Can You Eat Pineapple While Pregnant?
The truth about pregnancy is that knowing what you can and cannot eat is one of the most stressful things about this time. The objective of having a healthy pregnancy and birth is at the top of every pregnant person's to-do list, of course. However, opinions on how to achieve this seem to vary widely, and information can be conflicting. During pregnancy, there are foods that are completely off limits, like alcohol (per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), but there are others that are up for debate.
It may seem that while pregnant, everybody has a piece of advice to bestow or wives' tale to share with the expecting person. However well-meaning these people may be, old wives' tales are not always the most up-to-date, scientifically speaking. According to Johns Hopkins, there are myths surrounding just about every aspect of pregnancy, from fetal heart rate being used to predict gender and whether or not you should nurse a toddler during pregnancy to those myths pertaining to what food you should be eating as well.
How does pineapple affect pregnancy?
One of the most popular wives' tales cautions pregnant people against eating pineapple during pregnancy. According to WebMD, the idea that pineapple should be avoided during pregnancy most likely comes from the fact that the popular fruit contains an enzyme called bromelain, which can, on occasion, cause feelings of cramping that can be mistaken for preterm labor.
According to Healthline, bromelain is an enzyme that helps to break down protein in your body, and while concentrated bromelain tablets are not recommended during pregnancy, the amount of bromelain found in an average pineapple is considered safe.
In an interview with Verywell Family, Dr. Shaista Waheed explains, "Pineapple causing a miscarriage is a myth [and there is] no scientific evidence to support this." So fear not, if one of your most common pregnancy cravings is pineapple, feel free to indulge in this nutritious and delicious tropical snack.
Pineapple is part of a healthy pregnancy diet
Pineapple can actually be an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber as well as fit well within a healthy pregnancy diet. It seems that the worst-case scenario of indulging your pineapple pregnancy cravings may just be some heartburn. Dr. Njoud Jweihan was quoted by Mom Loves Best as saying, "Eating a lot of pineapple can make heartburn and acid reflux worse, so be cautious if you are already suffering from either of these during your pregnancy."
Acid reflux is a common pregnancy symptom, and if it's something you're already struggling with, perhaps you should save the pineapple for after the baby is born. If acid reflux has not been a struggle, then, according to Livestrong, pineapple can be a great source of essential nutrients during pregnancy as it contains high levels of vitamin C, manganese, and also small amounts of folate and iron.