Is Pineapple Good For High Blood Pressure Patients?

Table of Content

• What is the Nutritional Value of Pineapple?

• What is the Connection between Pineapple and High Blood Pressure?

• Is Pineapple Good For High Blood Pressure?

• What are the Benefits of Pineapple For High Blood Pressure?

• How much Pineapple should be eaten to Lower Blood Pressure?

• How to Eat Pineapple to Lower Blood Pressure?

• Other Health Benefits of Pineapple

• Take-Home Points

• FAQ on Pineapple For High Blood Pressure

Introduction

Pineapple famously known as ananas in India is part of the Bromeliaceae family, pineapple has been used for ages for indigestion and as an anti-inflammatory because of the presence of a certain mixture of enzymes known as bromelain.

Pineapple has Vitamin C, fibres, and bromelain enzymes which are responsible for the beneficial effects of pineapple. In this blog, We’ll discuss whether Is pineapple good for high blood pressure, whether Is pineapple good for blood pressure?, the nutritional value, and other benefits of pineapple.

What is the Nutritional Value of Pineapple?

Before understanding Is pineapple good for high blood pressure? It is important to know the nutritional value of pineapple. According to USFDA, per 100gm of papaya contains: 

• Calories: 50 cal

• Fats:0.1 gm (0 gm saturated fats)

• Cholesterol: 0 gm

• Sodium: 1 mg

• Potassium: 109 mg

• Carbs: 13 gm (out of which 10 gm is sugar and 1.4 gm is fibre)

• Protein: 0.5 gm

• Vitamin C: 79% RDA

• Magnesium: 3%

• Vitamin B6: 5%

• Iron: 1%

• Calcium: 1%

Pineapple is a good source of vitamin C, an additional benefit being it doesn’t contain saturated fats and cholesterol which are risk factors for high blood pressure.

What is the Connection between Pineapple and High Blood Pressure?

To understand the connection between Pineapple and blood pressure or to answer is pineapple good for lowering blood pressure, We must understand how the nutrients present in pineapple help in relieving high blood pressure:

1. Vitamin C: 100 gm of Pineapple contains 79% RDA of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant involved in the formation of collagen present in bones, muscles and blood vessels. Studies have also shown that Vitamin C improves vascular endothelium. Improved vascular endothelium and antioxidative properties of Vitamin C present in pineapple help in high blood pressure.

2. Bromelain: The US National Library of Medicine lists bromelain as a proteolytic enzyme, it has anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used for the treatment of indigestion, and due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it can reduce blood vessel inflammation. Some studies have shown that bromelain can also act as a blood thinner, and because of this Pineapple is good for high blood pressure. Bromelain is found in fruits and stems of pineapple.

3. Manganese and Copper: Manganese is a trace element present in pineapple, these activate enzymes which can prevent oxidative stress and contribute to the control of high BP. Copper is another trace element present in pineapple which helps in iron absorption, blood pressure and heart rate regulation.

4. Low cholesterol: Low cholesterol and saturated fat make pineapple an important fruit to consume if you have elevated cholesterol. Elevated cholesterol level is a risk factor for high BP.

5. Low sodium: Sodium is responsible for High blood pressure by retention of water in the body. Pineapple is low in sodium which makes it suitable to consume if you’re concerned with hypertension or high Blood pressure.

6. Potassium: Every 100 gm of pineapple contains 109 mg of potassium. DASH(dietary approach to stop hypertension) diet also recommends a high potassium and low sodium diet to counteract high blood pressure

Is Pineapple Good For High Blood Pressure?

After going through the connection between pineapple and blood pressure. The question is, is pineapple good for lowering blood pressure? This can be easily answered as:

Pineapple contains anti-inflammatory bromelain, and Vitamin C which is antioxidant, low sodium and high potassium content in pineapple is what makes pineapple good for high blood pressure.

Pineapple is also low in cholesterol, a risk factor for developing heart disease.

Apart from these like any fruit pineapple also contains fibres. Studies have shown that a high-fibre diet has been linked with a protective effect from heart diseases like hypertension.

What are the Benefits of Pineapple For High Blood Pressure?

Pineapple has numerous benefits for high blood pressure patients. Here are the benefits of pineapple for high blood pressure:

1. Diuresis: Pineapple can act as a mild diuretic which can lead to the elimination of excess fluids through urine. It can lead to excretion of excess sodium with water. Which will cause a reduction in Blood pressure.

2. Vasodilator: Pineapple contains 109 mg of potassium per 100 gm of pineapple, Potassium helps in balancing excess sodium. In a DASH diet, it is recommended to consume a high potassium and low sodium diet. 

3. Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant properties: Vitamin and bromelain present in pineapple give it anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which protect your blood vessels from oxidative stress and make your heart healthy.

4. Cholesterol-reducing properties: You can drink Pineapple juice for hypertension, as there are some rat studies which have shown a cholesterol-lowering effect on rats after drinking pineapple juice. Although these are animal studies, you eat whole pineapple rather than juice to get fibre present and to avoid sudden glucose spikes.

How much Pineapple should be eaten to Lower Blood Pressure?

After learning about the relationship between pineapple and blood pressure, how much pineapple is to be consumed for lowering blood pressure?

Opt for natural whole fruit or natural pineapple fruit rather than commercial pineapple juice. Consume 1 or ½ cup of pineapple juice in a day to get benefits.

Keep in mind that excess consumption of pineapple juice can cause weight gain, acid reflux etc.. Also wash your mouth with water, after consuming pineapple juice.

How to Eat Pineapple to Lower Blood Pressure?

After getting an answer to the question is pineapple good for high blood pressure? How to consume pineapple to lower blood pressure:

1. Eating pineapple as a whole: Eating pineapple as a whole is a great option as whole fruits not only provide fibres but they will also prevent sudden glucose spikes in the blood.

2. Smoothies: Make smoothies by mixing pineapple and other citrus fruits like oranges to get extra Vitamin C. Vitamin C has been shown to have a protective effect on the heart.

3. Pineapple slushie: Pineapple slushies can be made by mixing only two things ice and pineapple. Pineapple juice can lower blood pressure.

4. Pineapple ginger juice: You can mix pineapple with ginger to make a juice, ginger in several studies has been shown to lower blood pressure.

5. Mix pineapple juice with strawberry: Strawberry contains vitamin C, potassium and fibres additionally it has polyphenols which are antioxidants. Combining strawberries with pineapple can be a good option as pineapple juice can lower blood pressure. 

Other Health Benefits of Pineapple

Pineapple or Pineapple juice is good for high blood pressure, apart from this there are other benefits of pineapple:

1. Healing of tissues: Bromelain present in pineapple helps in the healing of tissues faster after an injury.

2. Improves male infertility: Manganese plays an important role in male fertility, 1 cup of pineapple can give 1.3 mg of manganese out of 2.3mg of manganese required for men.

3. Improves skin: Corns, calluses and rough skin can be healed by applying mashed pineapple on the affected area and then washing it over.

4. Bone strength: Due to the presence of manganese in pineapple this can be a good option to maintain bone strength in young and olds. 

5. Improves digestion: The bromelain enzyme present in pineapple has been used for ages for the treatment of indigestion because it has a proteolytic effect( protein breaking).

6. Good for cold and cough: Vitamin C present in Citrus fruits like oranges can smoothen up cold, Similarly, pineapple also contains Vitamin C, apart from this bromelain present in pineapple suppresses and loses mucus.

Take-Home Points

1. Pineapple famously known as ananas in India is part of the Bromeliaceae family, pineapple has been used for ages for indigestion and as an anti-inflammatory 

2. Pineapple has Vitamin C, fibres, and bromelain enzymes which are responsible for the beneficial effects of pineapple.

3. Pineapple is also rich in trace nutrients Magnesium which is helpful in male fertility.

4. Pineapple is low in sodium and high in potassium.

5. Is pineapple good for high blood pressure? Pineapple is rich in bromelain, Vitamin C, fibres, low sodium and high potassium. All this contributes to the blood pressure-lowering action of pineapple.

6. You can consume pineapple as whole fruit, smoothies, and pineapple juice, mixed with ginger or strawberry.

7.   Other benefits of pineapple include healing action on tissue, strong bones, improved digestion, fertility, and skin. It is also good for colds and coughs.