Have you ever noticed how your mouth starts to tingle when you tuck in to some pineapple?
It’s usually the reason why you can’t eat too much of the zingy fruit in one sitting – your mouth can literally become too sore to keep going, no matter how much it might be contributing to your five-a-day.
The phenomenon has caused upset among fans of the fruit, with many taking to social media to share their frustrations.
It’s hard to eat too much pineapple in one sitting (Getty Stock Photo)
“Look, yes, pineapple does make my mouth itch. but what am i supposed to do, not eat pineapple? that’s ridiculous,” one person wrote.
Another commented: “Who’d have thought that a fruit like pineapple could leave a mouth so sore and itchy. Still my favourite fruit.”
So why does something that’s meant to be good for you cause us so much strife? Well, it’s all to do with an enzyme in the fruit which is called bromelain.
Bromelain is type of enzyme known as a protease, which breaks down proteins into amino acids.
When pineapple is consumed, the bromelain can work to break down some proteins which make up a protective layer in our mouths, allowing the acidity from the pineapple to start irritating us.
But the enzyme isn’t the only reason our mouths can tingle – there’s also another culprit which comes in the form of minuscule ‘spikes’ on the fruit.
Pineapple puts up a fight when being eaten (Getty Stock Photo)
Obviously you can’t see these spikes, which are actually called raphides, but they’re sharp enough to have an effect.
According to Michael P. Sheehan, MD, who spoke to SELF Magazine about pineapple’s impacts, raphides can result in tiny abrasions to our tongues and cheeks – doubling the sore feeling when the acidic juice bursts into our mouths.
So, all of this means that while coffee is busy giving you a buzz and chocolate gives you a dopamine hit, pineapple is actually fighting back against being eaten with its natural defence mechanisms.
Obviously the fruit is ultimately no match for our teeth, but the thought of being attacked from the inside has left some fruit fans feeling uneasy.
“It’s digesting you… right back… [shocked face],” one person commented after learning the unsettling lesson.
Another social media user wrote: “Technically while you are eating pineapple, it is eating you back at the same time.”
You might think twice about tucking in to pineapple next time, but I’m sure people will agree that it’s worth the pain.