Why do pineapples need to be soaked in salt water

Pineapple is a kind of fruit that comes into the market in early spring. Its sweet and sour taste is especially loved by people. But everyone also knows that pineapple needs to be soaked in salt water before eating. But why does pineapple need to be soaked in salt water? This is because there is a substance in pineapple that is harmful to the human body. After eating it, you will feel itchy in your mouth and it will irritate your skin. However, this substance will be decomposed after soaking in salt water.

Why do we need to soak pineapples in salt water?

Pineapple contains three ingredients that are harmful to the human body - glycosides and bromelain. Glycosides are irritating to human skin and oral mucosa. Eating unprocessed pineapple will cause your mouth to feel itchy. At the same time, bromelain is an allergenic substance. When it comes into contact with delicate areas such as the oral mucosa and gums, it will decompose some of the protein on the skin, causing burning, swelling, and soreness on the skin surface. If you eat pineapple directly without soaking it in salt water, you may experience allergic symptoms such as redness and itching of the skin, numbness of the mouth and tongue, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Salt can effectively destroy the allergic structure of bromelain in the pineapple pulp, thereby making it lose its allergenic ability. This is why pineapple should be soaked in salt water before eating. In addition, soaking the pineapple in salt water before eating can decompose some of the organic acids it contains, reducing the sour taste and making the pineapple taste sweeter.

How long should you soak pineapple in salt water?

We introduced above that salt water can destroy the activity of bromelain, but if the soaking time is not enough and bromelain does not completely lose its activity, it will still cause allergies. There was once a media report that a child had an allergic reaction with red and swollen lips after eating a pineapple soaked in salt water. This was because the pineapple was not soaked in the salt water long enough. Of course, the pineapple should not be soaked in salt water for too long, because the pineapple has a high sugar content. The sugar dissolved in water will promote the growth of bacteria and cause the loss of nutrients in the pineapple.

The best time to soak pineapple in salt water is half an hour, which can not only avoid the above two problems, but also make the pineapple taste better. In addition, pineapple contains a large amount of oxalic acid, which will affect the body's absorption of calcium and iron. Soaking it in salt water will also neutralize its acidity and reduce the possible harm to health.

Who can't eat pineapple?

Allergic constitution

Although soaking pineapple in salt water can inactivate some bromelain, there are still some allergenic substances present. People with allergies will experience allergic symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and skin itching and congestion after eating it. This reaction usually occurs about 15 minutes after eating the pineapple.

Eczema patients

Skin eczema is mostly caused by dampness and heat in the body, and pineapple is a damp-heat fruit, which will aggravate the condition after consumption.

Cold constitution

Pineapple is cold in nature, so people with weak spleen and stomach and fear of cold should not eat too much.

Patients with hypotension

Pineapple is rich in potassium. Regular consumption can enhance the decomposition of fibrinase in the body, promote blood circulation, dilute blood lipids, and lower blood pressure. It is a very suitable fruit for patients with hypertension, but friends with low blood pressure should not eat too much pineapple.

Oral disease patients

Pineapple contains glycosides, bromelain and organic acids. The first two substances will decompose skin protein and cause irritation to the lip epidermis and oral mucosa. At the same time, the fruit acid in pineapple can also irritate the oral mucosa. If people suffering from periodontitis, oral ulcers, or gastric ulcers eat pineapples, their condition will be aggravated.