6. Detoxifies
Pineapple contains loads of gut-healthy fiber, with absorbs toxic waste filtered out by your liver. It also contains powerful antioxidants that protect against heavy metals and toxins as well as free radicals.
7. Boosts Digestion
This spiky fruit’s active compound, bromelain, digests protein while its manganese content helps your body make the enzymes it needs to produce energy. Talk about the perfect two-punch combo (7)!
8. Strengthens Gums and Protects Teeth
Researchers have found that toothpaste containing bromelain fight enamel stains and fights plaque build up. This is interesting because people are often told by their dentist to avoid fruits for fear of damaging their enamel, but in pineapples at least, their effect may be just be opposite (8)!
9. Improves Vision
Thanks to its high beta-carotene and vitamin A content, pineapple can play a role in preventing vision loss. One study on the subject, published in the Archives of Ophthalmology, found that 3 or more servings of fruit prevented age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) in older adults (9).
10. Fights Cancer
It’s true: pineapple really does fight cancer. The Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health conducted a study that concluded that beta-carotene could play a role in preventing prostate cancer (10). The nutrient also reduces colon cancer risk (11).
On the other hand, bromelain impairs cell survival “by blocking the Akt pathway and attenuating Bcl2 and MUC1 oncoproteins” in human gastric and colon carcinoma cells. It even works against chemoresistant colon cancer (12).
A study published in the journal Planta Medica even declared that the compound was more effective than 5-fluorauracil, a chemotherapy drug (13). Plus, unlike chemotherapy, it doesn’t harm healthy cells.