Maybe you’ve heard of the pineapple water, a refreshing drink that is not only deliciously sweet, but can be a great choice for people who just don’t enjoy the taste of plain water. After all, a large percentage of the human body is made up of water, and drinking enough fluids is important for your body to function properly.
In addition, this water is a natural, low-calorie and low-sugar alternative to sugary drinks such as soft drinks or juices. It is a traditional Mexican agua fresca, or fruit-infused drink made with sugar. However, many of the currently trending versions do not include added sugar.
If you want to know more about this wonderful water, read on! Here we will tell you everything you need to know if you want to try the pineapple waterincluding what it is, how to prepare it, and more.
What is pineapple water?
This is a popular tropical drink. It is made from pineapple, which is native to South America and crops are grown in countries such as 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 better digestion and heart health, reduced inflammation. However, not all the evidence has been conclusive.
How to make pineapple water
There are two common ways to make this water. The most popular version infuses water with fresh pineapple chunks, and the other version mixes freshly cut pineapple with water and strains out the pulp.
To make the infusion, start by choosing a ripe pineapple, which will offer more sweetness. First, look for the fruit with the sweetest fragrance. Second, pull a leaf from the crown. If it comes off easily, it’s a telltale sign that the pineapple is ready to be cut. Next, chop up some pineapple and soak it in water. The longer you let it sit, the more flavor it will get. And of course add ice if you like.
Consider going with this base recipe: one chopped pineapple, one gallon of water, and one gallon of ice.
Pineapple Water Nutritional Profile
Here’s the nutritional profile, including Daily Values (DVs), for pineapple water made with one chopped pineapple, one gallon of water, and one gallon of ice. This recipe serves a dozen, and the nutritional information assumes you eat the pineapple chunks.
- Calories: 40
- Fat: 0 grams (0 percent DV)
- Saturated fat: 0 grams (0 percent DV)
- Sodium: 20 milligrams (1 percent DV)
- Carbohydrates: 10 grams (4 percent DV)
- Fiber: 1 gram (4 percent DV)
- Sugar: 7 grams
- Protein: 0 grams (0 percent DV)
- Vitamin C: 36 grams (40 percent DV)
- Manganese: 1 milligram (43 percent DV)
benefits of pineapple water
Yes, there are benefits of pineapple water. However, keep in mind that when the fruit is lightly infused in water, a relatively low amount of nutrients is transferred to the drink. But you can change this! Instead of draining the pineapple, add whole chunks to your glass. Take a sip of water and then eat the fruit, just as you would sangria.
There isn’t a lot of published research strictly on pineapple water, but here’s what is known about the potential benefits.
It’s moisturizing
The most important health benefit of pineapple water is that it provides hydration, which is vital for our bodies to function properly. The average adult drinks less than five glasses of water a day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is much less than the recommended intake of 15.5 cups for men and 11.5 cups a day. Therefore, they can use any help to get their daily quota of water.
Adding a sweet flavor like pineapple to water can make drinking water more appealing and palatable to someone who cannot meet their hydration needs with plain water alone. This is why some people also like lemon water or lime water.
Helps immunity
In addition to being a refreshing and hydrating alternative to plain water, the pineapple water may provide a small immunity boost. Pineapple is a great source of vitamin C and manganese, both of which play important roles in immune function.
In fact, per cup of pineapple, you get 79 milligrams of vitamin C. This is 88 percent of the daily intake for vitamin C and 67 percent of the daily intake for manganese.
Helps reduce inflammation
Pineapple contains bromelain, a group of enzymes. To drink pineapple water It can help people with chronic inflammation, as bromelain is water soluble and is known to have anti-inflammatory effects in the body.
Bromelain also provides other anti-inflammatory benefits. Research suggests that bromelain may even decrease nasal inflammation in people with acute sinusitis and may shorten the duration of symptoms.
Helps reduce the intake of added sugars
It’s no secret that most soft drinks contain added sugar. So if carbonation is what you love, making a sparkling pineapple water can satisfy your soda craving.
Fruit-infused sparkling water is a satisfying, low-calorie alternative to soft drinks with the same satisfying fizz. Replacing sugary drinks with this alternative is a bonus.
May aid digestion
Pineapple is packed with natural digestive enzymes that help our body break down food. Drinking pineapple water between meals can help support healthy digestion.
Disadvantages of pineapple water
For most people, drinking pineapple water is okay. However, people with certain medical conditions may want to be careful about intake.
Since adding fruit infusion to water is a delicate way to add flavor without all the sugar you’d get from juice, it’s hard to overdo it, so be very careful.
Pineapple is very acidic and too much pineapple water can cause heartburn or digestive problems in some people. Also, the bromelain in pineapple water can interact with some medications such as blood thinners or antibiotics. If you are concerned about this, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.