common in women than in men.
One nutrient that’s important for bone health is vitamin C, which has been shown to stimulate the production of bone-forming cells and protect bone cells from damage.
In fact, adequate intake of vitamin C has been linked to higher bone mass density and a reduced risk of osteoporosis and bone fracture.
One review of 13 studies found that individuals who ate vitamin-C-rich foods more often had a significantly lower risk of developing osteoporosis and 34% lower incidence of hip fracture.
Just 1 cup (165 grams) of cubed pineapple provides 88% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin C. It also provides 5% of the DV for magnesium, which is also important for maintaining strong bones
Thus, incorporating pineapple into your diet may benefit bone health and help prevent osteoporosis.
Provides important nutrients during pregnancy.
Despite the claim that eating pineapple can be dangerous during pregnancy, there’s currently no research to prove the notion.
In fact, pineapple can be a very nutritious addition to your diet while pregnant.
While needed in small amounts, copper is a mineral that’s essential for red blood cell formation. During pregnancy, your copper requirements increase to 1 mg per day to support the increase in blood flow that occurs during pregnancy.
Copper is also needed for the development of your baby’s heart, blood vessels, and skeletal and nervous systems.
One cup (165 grams) of cubed pineapple provides approximately 18% of the DV for copper during pregnancy.
Pineapple is also a good source of several B vitamins, including
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
Vitamin B9 (folate)
While they each have their individual roles, B vitamins, in general, are key for the proper growth and development of your baby (18Trusted Source, 19Trusted Source).
Additionally, pineapple contains vitamin C and small amounts of iron, zinc, and calcium — all of which are important for a healthy pregnancy (1Trusted Source, 19Trusted Source).
Pineapple is considered safe for women, however, due to its high acidity, eating pineapple may cause an increase in heartburn or reflux symptoms in individuals with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Additionally, if you experience any allergic symptoms after eating pineapple, it’s important to call your physician. Potential signs of allergies include:
Itching or swelling of your mouth.
Difficulty breathing.
Hives or rashes on your skin.
Congested or runny nose.
If you have a latex allergy, you may be more likely to have an allergic reaction to pineapple. This is referred to as latex-fruit syndrome and the result of pineapple and latex having similar proteins.
