Pineapple is the fruit of the Ananas sativus plant of the Bromeliads family. In the 18th century, the juice of the pineapple stem was already used against difficult digestion thanks to its enzymatic activity. Today this fruit originally from South America, and grown in different parts of the world, is used for its many beneficial properties for the body. Let’s find out the characteristics and side effects of pineapple.
Pineapple: characteristics and properties
Pineapple is a perennial plant with leathery leaves with thorns at the edges, gathered in large rosettes. The flowers are collected in an inflorescence and are purplish in color, compact on a short and robust stem. The sepals of the flowers become fleshy and develop an infructescence, with a yellow pulp, a brown rind.
The real fruits are small berries whose outer wall in the shape of a polygonal shield can be seen.
Pineapple is rich in potassium, manganese, carotenoids, vitamins A, B and C. It is an alkalizing food, useful against inflammation, and its stem contains bromelain.
Bromelain makes pineapple an excellent decongestant, useful in case of cellulite, edema, hematoma, muscle and joint trauma and venous insufficiency.
Furthermore, pineapple is able to improve blood and lymphatic circulation and has an anti-platelet activity useful against the formation of clots and thrombi.
The side effects of pineapple
Pineapple may cause some side effects, albeit minor ones. In fact, bromelain can be allergic to predisposed individuals and determine:
- digestive difficulties,
- hypermenorrhea.
In addition, it is good to avoid taking pineapple products for patients with gastric ulcer, and consult your doctor before taking if you are on anticoagulant drugs or aspirin.
