A pineapple a day keeps the doctor away?
One tropical fruit-loving mom has gone viral for Dole-ing out a chunk of unusual advice on how to whack down cold and flu germs this winter season — by drinking lots of pineapple-infused water.
“This is my go-to when my family is sick. It’s quick and easy to make and one of my best discoveries for natural cold/flu remedies,” Jewell, who goes by @raisingreverie on TikTok, wrote as the caption of a video that has snagged 8.2 million views since being posted just weeks ago.
Swigging the suddenly-popular solution can reduce symptoms of illness, Jewell claims.
“Whenever anyone in our house starts to feel sick, I’m running to the store to get a pineapple. Not only is pineapple delicious, it’s also full of vitamins and minerals that can help you fight off infection,” she said.
The enterprising mom showed her followers how to make the concoction.
“So whenever someone in our house is coming down with something, I’m going straight to making pineapple water, “ she added.
She then broke down the easy-to-make recipe on camera.
“You’ll use the entire pineapple, except for the crown, so just make sure to thoroughly wash the outside of your pineapple,” she said.
Jewell then places the pineapple in a solution of water and vinegar in the sink to clean the fruit properly.
“Then we’ll take a pot of water and bring it to a boil — I don’t have a measurement for the amount of water.. I just fill the pot about halfway, and once I’ve added in the pineapple, I will remove or add water as needed,” she said.
She then chops the pineapple and puts it in the pot.
“While you wait for your water to boil, cut your pineapple into smaller pieces,” she added.
“Once you’ve added all your pineapple into the boiling water, wait for the water to return to a boil and then turn off the heat,” she explained.
She then lets the pineapple steep “for a few minutes” before pouring the pineapple water through a sieve into a jug, leaving any pineapple pieces out.
She said that people can add some honey, another anti-inflammatory, to the mix.
“Serve hot for a sore throat, or cold for a refreshing immunity boost,” she said.
Some of her followers expressed gratitude for the recommendation.
“Yes! I have been doing this for 2 years and I swear by it! I also add cinnamon, clove, ginger and honey,” one person said.
“Great for bloating and inflammation.. I had a tummy tuck and my nurses gave me this twice a day to help with swelling,” another said.
Other viewers didn’t quite see the benefit.
“Why not just eat the pineapple?” someone pondered. Jewell responded by saying her recipe keeps sick people more hydrated than eating pineapple alone.
Pineapple is a nutrient-rich fruit — but the jury’s out regarding its power to cure anything.
“Pineapple contains bromelain, a group of enzymes found in the stem and fruit of the pineapple. Some use it to treat bronchitis and sinusitis for its ability to dissolve mucus and its anti-inflammatory properties,” according to an article in Medical News Today.
“There are small studies on the use of bromelain for sinusitis. However, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH) stated that there is not enough Trusted Source high-quality research to prove this,” the author wrote.
But while it may not be a proven miracle worker, pineapple definitely does have immune-boosting and antibacterial properties.
The fruit is high in vitamin C which supports immune health, it has fiber which helps digestion, manganese which prevents cell damage, as well as beta carotene, copper, zinc and folate.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on TikTok — where the hashtag #Pineapplehacks currently has over 3.7 million views — some influencers have insisted that pineapple can help you sleep better.
And this time, experts appear to be in agreement.
“Pineapple is one of the foods which has a reasonable level of natural melatonin,” sleep coach and hypnotherapist Dave Gibson explained to UK-based health company Vitabiotics.
Melatonin is a hormone produced by the brain in darkness and balances the body’s circadian rhythm for better sleep.
