Can Pineapple Lower Blood Pressure?
The fruit of the pineapple plant is popular as a low-calorie vitamin source to spice up our diet. Although it is now mostly available year-round, the main season for fresh pineapples is from spring to summer.
It is not uncommon to find it listed as a blood pressure-lowering fruit. But is that really the case? We took a closer look at this.
This is supposed to prevent people who have already suffered a stroke or a heart attack or are at increased risk from forming blood clots that can trigger such an event through a vascular blockage.
But what does blood pressure have to do with this? In short: nothing. It is true that hypertension is one of the risk factors for the aforementioned diseases, but ASA/aspirin is not a blood pressure-lowering medication. On the website of the German Heart Foundation, high blood pressure is even listed as a contraindication for administering this medication.
A study that investigated the effects of pineapple sought a plant-based effect comparable to that of ACE inhibitors. Specifically, the ACE-inhibiting activity of pineapple extract was researched in lung homogenate in the lab. A dose-dependent effect of the pineapple extract was found. However, the study only referred to lab tests.
Another study from 2021 examined whether fruit-infused water has an impact on the blood pressure and blood sugar of MS patients. In addition to pineapple, the water also contained apple, cucumber, and strawberry. It was suspected that the antioxidants and potassium in the fruits could have a corresponding effect. Unfortunately, this mini-study (which included only 24 participants) found no evidence of such an effect.
Even though no concrete blood pressure-lowering effect of pineapple has been proven in humans so far, it remains a healthy and delicious fruit that can enrich a healthy diet in a low-calorie way. Fresh fruit should be preferred over canned varieties, as the latter has a significantly lower vitamin content and may have added sugar.
Sources:
- https://deliverypdf.ssrn.com/delivery.php?ID=111089002009102079014106070120095087034086041036045026092113021030105103098081120031022029052037057008050108096102100111104083122004033060060126085077087117074088113061041033106022085005070011025084099026108086020030009103026001121110089092103023092022&EXT=pdf&INDEX=TRUE
- https://www.herzstiftung.de/infos-zu-herzerkrankungen/gerinnungshemmung-und-medikamente/ass-aspirin
By Sabine Croci.
This article is medically reviewed. Last updated (04/2024).
Information on the website and within the app cannot replace a consultation with a doctor, but can certainly complement it.
Related Articles:
