“Very Superstitious” is our ongoing series on the roots of Indonesian myths, superstitions, and folk lore. Click here for more.
Is it just me or are most Indonesian myths just a way for people to tell women what to do—and what not to do? One myth says that women aren’t supposed to sit on the doorway because it will jinx their chance of getting married. Another myth says women are supposed to be super clean, especially when sweeping, or she risks being saddled with a bearded husband. In yet another myth women need to observe the traditional custom of pingitan, where a women stays at home days before her wedding, if they hope to prevent disaster.
But those myths are easier to dismiss than the ones that claim to be based on actual science. Myths like the belief that pineapple is women’s worst enemy, because eating too much of it leads to an overwhelming amount of vaginal discharge. Like a level of discharge that could impact your day-to-day life. Well, except if you’re in the middle of an unwanted pregnancy, then eating a lot of pineapple might be something you want to do as it helps abort the fetus, according to another myth.
Anisa Rahmawati, 25 year old social media analyst and pineapple lover told VICE that she’s also heard of this pineapple-related myth, but she never took it seriously. Anisa never really paid attention to the effects eating pineapple had on her vagina. She admitted that her vaginal discharge increases pre- and post-menstruation, and whenever she’s stressed out. But she’s not sure that it has anything to do the amount of pineapple she eats.
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To be sure, I got in touch with Dr. Achmad Mediana, an OB/GYN from Prodia Women’s Health Center. He said that vaginal discharge is most often normal. However, there are three explanations to a woman’s excessive vaginal discharge.
“Excessive vaginal discharge happens to a woman during ovulation period, and that’s normal,” Dr. Achmad told me. “It also happens when a yeast infection occurs. And it happens during pregnancy, due to hydrorrhea, which is a condition where lots of liquid coming out of the vagina. So it has nothing to do with pineapple.”
Yet another pineapple-related myth is consuming a lot of pineapple makes vaginal discharge taste sweeter. So I asked Dr. Achmad if that rings true. “Not really, it doesn’t make it sweet,” he said. “Vaginal discharge is a little sour. It’s supposed to be that way, due to the lactobacillus. There’s no way pineapple can make it taste sweet.”
The fact is a woman’s vagina is a home to lactobacillus, which produces lactic acid and keeps the pH down there at 4.5. If the pH is too low or high, it may lead to yeast infection or other health issues.
It’s also time to stop spreading the myth that eating pineapple is an effective home remedy for abortion. True, pineapple contains bromelain, a compound if taken in pills or tablets can increase the risk of miscarriage. This compound is also found in other acidic fruits. However, Dr. Achmad explained that eating a normal amount of pineapple is unlikely to cause miscarriage.
That’s a relief. But I wonder how many women out there living their lives following these myths. Anisa told me that she feels women’s lives are governed by myths. “It makes some women paranoid,” she said. “On one hand, such myths prevent women from exploring. I mean, we’re not even allowed to eat pineapple. Maybe this was a tactic people employed back in the day to make women stay at home and follow all these myths disguised as local wisdom.”
Dr. Achmad said the same thing. “I agree there are more food-related myths related to women than to men,” he said. “Men have it easier.”
So ladies, keep eating as much pineapple as you want. They’re full of vitamin C and antioxidants. Pineapple is not a woman’s worst enemy. Sexist myths are.
