Today we bring you a fascinating article about an issue which majorly affects our daily lives! Did anyone know all of these crazy facts about one of our favourite fruits? Thank you Rae for enlightening us and I am sure these will be nuggets of information used by many of our readers to impress their peers next time they indulge in an upside down cake or Hawaiin pizza! Rae has been hard at work behind the scenes, not only writing fantastic blog posts but Rae is also our new Head of Podcasts and make sure to follow our social medias (@cellfiemagazine on Instagram and Twitter) for information on this exciting project!
With its vibrant colour, unmistakably spiky leaves and tropical taste, pineapple is a popular and tasty fruit snack. Pineapples were originally from Brazil, and didn’t actually make it to the UK until the early 1600’s, where they became quite the commodity. Expensive and luxurious, they were a sure sign of affluence throughout the 1700’s. But that doesn’t take away from that tingly, corroded feeling on the tongue of the eager pineapple eater. Why, you may ask? The answer is more interesting than you may think.
Why Pineapple Tingles:
Pineapple is the only known natural source of bromelain, a protein-digesting enzyme that can actually break down the tissues in your mouth, explaining the sore feeling and even reported bleeding of the mouth and gums after excess consumption. [1] Bromelain is a mixture of different thiol endopeptidases and other components like phosphatase, glucosidase, peroxidase, cellulase, escharase, and several protease inhibitors. Studies have demonstrated that bromelain exhibits various antiedematous, antithrombotic, and anti-inflammatory activities. [4] Bromelain is most well-known as a known method of reducing inflammation and swelling in human tissues, however it is becoming more and more apparent just how beneficial it can be - despite eating you back! [2]
Health Benefits of Pineapple:
Bromelein has been used historically in a number of home remedies, however there had previously been relatively little scientific evidence to support its supposed health benefits in skin supplements. This changed, when in 2016 a review of studies was carried out, which concluded that bromelain was evidenced to reduce duration of sinusitis in children, and has since been linked to a whole host of other health benefits, even going so far as to have anti-cancer effects. However the NIH state that there’s not yet enough evidence for this to be a definite fact. [3]
But back to its taste for your skin! There’s no need to worry - once you swallow the pineapple, the acid in your stomach breaks down the enzymes - hence why you only feel the sensation in your mouth and throat - any further down your digestive system and your body does its thing and denatures the enzyme; distressing bromelain’s tertiary structure and rendering it useless as an enzyme.
The Link between Pineapple and Reflux:
Some doctors would advise against the consumption of pineapple if you suffer from acid reflux, given that it is highly acidic. It tends to score somewhere between 3 and 4 on the pH scale. At surface level, this logically would worsen acid reflux, however there is controversy among doctors as to whether the properties of bromelain could aid digestion, therefore reducing the effect of reflux. While bromelain, and pineapple on the whole, is acidic, some scientists believe that it has alkalising properties. This can be beneficial as it aids digestion and has antiinflammatory properties, counteracting the bodily effects of reflux on tissue linings.
Conclusion:
Pineapple is the only known natural source of bromelain, a protein-digesting enzyme that has the ability to break down tissues in our mouth, hence the tingling sensation we feel when we eat too much. It’s neutralised by our stomach acid, so is not detrimental to our digestive system, and could even have alkalising properties that help counteract the discomfort felt by those suffering from acid reflux, a curious innovation given that pineapple itself is highly acidic, so its not only fun to look at and eat, its good for your body too. But remember, next time you’re eating pineapple, its eating you too!
References:
[1] Blogs.unimelb.edu.au. 2021. The Flesh-Eating Pineapple – Scientific Scribbles. [online] Available at: <https://blogs.unimelb.edu.au/sciencecommunication/2012/10/07/the-flesh-eating-pineapple/#:~:text=Pineapple%20is%20the%20only%20known,your%20stomach%20destroy%20the%20enzymes.> [Accessed 18 March 2021].
[2] Bhattacharyya, B.K., 2008. Bromelain: an overview. [Accessed 18 March 2021].
[3] Carter, A., 2021. Bromelain: Benefits, risks, sources, and side effects. [online] Medicalnewstoday.com. Available at: <https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323783#benefits> [Accessed 25 March 2021].
[4] Pavan, R., Jain, S. and Kumar, A., 2012. Properties and therapeutic application of bromelain: a review. Biotechnology research international, 2012. [Accessed 25.03.2021]
[5] Wetherspoon, D., 2021. Pineapple and Acid Reflux: Know the Facts. [online] Healthline. Available at: <https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/pineapples-acid-reflux#risks-and-warnings> [Accessed 27 March 2021].