Overview
Having great healthy skin is everyone's desire and there are many options available nowadays, from topical creams to supplements that try to help us achieve this feat. However, this article provides some pointers on how healthy skin can be achieved by eating pineapples. Does not a popular saying tell us that we are what we eat?
Factors that affect skin health
- Absence of antioxidants
- Oxidative stress
- Free Radicals
- Ultraviolet rays
- Wrinkles
- Sunburn
- Acne
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are substances that protect body cells from the damaging effects of oxidative stress caused by free radicals. They can be naturally found in fresh fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants play a pivotal role in achieving healthy skin as the skin is continually exposed to environmental factors that can induce oxidative stress such as ultraviolet rays.
Skin experts agree that antioxidants can put a hold on the pathways involved in skin damage, protect against photodamage and prevent wrinkles and inflammation. Antioxidants can be found in dietary sources like fruits and vegetables and among these sources, the pineapple stands out as an important source due to its rich antioxidant content.
Oxidative stress
It is mostly associated with the body's production of and exposure to free radicals in the environment. It has therefore been implicated in premature ageing, heart disease and general skin deterioration. Antioxidants counter these untoward damages by neutralizing free radicals and the adverse effects associated with them.
Free radicals
Free radicals are substances produced when the body breaks down food or is exposed to smoke or radiation. If allowed to roam, it is known to have damaging effects on skin cells.
Ultraviolet radiation
This is a form of radiation that is emitted from the sun and is one of the biggest sources of environmentally influenced skin disorders. Ultraviolet rays, even though they benefit human health through their vitamin D production, their uncontrolled exposure to the skin poses health risks like photodamage, sunburns, wrinkles and skin cancers.
Photodamage
This is premature ageing of the skin due to unprotected ultraviolet ray exposure. Ultraviolet radiation can cause a change in the skin DNA, resulting in skin discolouration, spots and some cancers.
Wrinkles
Wrinkles are lines that form on the skin as a result of the natural ageing process. It usually appears as folds and creases and can appear on any part of the body. However, getting wrinkles at an early age is mostly caused by unprotected exposure to ultraviolet radiation and loss of collagen which provides the skin with firmness and elasticity
Sunburn
A sunburn is an inflammation of the skin as a result of too much unprotected ultraviolet radiation exposure. As a result of this, there is a release of chemicals that leads to damage of skin cells which could form blisters after several hours.
Acne
This is a skin condition that causes spots, oily skin and skin that is painful to touch. Acne occurs when the hair follicles are blocked by sebum or dead skin cells and become swollen, red and painful. The pineapple is found to contain a compound that fights acne-causing bacteria.
Pineapples
The pineapple is a large tropical fruit with a distinct sweet taste and flavour. This fruit is packed with skin-friendly antioxidants that fight off oxidative stress. The three main antioxidants found in pineapples are
- Vitamin C
- Bromelain
- Beta carotene
Vitamin C
The skin primarily functions to protect the body against environmental pollutants and its structure provides evidence for this. The skin consists of an outer layer called the epidermis and an inner layer called the dermis. The inner layer of normal skin has been found to contain high amounts of vitamin C which stimulates collagen synthesis and helps in antioxidant production against UV-induced photodamage.
However, vitamin C can only be obtained from dietary sources and it is not synthesized by the body. This encourages regular consumption of a vitamin-rich diet, [one of which is the pineapple]. as diet is the major source of the skin's supply of vitamin C.
Collagen
Collagen is an important protein in the body that helps to replace dead cells and provides firmness and elasticity to the skin and vitamin C plays a huge role in its synthesis.
Bromelain
Bromelain is a compound that can only be found in pineapples and has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Bromelain can fight inflammation by suppressing its pathway and resulting in healthy-looking skin. It has also been found to have antimicrobial properties against s. aureus, which is one of the organisms that enhances the proliferation of acne-causing microbes. Bromelain is a great antioxidant.
Beta carotene
This is an antioxidant found in pineapples with photoprotective properties against premature ageing and skin cancers caused by ultraviolet rays. Beta carotene carries out its function by reducing skin sensitivity to ultraviolet rays, and improving skin elasticity and overall texture.
Benefits of pineapples for skin health
- It protects the skin against ultraviolet radiation
- It reduces oxidative stress
- It supports Collagen production
Incorporating pineapple consumption for skin health
The pineapple is a superfood packed with skin-nourishing antioxidants that fight off oxidative stress, supports collagen production, UV protection and should be consumed regularly for healthy skin.
Pineapples are sweet to taste and therefore easy to eat. It can be eaten raw, blended, juiced and even cooked regularly for maximum enjoyment.
Topical application of pineapples
The topical application of pineapples on the skin is an area of research being considered. Scientists have isolated Bromelain from pineapples for topical application. Bromelain is one of the major antioxidants in pineapples responsible for its ability to fight environmental oxidative stress and provide healthy skin. Topical preparations made from Bromelain have also been found to be active against various skin disorders like acne and wrinkles.
Considerations and precautions
Pineapples are a superfood with immense skin benefits and great potential for achieving several health benefits, however, a percentage of the population have reported allergic reactions after consuming pineapples
- It is therefore advised that persons allergic to pineapples should not consume
- A patch test should be carried out before topical application of pineapples or its content bromelain
- Pineapples should also be consumed moderately as with all foods
Symptoms of pineapple allergy
- Severe Itching
- Urticaria rash
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Conclusion
The pineapple is a superfood packed with antioxidants and vitamins with immense benefits to skin health. It can be included in the diet to achieve healthy skin and fight oxidative stress.
Pineapples should be avoided in allergic people to avoid anaphylaxis and a patch test should be done before applying topical preparations made from pineapples and its constituents.
FAQs
What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are substances that take away free radicals and prevent them from causing damage to body cells. Free radicals are produced in the body and have been implicated in skin and body damage.
How do free radicals work?
Free radicals are produced when the body breaks down food or is exposed to smoke, radiation and other forms of environmental pollutants. When free radicals are oxidized, in a process called oxidation or oxidative stress, damage can occur.
Oxidative stress is implicated in premature ageing, wrinkle formation, some cardiovascular diseases and cancers.
Can pineapples reverse ageing?
Pineapples, being rich in antioxidants, can stop oxidative stress by mopping up free radicals and providing vitamin C for collagen production. Collagen can provide elasticity for the skin and beta carotene and Bromelain can prevent photoaging from Ultraviolet rays.
Can pineapples remove acne?
Bromelain, a major antioxidant in pineapple, has antimicrobial properties against s. aureus, one of the organisms that enhances the proliferation of acne-causing microbes.
Summary
The sweet tropical fruit, pineapple, is proven to help achieve great skin.
It can do this because of its high antioxidant content which can mop up free radicals that cause oxidative stress and lead to skin discoloration, wrinkles and premature ageing.
One of the major sources of oxidative stress is the ultraviolet rays, however, antioxidants in pineapples can handle free radicals even from UV rays.
Pineapples are quite easy to eat and can be included in our daily diet. Some topical preparations containing one of pineapple's major antioxidants, Bromelain, can also be applied to the skin to cure wrinkles, acne and many skin disorders.
Some people have shown allergic reactions to pineapples. People allergic to pineapples should stay away from it to avoid anaphylaxis.
A patch test should be done before the topical application of any cream for the first time.
References
- Google scholar [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 19]. Available from: https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?journal=Chiang+Mai+J.+Sci.&title=Anti-inflammatory+effects+of+bromelain+in+Lps-induced+human+U937+macrophages&author=T.+Kasemsuk&author=P.+Vivithanaporn&author=S.+Unchern&volume=45&publication_year=2018&pages=299-307&
- Abbas S, Shanbhag T, Kothare A. Applications of bromelain from pineapple waste towards acne. Saudi J Biol Sci [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2023 Dec 14]; 28(1):1001–9. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7785454/.
- D’Orazio J, Jarrett S, Amaro-Ortiz A, Scott T. Uv radiation and the skin. International Journal of Molecular Sciences [Internet]. 2013 Jun [cited 2024 Apr 19];14(6):12222. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3709783/
- Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 19]. Wrinkles & fine lines: types, causes & prevention. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10984-wrinkles
- Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 19]. Sunburn. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21858-sunburn