If you’ve ever tasted some good, fresh pineapple juice recipes, you’ll feel your tastebuds perk up at the mere mention of the stuff.
And if you haven’t, next time you’re at the supermarket, make a stop by the pineapple and take a gander. You’ve probably never encountered a medicine so sweet. Go ahead and put one in your cart – soon you’ll be wondering why you haven’t been juicing these tropical beauties until now.
Pineapple contains a unique enzyme and antioxidant that cannot be found in any other food we eat. Bromelain, found predominantly in the stem of the pineapple (you know—that hard part that you don’t typically eat) has powerful medicinal properties. That’s why you need to juice pineapples with the core.
10 Sweet Pineapple Juice Benefits
It doesn’t take much convincing to try pineapple juice – the stuff is simply delicious. But in case you want reasons to add more and more of the stuff to your juice recipes – here are 10 awesome health perks that pineapples bring to the table juicer.
Boosts immune system
Studies show that bromelain has significant antibacterial benefits, meaning that it can eliminate unwanted substances in the body.
A 2014 study on Philippine children found that those who consumed pineapple juice daily had significantly less incidence of infection and those who did have infection recovered more quickly than infected children who did not consume pineapple juice.
It’s not surprising when you consider that in addition to bromelain, pineapple contains a lot of vitamin C, which is also an important antioxidant for immunity and recovery.
Fights inflammation
The bromelain in pineapple is used medicinally to reduce swelling. When it enters the body, it quickly goes to work, helping to repair damaged cells and triggering other substances that fight pain and swelling.
It is especially effective in the nose and sinuses after injury or surgery. It can even fully treat sinus infections by reducing the swelling and inflammation of sinusitis, allowing it to heal properly.
Bromelain has also been known to treat other inflammatory diseases, such as ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease.
Manages pain
Because bromelain is such a powerful anti-inflammatory, it can reduce pain caused by inflammation and swelling. For instance, studies show that bromelain can provide relief from arthritic joint pain.
Speeds recovery
A 2017 study on 40 burn patients was published in the Journal of Burn Care & Research. The study found that the 20 patients who were given bromelain healed much more quickly than the control group. The number of wounds among those patients that required autografting was reduced.
Boosts digestion
One of the coolest things about pineapple juice is how wonderful it is for your digestive system. Seriously, if you have gut-related concerns – this is one fruit you should absolutely be adding into your juice recipes.
Pineapple juice does everything from helping your body digest proteins more easily to reducing bloating and constipation. The enzyme bromelain breaks down protein quickly, speeding up digestion and getting rid of uncomfortable cramping and bloating from gas. It also destroys unwanted bacteria that may have made its way into the digestive tract.
Sort of like a sweet multi-tasker for your insides.
Builds strong bones
Pineapple contains a good amount of manganese which is paramount for strengthening bones and the tendons and ligaments that surround them.
Protects and maintains healthy eyes
One cup of pineapple provides 131% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin C. Studies show that vitamin C is crucial in preventing cataracts from forming—the higher your vitamin C intake, the lower the chance that you’ll develop cataracts.
Pineapple juice also contains beta-carotene, a red-orange pigment also present in carrots, which are famously good for the eyes. Beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A which helps protect the cornea, and is essential for maintaining good eyesight.
Maintains healthy teeth
A 2017 study was conducted on orthodontic patients who had difficulty maintaining oral hygiene due to appliances blocking access to certain areas in the mouth. The conclusion was that bromelain, among other substances, has anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis effects.
Fights cancer
Studies show that bromelain, when used with chemotherapy can increase the die off and suppression of cancer cells.
The beta-carotene found in pineapple is another component that may protect men against developing prostate cancer. It may also play a role in protection again colon cancer.
Enhances fertility
Both women and men can benefit from the positive effects pineapple juice provides on their reproductive systems. Pineapple contains vitamin C, beta-carotene, copper, zinc, and folate which are all components to a healthy reproductive system.
In men, pineapple juice can increase sperm motility and effectivity, making them more fertile.
Quick Tips for Juicing Pineapple
Ready to juice? Here are a few tips that will help you get the most out of your pineapple.
- How to pick the perfect pineapple: When choosing a pineapple to juice, try to get your hands on a heavy, organic pineapple. The heavier, the juicier.
- How to tell if a pineapple is ripe: A pineapple is ripe and ready to use when you can easily remove a leaf from the pineapple’s stem. Another way to check? Smell the butt of the pineapple – if it smells sweet, it’s ripe. If you don’t smell anything, it’s not there yet.
- What parts to juice: If you’re using an organic pineapple, you can add the rind to the juicer along with the rest of the pineapple and get out all those important nutrients. Don’t forget to clean the pineapple really well if you are adding the rind. If you can’t get an organic pineapple, cut off the rind before adding it to your juicer. Remember to juice with the core!
5 Fresh Pineapple Juice Recipes
Alright, let’s get to those delicious pineapple juice recipes!
Flower Power Juice
This juice provides 204% of your RDA for vitamin C, 395% RDA of vitamin K, 50% RDA of vitamin A, and 46% RDA of iron. You’ll also get a decent amount of folate, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc.
Benefits you will enjoy:
- Lower blood pressure
- Cancer prevention
- Improved digestion
- Better immune system
- Heart disease prevention
What you’ll need:
- 1 Brussel Sprout
- 1 cucumber
- 2 oranges
- ¼ pineapple
- 5 handfuls spinach
Juice and enjoy!
A Simply Lovely Detox Juice Recipe
This might be one of the yummiest detox juice recipes I’ve ever tried – seriously, it’s pure deliciousness. And it’s packed with health benefits with detox-aiding, betalain-laden beets adding a beautiful pink color, digestion-promoting pineapple and apples contributing a wonderful sweetness, and circulation-aiding, immmunity-boosting ginger topping it all off with a zesty kick!
You’ll be hooked. Oh, you’ll be hooked.
Orange Immunity Tonic
Here’s a super simple turmeric juice recipe, adapted from The Green Creator:
- 2 lemons (peeled)
- 2 carrots
- 1 cup fresh pineapple (include the core!)
- 1 inch fresh ginger
- 1 inch fresh turmeric
So simple, so delicious and the perfect thing to sip on before meals and whenever you’re in need of a little pick-me-up. The ginger is amazing for immunity and the bromelain enzyme in pineapple helps get your digestive juices flowing.
As for turmeric, this spicy, intense herb is a super strong antioxidant and has a long, honorable history of use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. It’s well-known as a detox herb – perfect for a thorough cleansing since it promotes a gentle detox of the whole body – but it’s also effective in treating fever, infections, and inflammations, comparable in potency to ibuprofen and hydrocortisone.
Studies have shown it beneficial even for arthritis patients, in reducing swelling and pain; but it can be used in almost any case where you would take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drug, such as Tylenol or Motrin. So mixed with pain-alleviating pineapple, it’s the perfect combo for natural pain relief.
Tropical Green Juice
You simply cannot go wrong with this juice that will give you 280% RDA of vitamin C, 576% RDA of vitamin K, 68% RDA of vitamin A, 208% RDA of copper, and plenty of folate, vitamin B6, phosphorus, calcium, and iron.
Benefits you will enjoy:
- Cataract prevention
- Cancer prevention
- Increased blood circulation
- Boost immune system
- Heart disease prevention
- Improved complexion
What you’ll need:
- ½ piece ginger root
- 4 kale leaves
- 1 mango
- 1 orange
- 1 cup pineapple
Juice, stir, and enjoy!
Juice for Joints, Ligaments, and Broken Bones
This juice’s main squeeze is the pineapple—or, the bromelain in the pineapple—which is proven to quickly heal and strengthen tendons, ligaments, and bones. So if you have a sprained wrist or ankle, if you have swollen joints, or brittle bones, this is the juice for you.
What you’ll need:
- 2 carrots
- 2 cups pineapple (with the core!)
- 6-12 kale leaves and stems
Juice and enjoy!
