Pineapple Juice for Men—What Are the Benefits?

It is often believed that pineapple juice not only aids in weight loss but also has an extremely positive effect on male reproductive function. The reason is the minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and a mysterious substance called bromelain—which improves metabolism—found in pineapple juice.

In theory, bromelain does indeed affect the metabolism of the amino acid arginine, which, in turn, is essential for the production of nitric oxide—a substance that acts like a local hormone. But how exactly is pineapple juice beneficial for men?

Pineapple Juice for Men

The pineapple is a fruit that grows on a perennial herbaceous plant native to South America. Pineapples were not introduced to Europe until the 17th century, where they were long considered exotic and expensive (even today, this fruit is grown exclusively in tropical countries).

Although pineapple is not a citrus fruit, its nutritional composition is similar to that of tangerines, oranges, and grapefruits. Во-первых, все они содержат преимущественно воду (до 80% и выше); во-вторых, их цвет (желтый или красный) объясняется наличием сходных фитонутриентов-флавоноидов.

Pineapple also contains minerals and vitamins typically found in citrus fruits — First and foremost, manganese and vitamin C. 100 grams of fresh pineapple pulp provides up to 80% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C and up to 46% of the recommended intake of manganese. The content of other nutrients does not exceed 10% of the recommended daily intake.

What is in pineapple (per 100 g)¹:

• vitamin C — 80% of the daily requirement
• manganese — 46% of the standard
• Vitamin B6 — 6%
• copper — 6%
• thiamine — 5%
• folic acid — 5%

Bromelain

In most cases, discussions about the health benefits of pineapple (especially for men) boil down to a discussion of the benefits of the bromelain it contains. Bromelain is a natural enzyme capable of breaking down low-molecular-weight proteins and, in particular, influencing arginine metabolism.

As a reminder, the amino acid arginine is involved in the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), which is a local tissue hormone with multiple effects — ranging from anti-inflammatory effects to vasodilation (relaxation of smooth muscle) and stimulation of angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels).

The Benefits of Pineapple for Guys

In theory, the bromelain found in pineapple, by affecting arginine metabolism, should improve cardiovascular function. Plus, since nitric oxide is linked to male erectile function, it’s thought that pineapple may also help improve libido.

However, it is important to note that the bromelain found in the flesh and in the core of the pineapple differs. In the former, the pH is 4.6; in the latter, it is 9.55. In practice, only the alkaline bromelain derived from the pineapple core has an effect on metabolism.

Pineapple juice—what is it used for?

While taking bromelain does appear to offer some health benefits (in particular, there are studies on its effects in reducing muscle fatigue and reducing the incidence of microinflammation²) — this has absolutely nothing to do with drinking pineapple juice.

As mentioned above, bromelain is found primarily in the core of the pineapple—whereas the flesh, and especially the juice, contains virtually no bromelain. In addition, most types of packaged pineapple juice contain added high-fructose corn syrup as a sweetener.

Pineapple Juice—What Are the Benefits?

The second myth surrounding pineapple consumption is that bromelain breaks down fats, increases the thermic effect of food—and, as a result, helps with weight loss. Unfortunately, this is a case of outright confusion—bromelain actually helps break down proteins, not fats.

In other words, even if you consume the pineapple core—which contains bromelain—you may see an improvement in the digestion of low-molecular-weight proteins, but not fats. At the same time, there is no scientific evidence that this helps with weight loss without calorie control.

As a result, reconstituted pineapple juice from a carton contains only a minimal amount of the alkaline enzyme bromelain, but an extremely high amount of added sugar (most often in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, which is significantly more harmful to metabolism).

Any discussion of the health benefits of pineapple boils down to a discussion of the benefits of bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapple—however, this substance is found primarily in the core and leaves of the plant. Drinking pineapple juice alone cannot have a positive effect on men’s health.

Data sources:
Bromelain Supplement — Health Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects, source
Nutrition Facts and Information for Raw Pineapple, All Varieties, source