Athletes’ use pineapple juice for
inflammation, natives of Central and South America use it for pain relief, to
treat wounds, skin injuries and indigestion, and bromelain extracted from
pineapple has been approved in Germany to treat swelling and inflammation after
surgery.
We all know the spiky fruit is
delicious, but is there any truth to the claim that pineapple can help reduce
inflammation?
Aside from being a great source of
Vitamin C, pineapples contain the enzyme bromelain, which is a natural
anti-inflammatory agent that plays a role in the body’s healing process. Research
indicates that bromelain helps reduce swelling, bruising and pain in
musculoskeletal injuries, and can reduce symptoms of arthritis, bursitis and
tendonitis.
According to the American Cancer
Society and the University of Maryland Medical Center, bromelain may also help with
these 9 things:
- Side effects of chemotherapy
- Diarrhea and inflammation for people suffering
from inflammatory bowel disease (IBS) - Digestive issues – bromelain helps your
digestive heath by breaking down the excess in your digestive tract and
flushing it out your system - Blood clotting – it keeps platelets in the blood
from sticking together - Arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory effect
- Surgery, sprains and strains and tendinitis
- Sinusitis
- Wounds and burns
- Infection
Although these
studies look promising, further research is needed. The good news is, most of us who have tried pineapple for these things have had good results. I’ve had many people in our community tell me their stories, too.
What can be stated with certainty is that the
German Commission E has approved bromelain (issued as a supplement) to treat
swelling and inflammation after surgery – a clear endorsement of its positive effects.
So if you
want to discover nature’s cure for inflammation, consider increasing your
bromelain intake by having pineapple juice for inflammation. The best store of natural bromelain is fresh pineapple, as
pineapple quickly loses its natural bromelain stores on heating. Juiced pineapple
gives you the quickest and largest dose of bromelain nature can provide!
What’s more
you’ll get a potent dose of Vitamin C at the same time, which protects the body
from damage from free radicals and boosts the immune system. Vitamin C, as most
of us know, decreases the severity of colds and infections. It also builds and
repairs body tissue and promotes wound healing.
Vitamin C
may even help prevent high blood pressure and diabetes, according to Oregan
State University’s Linus Pauling Institute, which publishes research on the
role of vitamins and micronutrients in enhancing
human health and preventing chronic diseases.
Pineapple is
also a rich source of Manganese, Potassium and
Thiamine. Pineapples actually contain over 90% the Daily Value (DV) of
Manganese, which is needed for strong bone growth and health – just another reason
many athletes regularly drink pineapple juice!
Pineapple juice for inflammation concerns
There aren’t really any dangers in using pineapple juice for inflammation or any other purpose, but caution is advised for pregnant women, as excessive pineapple juice may cause uterine contractions, which can lead to a miscarriage.
Also make sure your pineapple is ripe before you can juice or eat it whole! A ripe pineapple is heavy, a little soft (gives in a bit with a slight squeeze), and you should be able to smell its sweet scent at the base. Unripe fruit can cause runny stools, vomiting or even skin rashes so always make sure you eat fresh, ripe fruit and monitor your body’s response to it – if you feel bad, don’t consume it.
Because bromelain is a natural blood thinner, you shouldn’t add pineapple juice to your diet if you take blood thinning medications, as it can increase your risk of bleeding.
To be on the safe side, I always advise consulting with your physician before making any dietary change. He/she may advise against adding pineapple juice to your regular diet or adjust your medication to allow for increased bromelain intake.
Last but not least, one cup of pineapple has only 83 calories and between 16 and 22 grams of sugar, so monitor your intake if you’re trying to lose weight. Make sure you juice the core and stem to increase the nutritional qualities and get the greatest stores of bromelain.
Ultimately, if you want a natural way to aid your body’s healing, aid in a healthy lifestyle and satisfy your sweet tooth, fresh, organic juiced pineapples are the way forward. Below I’ve paired it with turmeric which has proven inflammatory fighting properties. Read more about turmeric here.
“No more pain” pineapple-turmeric juice recipe
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 pineapple
- 2 inches turmeric root
- 1/2 head romaine lettuce
- 1 cucumber
METHOD
Cut the pineapple into long spears. Cut the romaine lettuce into smaller, juice-able sections. Cut the cucumber into spears. Juice the cucumber, romaine, turmeric and pineapple together. Serve immediately.
Optional variations for the “no more pain” juice recipe
- Switch out the romaine and add one sweet potato. This juice blend will be thick, but it is high in many other pain-supportive nutrients. Sweet potatoes are high in carotenoids which have been known to strengthen the immune and minimize inflammation.
- If you’re concerned about sugar, only use 1/4 of the pineapple.
- If you want to blend instead of use your juicer, blend 1 cup of pineapple chunks with 1 tsp of turmeric powder and some water. It’s quick and easy