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Pineapples are tropical fruits that are popular among Americans with its sweet flavor and low calorie count. Pineapple juice contains important enzymes, minerals, and vitamins, including vitamin B6, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and thiamine, which provide various health benefits. Although the advantages from drinking pineapple juice are many, for best results, it is advisable to drink freshly made pineapple juice as opposed to processed (artificially flavored) pineapple juice.

Health Benefits: Various health benefits can be obtained from drinking pineapple juice due to the various nutrients present in it. Some of the common benefits are as follows.

• Pineapple juice contains high levels of the antioxidant vitamin C that helps improve your immune system. This vitamin also promotes curative properties, production of collagen, and growth and repair of cells and tissues. Vitamin C also helps those suffering from a cold to recover sooner as it dissolves the mucus. It also helps those suffering from bronchitis and a sore throat. Body fats are able to metabolize better because of the presence of vitamin C, and hence, it also helps lose weight. 

• Pineapple juice helps people with digestive problems due to the presence of the bromelain. It also acts as a natural diuretic that aids in flushing out the excess toxins from the liver and kidneys.

• Pineapple juice helps alleviate constipation as it contains both water and dietary fiber, along with the enzyme bromelain, which helps in improving overall bowel movement. 

• Pineapple juice has anti-inflammatory properties and is useful for patients who have rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or rheumatism. 

• Pineapple juice is good for women who are trying to get pregnant as it contains folic acid that helps with pregnancy and reduces the chances of birth defects.

• Pineapple juice helps improve cardiovascular functions and increases your chances of maintaining a healthy heart.

• Pineapple juice helps those suffering from high blood pressure due to the low amounts of sodium and high amounts of potassium. This helps in regulating the pressure.

• The manganese present in pineapple juice is said to help with sexual health, especially in men.

Medicinal Uses

• Drinking pineapple juice could help if you are suffering from an inflammation of the large intestine, or colitis. Colitis can cause problems like dehydration, diarrhea, pain in the abdomen, bloating, and gas. Pineapple juice helps reduce colon swelling because the enzyme bromelain has anti-inflammatory properties.

• Including pineapple juice into your daily diet also ensures good nutrition and helps decrease levels of cholesterol in your blood stream.

• One of the advantages of drinking pineapple juice is that it heals wounds quickly. So the next time you are injured, just drink a glass of pineapple juice.
  

Nutritional Facts

• Pineapple juice is rich in vitamins A, B and C and minerals potassium and manganese. Pineapple juice contains the all important enzyme bromelain that is a natural anti-inflammatory agent and helps heal swellings and bruises in the body. It also aids in digestion and breaking down proteins in the body.

• Another added benefit of pineapple juice is that it is has a low calorific count and less fat. There are 132 calories and 0.3 g fat in an 8-ounce glass of pineapple juice.

• Pineapple juice also has a lot of water content in it that aids with the flushing out of toxins and keeps you hydrated.

• Thiamine helps boost your body metabolism by converting carbohydrates into energy.

• Pineapple juice also has a very high content of dietary fiber. This helps with easier bowel movement. When you make your own pineapple juice, make sure not to strain the juice as half the fiber content will be lost.

For a full detailed list of nutrients you can check the USDA National Nutrient data base here http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2515

Side Effects: Despite its many benefits, there are a few side effects to drinking pineapple juice as well.

• Never eat an unripe pineapple as it is extremely toxic and dangerous for humans.

• Do not drink too much of it as it could cause diarrhea, excessive menstrual bleeding, skin rashes and vomiting.

• Pregnant women need to be careful when drinking pineapple juice; it is best to consult a doctor or drink very small quantities as it can lead to uterine contractions that could cause an a miscarriage or premature labor.

• Some people may also be allergic to pineapples. The symptoms to watch out for include a swollen tongue, lips and inner cheeks, difficulty in breathing, hives or rashes. If this occurs, immediately consult your doctor who will administer the right medication.

• In certain cases pineapple could react with some particular medicines, hence consult your doctor on this also.
  

References:

1. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002404.htm
2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/895.html

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