Why does eating pineapple hurt your mouth and tongue?



Pineapple is good. Wait, who are we kidding? Pineapple is delicious. Sadly, pineapple is also painful.

If you have ever eaten more than your fair share of pineapple, you have likely experienced pain in your mouth. But why? The folks at IFLScience shared the answer on Facebook earlier today -- and their story is going viral.

Pineapples originated in South America in the late 1400s and became a food for the wealthy in England during the 1600s. In fact, the fruit was often carried around as a status symbol.

Now, you can purchase pineapple at your local grocery store. But if you wanted to eat an entire pineapple in a single sitting, you would most likely experience some pain. What causes that scratchy, rough feeling on your tongue after eating the fruit?

Here's the explanation from IFLScience:

"Pineapple contains bromelain, a mixture of enzymes that digest proteins. Despite bromelain being an approved anti-inflammatory treatment and having other health benefits, when it comes into contact with the sensitive skin in and around one's mouth, it's actually breaking down proteins, causing the tissue to become sore and inflamed."