Does pineapple make you lose weight?
Among the “super foods”, the pineapple is a veteran. This exotic fruit has long had the reputation of making you lose weight. But does this slimming claim really have a basis, or is it more than a legend?
What are the health benefits of pineapple?
The pineapple is a plant native to South America, mainly known for its edible fruit. One of these botanical characteristics is that it is actually a compound fruit, born from the fusion of several berries. Its whitish to yellow flesh, slightly fibrous and juicy, and its tangy taste make it a particularly popular fruit.
But pineapple is also interesting nutritionally speaking, because it contains many micronutrients, especially if eaten fresh.
- It “weighs” 45 kcal per 100 g, less than an unpeeled apple (52 kcal), and as much as an orange (47 kcal). On the other hand, it is slightly less endowed with fiber , so that it is significantly less satiating.
- It contains precious trace elements , including calcium (bone strength), phosphorus (good functioning of the nervous and muscular system), potassium (anti -water retention , reduced risk of hypertension), iron (oxygenation body) and magnesium (promotes sleep and good muscle health).
- It is also a reliable source of vitamins including vitamin C (antioxidant) and group B vitamins (B1, B2, B3 and B5 necessary for the metabolization of macronutrients, B6, B9 and B12 for cell regeneration).
It is therefore a health food, like other fruits , to be consumed regularly.
What about its “fat-burning” function?
But pineapple has another characteristic: its high bromelain content. Its flesh contains some, but the fresh stems and roots of the pineapple show a higher content. It is in fact an enzyme widely used in pharmaceuticals for its many properties:
- When taken during meals, it attacks the proteins consumed (proteolytic). It would therefore limit digestion problems ( bloating , meteorism) and heartburn (1) .
- Bromelain would have positive effects on cardiovascular health (2) , platelet aggregation (3) , venous tone and coagulation (anti-edematous).
- It would also have anti-inflammatory properties, and would thus reduce the deleterious effects of chronic inflammatory diseases, including autoimmune pathologies (4) .
- Finally, bromelain could have a ” fat-burning ” action , at least it has been observed that it inhibits the expression of certain genes linked to adiposity (5) , and that it lowers insulin levels. (6) .
It would therefore seem that bromelain from pineapple is a weight loss aid . It would act on different levers responsible for weight gain and cellulite formation : digestion, blood circulation, inflammation and fat storage. Saying that pineapple is a “fat-burner” is probably a shortcut (no lipolytic virtue strictly speaking, like capsaicin or caffeine, which accelerate the metabolism ). But the bromelain it contains could be of help in the management of overweight and obesity.
How to consume pineapple to lose weight?
There are different options for consuming pineapple for weight loss purposes:
- The first option obviously remains to consume the fruit as it is, knowing that the nutritional qualities of the fruit are altered by transport, as pineapple cannot be grown in Europe. In addition, it would be necessary to eat large quantities of fruit to benefit from high bromelain dosages, knowing that pineapple remains a sweet food.
- The second option is to supplement with pineapple bromelain, via food supplements. Capsules (such as the Slimming Fat-Burning Capsules offered by Cellublue), pineapple stem powder to be diluted, drinks are all food supplements to consider, in occasional cures. Be sure to consult a doctor before starting any course of dietary supplements, which are not trivial.
Finally, to clarify that the consumption of pineapple, fresh or in the form of food supplements, is not enough to really lose weight. It must of course be accompanied by hygiene and dietary measures:
- A balanced , healthy and varied diet, made of raw foods – fruits and vegetables, low GI complex carbohydrates , lean proteins, quality lipids.
- Controlling the consumption of sugar and sweet products, salt, processed products, saturated fats, alcohol.
- The practice of regular physical activity , at the rate of 30 minutes of walking per day, and of a sports activity of moderate intensity, 2-3 times per week, over long sessions.
- Avoidance of stress which, if it becomes chronic, can trigger weight gain.
- Quality sleep , since sleep allows the regulation of ghrelin and leptin , the hormones regulating hunger and satiety.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.