Does pineapple belong on pizza? It's the age-old debate that people can never seem to agree on. However, one nutritionist might have settled the argument once and for all.
Nutritionist Mays Al-Ali of HealthyMays.com explains how the fruity topping could be doing your digestive system a disservice down to the way fruit sugars - known as fructose - react with other ingredients.
"Pineapple - like many fruits - is high in fruit sugars which when combined with other foods such as protein, carbohydrates or fat can cause over-fermentation - resulting in digestive issues - bloating, flatulence and an uncomfortable stomach," she explains.
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"This is especially more prominent in those who already have a sensitive gut."
Sensitivity in the gut varies between each person but it is becoming more common, with many common culinary combinations like pineapple on pizza potentially being the cause of post-meal discomfort.
"A lot of people with gut sensitivities would immediately blame gluten or dairy to be the root of the problem, when in fact there could be other ingredients at play here," Mays adds.
Mays also notes that individual nutrition is key because each person reacts and digests food differently. And there are even more classic food combos she is urging people to avoid.
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This includes combining high sugar fruits such as melon, mango, banana, and grapes: "Opt to eat them alone, leaving around an hour to allow them to digest before ingesting anything else."
Tomatoes in salads are very common although according to Mays they may do more harm than good. Tomatoes are a fruit and the nutritionist usually avoids including them in her salads. "Not only do they react with the classic salad ingredients but they also don't pair well with heavy meats or dairy." Mays cooks her tomatoes to let the fibre soften for easier digestion.
We'll probably pass on ordering a Hawaiian pizza after finding this out.
Topics: Food And Drink, Health