Can Pineapple Cause Diarrhea?
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Pineapple and Diarrhea: Why This Fruit May Upset Your Stomach

Pineapple and Diarrhea: Why This Fruit May Upset Your Stomach
Everyday Health
By
Andra Picincu, CN, CPT
Updated on July 31, 2025
by
Pineapple isn’t just delicious — it also contains natural enzymes that aid in digestion and may relieve stomach upset.

 Plus, the vitamin C, thiamin, folate, and other vitamins in pineapple support immune function and overall health.

 The downside is that, in some people, pineapple may cause diarrhea.

Can Pineapple Cause Diarrhea?

Like anything else, this fruit has its drawbacks. In general, it’s unlikely to cause any issues when consumed in moderation. However, if you eat too much of it, you may end up with tummy pain and diarrhea. Sometimes, bromelain or vitamin C are to blame.

Bromelain

Bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapple fruit and stems.

 After ingestion, it’s rapidly absorbed into the gut, where it stays active for six to nine hours. It may help inhibit cancer progression, improve immune function, and suppress inflammation. It also helps the body break down protein. Additionally, bromelain helps protect against infectious diarrhea, a condition caused by E. coli and other harmful bacteria, by preventing pathogens from attaching to specific receptors in the gut. Moreover, it may help your body use antibiotics more effectively. It may help improve digestion and alleviate bloating and heartburn too.

 
However, bromelain carries a small risk of side effects. A review published in 2021 states that, in rare cases, bromelain may cause issues such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abnormal menstrual bleeding.

 Usually, this happens when people consume a lot of bromelain in a short time period. Some people may also experience allergic reactions to this natural compound (more on that in a minute).
Furthermore, it’s important to avoid bromelain before surgery, as it may increase the risk of bleeding, according to the same review.

 Pregnant women and people with liver or kidney disorders shouldn’t take bromelain. If you have a blood or bleeding disorder or are taking medications or supplements such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications, or ginkgo biloba, ask your doctor whether it’s safe to eat pineapple or take bromelain supplements.

Vitamin C

Pineapple also boasts large amounts of vitamin C.

 Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C scavenges oxidative stress and helps regenerate other antioxidants in your body.

 Additionally, it plays a crucial role in collagen synthesis, protein metabolism, iron absorption, and immune function. Furthermore, it may help support healthy blood sugar and blood pressure levels.

 The downside is that too much vitamin C can give you diarrhea.

 Doses above 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams per day may lead to digestive discomfort, nausea, fatigue, headaches, and other adverse effects.

 Pineapple, though, has only 78.9 milligrams of vitamin C per serving, so it’s unlikely to cause diarrhea.

Pineapple Intolerance and Allergic Reactions

Again, pineapple shouldn’t give you stomach trouble if you eat it in moderation. While it’s true that bromelain may cause diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting in some people, these side effects are rare.

 Generally, they tend to occur in those who take bromelain supplements.

 These tend to deliver a higher dose of the enzyme than you’d get from eating pineapple.

If you have diarrhea after eating pineapple, you might have a food intolerance.

 Certain fruits, including pineapples, pomegranates, dates, avocados, raisins, citrus fruits, and raspberries, contain salicylates.

 Some people are sensitive to these compounds, and eating them may cause digestive symptoms, such as nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Other food intolerance symptoms may include hives, itchy skin, runny nose, or wheezing.
Some people are allergic to pineapple.

 If that’s the case, you’ll most likely experience skin rashes, swelling of the mouth and throat, vomiting, and wheezing or difficulty breathing, though you may also have diarrhea.

 Consult your doctor immediately if you notice any of these symptoms after eating pineapple or other fruits.

Vitamins in Pineapple

If you aren’t intolerant or allergic to pineapple, there are numerous reasons to eat more of this tropical fruit, which does a lot more than satisfy your sweet tooth. In fact, pineapple is exceptionally nutritious. Besides bromelain, each serving (about 1 cup) supplies the following micro- and macronutrients:

  • 83 calories
  • 21.6 grams of carbs
  • 2.3 grams of fiber
  • 16.3 grams of sugars
  • 0.9 grams of protein
  • 11 percent of the daily value (DV) of thiamin
  • 88 percent DV of vitamin C
  • 7 percent DV of folate
  • 5 percent DV of niacin
  • 67 percent DV of manganese
  • 20 percent DV of copper
  • 5 percent DV of magnesium

The Takeaway

  • Pineapple is generally safe and nutritious, offering several essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and potassium, making it a beneficial addition to a balanced diet.
  • However, eating large quantities or consuming it if you’re sensitive or allergic to certain compounds — such as bromelain or salicylates — could upset your stomach.
  • Most people can avoid unpleasant side effects by eating pineapple in moderation.
  • If you experience severe reactions, including swelling, skin rashes, or breathing difficulties, after eating pineapple, talk to your doctor, as these could be signs of an allergy.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Kansakar U et al. Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Bromelain: Applications, Benefits, and Mechanisms. Nutrients. June 28, 2024.
  2. The Many Health Benefits of Pineapple. Cleveland Clinic. October 22, 2022.
  3. Hikisz P et al. Beneficial Properties of Bromelain. Nutrients. November 29, 2021.
  4. Chakraborty AJ et al. Bromelain a Potential Bioactive Compound: A Comprehensive Overview From a Pharmacological Perspective. Life. April 6, 2021.
  5. Pineapple, raw, all varieties. U.S. Department of Agriculture: FoodData Central. April 1, 2019.
  6. Vitamin C: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements. July 31, 2025.
  7. Mason SA et al. Effects of Vitamin C Supplementation on Glycemic Control and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in People With Type 2 Diabetes: A GRADE-Assessed Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Diabetes Care. February 2021.
  8. Vitamin C. Mayo Clinic. August 10, 2023.
  9. By the Way, Doctor: What’s the Right Amount of Vitamin C for Me? Harvard Health Publishing. May 5, 2023.
  10. Bromelain. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. November 2024.
  11. Varilla C et al. Bromelain, a Group of Pineapple Proteolytic Complex Enzymes (Ananas comosus) and Their Possible Therapeutic and Clinical Effects. A Summary. Foods. September 23, 2021.
  12. Food Intolerance. Cleveland Clinic. August 11, 2021.
  13. Skypala I et al. Sensitivity to Salicylate in Food. British Dietetic Association. 2024.
  14. Fruits. University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
  15. Fruit and Vegetable Allergy. The Sydney Children’s Hospital Network.
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Kayli Anderson, RDN

Medical Reviewer
Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Kayli Anderson has over a decade of experience in nutrition, culinary education, and lifestyle medicine. She believes that eating well should be simple, pleasurable, and sustainable. Anderson has worked with clients from all walks of life, but she currently specializes in nutrition therapy and lifestyle medicine for women. She’s the founder of PlantBasedMavens.com, a hub for women to get evidence-based, practical, and woman-centered guidance on nutrition and cooking, hormone health, fertility, pregnancy, movement, mental well-being, nontoxic living, and more.

Anderson is board-certified in lifestyle medicine and serves as lead faculty of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s (ACLM) "Food as Medicine" course. She is past chair of the ACLM's registered dietitian member interest group, secretary of the women's health member interest group, and nutrition faculty for many of ACLM's other course offerings. She is the coauthor of the Plant-Based Nutrition Quick Start Guide and works with many of the leading organizations in nutrition and lifestyle medicine to develop nutrition content, recipes, and educational programs.

Anderson frequently speaks on the topics of women’s health and plant-based nutrition and has coauthored two lifestyle medicine textbooks, including the first one on women’s health, Improving Women's Health Across the Lifespan.

She received a master's degree in nutrition and physical performance and is certified as an exercise physiologist and intuitive eating counselor. She's a student of herbal medicine and women's integrative and functional medicine. She lives with her husband in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, where you’ll find her out on a trail or in her garden.

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Andra Picincu, CN, CPT

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