Does Cooking Pineapple Reduce Ileostomy Blockage Risk?

My wife's favourite pizza is ham and pineapple.  I will refrain from judgement 😉  I gather that uncooked pineapple can cause a blockage but if it is cooked on pizza, does that minimize the risk?

I think it's the same risk either way. 

Cooked can help the stomach digest it easier. The only way to see if it's right is to try a small amount. Then, if it were to cause a blockage, it will be short-lived, hopefully. I can't eat it either way myself, but I know others with an ileostomy that can eat it uncooked, problem-free.

I have an ileostomy and have had zero problems with pineapple, both raw and cooked. I just make sure I chew everything really well.

Pineapple can be safe as long as you are careful.  Even when cooked, there might be bits that are too fibrous, and should be spit out.  Tell your wife that if she can't break it down in her mouth, to the point where it feels like mush, just spit it out.  As long as she is chewing really well, she should be fine.

Terry

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Cancel the pizza. Order a meatball parm. 😁

No issue with pineapple here 🍕

That’s a good pizza choice. 👍 

I have an ileostomy and no issues with the small amount of pineapple that would be on such a pizza. Ileostomies are notoriously fickle when it comes to what you can or cannot eat. What is safe for one person may be a nightmare for another. There are a lot of reasons for this. The best approach is to start small and see how it goes. Personally, I have yet to find anything I cannot eat. But, there are some things I will not eat in quantity. A large serving of pineapple would be one of those things. As would a plateful of peas or green beans.

Daniel

Hi spouse,

Interesting question! The answer, as you've already read, is a mixed bag. Any insoluble fiber, including pineapple, can cause a blockage if in sufficient quantity. Pineapple also is rich in bromelain, which is an enzyme that helps with digestion. But of course, there's a catch... if you cook pineapple to about 160°F, you inactivate the bromelain. So you're damned if you do... and darned if you don't. It's God's way of telling you pineapple doesn't belong on a pizza, silly!

Ok, seriously, you've already gotten the best advice... start small and everything in moderation.

;O)

I agree with the comment about spitting out the fibrous part. I do that with grapes, cherry tomatoes, olives, pickles, etc. I have a Dixie cup for the parts I don't swallow. Probably why I choose to eat at home or just have soup and a grilled cheese at a restaurant.

Maybe have ham pizza with a glass of pineapple juice? LOL

Take all things in moderation, and the only way to really know is to experiment a bit. I find that the membranes of certain vegetables and fruits do not break down for me, so I have to be careful about combinations, like bell peppers and onions, or the amount I am consuming, like corn. Just moderate and take note.

G-Day Spouse,

The center of the pineapple is the part that can be hard and woody, so only use the outer circumference of it which, when cooked and chewed really well, should be OK. But try a small amount first.

Regards, IGGIE