7 Surprising Pineapple Juice Benefits - Healthline

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NutritionEvidence Based7 Emerging Benefits of Pineapple Juice

Medically reviewed by Kim Rose-Francis RDN, CDCES, LD, Nutrition — Written by Alina Petre, MS, RD (NL) — Updated on August 1, 2025

Rich in nutrients
Beneficial compunds
Suppress inflammation
Boost immunity
Help digestion
Heart health
Fight cancer
Precautions
Takeaway

Pineapple juice contains nutrients and beneficial compounds that may support your health, including bromelain, which may boost immunity and improve digestion.

Pineapple juice is a popular tropical beverage.

It’s made from pineapple fruit, which is native to South America, and crops are grown in countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kenya, India, China, and the Philippines.

Many cultures use the fruit and its juices as a traditional folk remedy to treat or prevent various ailments.

Modern research has linked pineapple juice and its compounds to health benefits, such as improved digestion and heart health, reduced inflammation, and perhaps even some protection against cancer. However, not all evidence has been conclusive.

Here are 7 science-based benefits of pineapple juice, based on the current research.

1. Rich in nutrients

Pineapple juice provides a concentrated dose of various nutrients. One cup (250 g) contains around:

Calories: 132
Protein: less than 1 gram
Fat: less than 1 gram
Carbs: 32 grams
Sugars: 25 grams
Fiber: less than 1 gram
Manganese: 55% of the Daily Value (DV)
Copper: 19% of the DV
Vitamin B6: 15% of the DV
Vitamin C: 122% of the DV
Thiamine: 12% of the DV
Folate: 11% of the DV
Potassium: 7% of the DV
Magnesium: 7% of the DV

Pineapple juice is particularly rich in manganese, copper, and vitamins B6 and C. These nutrients play an important role in bone health, immunity, wound healing, energy production, and tissue synthesis.

It also contains trace amounts of iron, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, choline, and vitamin K, as well as various B vitamins.

2. Contains additional beneficial compounds

In addition to being rich in vitamins and minerals, pineapple juice is a good source of antioxidants, which are beneficial plant compounds that help keep your body healthy.

Antioxidants help neutralize unstable compounds known as free radicals, which can build up in your body due to factors like pollution, stress, or an unhealthy diet and cause cell damage.

Pineapple juice also contains bromelain, a group of enzymes linked to health benefits, such as reduced inflammation, improved digestion, and stronger immunity.

3. May suppress inflammation

Pineapple juice may help reduce inflammation, which is believed to be the root cause of many chronic diseases.

It contains bromelain, which may have anti-inflammatory properties.

In addition, there’s evidence that ingesting bromelain before surgery may help reduce the level of inflammation and pain caused by surgery.

A 2024 article also looked at the benefits of pineapple juice and suggests it may have anti-inflammatory properties.

4. May boost your immunity

Pineapple juice may contribute to a stronger immune system.

Bromelain, a compound in pineapple juice, may also improve recovery from infections, such as pneumonia, sinusitis, and bronchitis, especially when used in combination with antibiotics.

However, most of these studies are dated, and none have examined the immunity-boosting effects of pineapple juice in humans. Therefore, more research is needed to confirm these results.

5. May help your digestion

The enzymes in pineapple juice function as proteases. Proteases help break down protein into smaller subunits, such as amino acids and small peptides, which can then be more easily absorbed in your gut.

Bromelain, a group of enzymes in pineapple juice, may particularly help improve digestion in people whose pancreas cannot make enough digestive enzymes — a medical condition known as pancreatic insufficiency.

Animal research suggests that bromelain may also help protect your gut from harmful, diarrhea-causing bacteria, such as E. coli and V. cholera.

Moreover, according to some test-tube research, bromelain may help reduce gut inflammation in people with inflammatory bowel disorders, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

A more recent 2024 study also underscored the efficacy of bromelain for multiple health conditions, such as digestive health, cardiovascular health, and osteoarthritis.

6. May promote heart health

The bromelain naturally found in pineapple juice may also benefit your heart.

A 2024 study concluded that bromelain provides protection for lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation, which can help prevent atherosclerosis.

However, the number of studies is limited, and none are specific to pineapple juice. Therefore, more research is needed before strong conclusions can be made.

7. May help fight certain types of cancer

Pineapple juice may have potential cancer-fighting effects. Again, this is likely in large part due to its bromelain content.

Research suggests that bromelain may help prevent the formation of tumors, reduce their size, or even cause the death of cancerous cells.

However, these were test-tube studies using concentrated amounts of bromelain that were much higher than those you’d ingest from drinking a glass of pineapple juice. This makes it difficult to project their results to humans.

Therefore, more research is necessary before strong conclusions can be made.

Possible precautions

Pineapple juice is generally considered safe for most people.

As such, if you are taking medications, consult your healthcare provider or registered dietitian to make sure it’s safe to consume pineapple juice.

Despite its potential benefits, it’s important to remember that pineapple juice remains low in fiber yet high in sugar.

What’s more, while drinking small amounts of juice has been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, drinking more than 5 ounces (150 mL) per day may have the opposite effect.

Therefore, it may be best to stick to the dietary guidelines of limiting juice consumption to half of your daily fruit intake. Furthermore, when you have juice, stick to 100% pure varieties free of added sugars.

The bottom line

Pineapple juice contains a variety of vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds that may protect you from disease.

Studies link this beverage to improved digestion, heart health, and immunity. Pineapple juice or its compounds may also help reduce inflammation and perhaps even offer some protection against certain types of cancer.

However, human studies are limited, and it’s unclear whether the effects observed in test tubes or animals can be achieved by small daily intakes of pineapple juice.

Moreover, this beverage remains low in fiber and rich in sugar, so drinking large quantities each day is not recommended.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Agarwal S, et al. (2019). Intake of 100% Fruit Juice Is Associated with Improved Diet Quality of Adults: NHANES 2013–2016 Analysis. \https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6836193/
Al-juhaimi F, et al. (2019). Effect of various food processing and handling methods on preservation of natural antioxidants in fruits and vegetables. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6133851/
Chang T-C, et al. (2019). Bromelain inhibits the ability of colorectal cancer cells to proliferate via activation of ROS production and autophagy. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6338369/
Chen C-H, et al. (2024). Bromelain ameliorates atherosclerosis by activating the TFEB-Mediated Autophagy and antioxidant pathways. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9855131/
Khan TA, et al. (2019). A lack of consideration of a dose-response relationship can lead to erroneous conclusions regarding 100% fruit juice and the risk of cardiometabolic disease. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31636410/
Lee J-H, et al. (2019). The potential use of bromelain as a natural oral medicine having anticarcinogenic activities. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6526645/
Muhammad ZA, et al. (2017). Therapeutic uses of pineapple-extracted bromelain in surgical care - A review. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28065968/
Okeleye BI, et al. (2017). In vitro assessment of the antiproliferative and apoptotic potential of the ethyl acetate extract of Peltophorum africanum on different cancer cell lines. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5603881/
Pineapple juice, canned or bottled, unsweetened, with added ascorbic acid. (2019). https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/168187/nutrients
Rathnavelu V, et al. (2016). Potential role of bromelain in clinical and therapeutic applications.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4998156/

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Evidence Based

This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by experts.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strive to be objective, unbiased, honest and to present both sides of the argument.

This article contains scientific references. The numbers in the parentheses (1, 2, 3) are clickable links to peer-reviewed scientific papers.

Medically reviewed by Kim Rose-Francis RDN, CDCES, LD, Nutrition — Written by Alina Petre, MS, RD (NL) — Updated on August 1, 2025

7 Surprising Pineapple Juice Benefits - Healthline

Nutrition

1. Rich in nutrients

2. Contains additional beneficial compounds

3. May suppress inflammation

4. May boost your immunity

5. May help your digestion

6. May promote heart health

7. May help fight certain types of cancer

Possible precautions

The bottom line

How we reviewed this article:

Evidence Based

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