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Pineapple leaves not a ‘wonder’ cure

Pineapple leaves can do wonders for your health, according to a claim circulating on social media.

In July 2019 an alert for the claim popped up on Africa Check’s Nigeria Whatsapp group, which we created with Nigerian media partners to track false information about health.

The claim lists four supposed health benefits of pineapple leaves:

  • “Heals bleeding from nose”

  • “Drives away weakness” by providing energy and increasing blood circulation

  • “Boosts immunity” by fighting “disease-causing microorganisms”

  • “Controls diabetes”


It was also shared on a Facebook page in Nigeria. Websites and blogs have also published the list.



No scientifically proven health benefits of pineapple leaves


Dr Ogbonne Ikechukwu, a general practitioner at the University of Nigeria Medical Centre, said he would not recommend pineapple leaves to anyone in need of the listed health benefits.

“I have never made use of pineapple leaves and I never will. I consider WhatsApp messages of this nature to be irrelevant.”

Prof Edith Madukwe, a senior lecturer at the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, said she had never come across any study on the health benefits of pineapple leaves.

“I would not recommend pineapple leaves to anyone,” Madukwe said. “I believe such a message should be ignored.” – Motunrayo Joel 




 

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