People horrified to learn that when you're eating pineapple that the pineapple is 'eating you'
Topics: Food and Drink, Social Media, TikTok, Viral, Science, Health, Nature
Poppy Bilderbeck
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
Topics: Food and Drink, Social Media, TikTok, Viral, Science, Health, Nature
If you feel a strange tingling after eating pineapple you're probably not allergic and it's not off, there's a scientific reason for it.
If you prefer to eat your pineapple rather than make a 'fireproof' shield out of its skin like one man, then you may've noticed you sometimes end up being left with a tingling, numbing or even slightly painful sensation after ingesting the yellow fruit - and there's several potential reasons why.
And a TikToker who goes by SF Microscopy took to their page last year to lift the lid on why many people's mouths 'tingle after eating pineapple'.
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In the video, they take a sample of a pineapple and look at it under a microscope, explaining: "It's cause we are getting stabbed by thousands of tiny needles called raphides! These crystals of calcium oxalate poke holes in your cell membranes, causing irritation!"
However, the video resolved: "Won't stop me from eating this delcious fruit."
And it's not taken long for people to weigh in.
One TikTok user said: "This whole time I thought it was because I was mildly allergic."
"So basically while I'm eating my pineapple, my pineapple is eating me…" Another added.
"I don’t tingle after eating pineapple. Am I… better than everyone?" A third commented.
A fourth wrote: "It always feel so raw afterwards this makes so much sense."
A fifth resolved: "Never eating pineapple again bro."
And it turns out there is actually some truth to these educational videos on TikTok, although, the 'needles' and 'stabbing' is a bit of a dramatic way to put it all.
The raphides in pineapples are so small they can only be seen under special microscopes and aren't big or strong enough to actually do any serious damage to your mouth.
However, combine the raphides with the acidic juice from the pineapple and you're going to feel the tingling more - the microscopic abrasions from the raphides allowing the acidic juice to have a greater effect.
Livestrong.com also reports the presence of a group of enzymes called bromelain in the fruit can also cause a 'numbing' sensation.
It explains: "Bromelain works by removing the molecules on the surface of cells, essentially digesting them. Although this makes bromelain useful for tenderising meat, it can also cause pineapple to leave your mouth feeling raw and numb. Bromelain begins to break down the proteins on the surface of your lips, tongue and cheeks when it makes contact with these areas."
McGill Office for Science and Society adds: "Bromelain has mucolytic effects, hence it can break down some of the mucous in our saliva that protects the lining of the oral cavity. With this weakened defence line, the acidic pH of pineapple juice can cause an unpleasant prickle."
Ultimately, McGill resolves there 'is no single' or 'clear explanation' as to why pineapple causes such a tingle among so many of us and if you hate the sensation that much, canned pineapples are a great replacement, the heat treatment they've undergone having destroyed the pesky enzymes.
But hey, we all know the benefits of eating pineapple so maybe it's all worth it in the end. Alas, for all of you who's mind sprung to the more x-rated benefit - yes, I see you - it turns out, that one isn't actually true.