Nutrients in pineapple juice may help soothe symptoms of a cough or cold. One 2010 study found that pineapple juice was part of an effective treatment for tuberculosis, thanks to its ability to soothe the throat and dissolve mucus. According to this study, a mixture of pineapple juice, honey, salt, and pepper reduced cough symptoms up to five times faster than over-the-counter (OTC) cough syrup
Pineapple juice contains a mixture of enzymes called bromelain, which has strong anti-inflammatory properties. It’s thought that bromelain can help with respiratory problems that are tied to allergies and asthma. It’s also thought to have mucolytic properties that help break up and expel mucus
While pineapple juice can be effective as a cough treatment, other medicines and traditional treatments may be more effective depending on the cause of the cough. If you have asthma, for example, pineapple juice can be used as a supplemental treatment, but you shouldn’t toss your doctor-prescribed inhaler out the window.
If your cough lasts for more than a week or disrupts your sleep, call your doctor and ask what treatments you should consider. People who have a pineapple allergy, or are allergic to other tropical fruits, should not drink pineapple juice.
One traditional cough remedy is to blend pineapple juice with honey, ginger, salt, and a little cayenne pepper. The cayenne helps expel mucus while the honey and ginger soothe the throat and offer anti-inflammatory properties.
For this remedy, blend together:
1 cup pineapple juice
1 tsp. minced or chopped ginger
1 tbsp. honey
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
Drink 1/4 cup up to three times per day. It’s important not to give raw honey to children under 1 year of age.