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The
bromeliad family of plants very rarely produce edible fruit – with the
exception of pineapple, that is. The pineapple is the only available edible
bromeliad today! One pineapple is actually made up of individual flowerets that
grow and weave together to form the beautiful golden fruit we call a pineapple.
The
pineapples lush, sweet, exotic flavour make it a family favourite – but did you
know that pineapple is also one of the most healthful foods available today?
Bromelain,
a proteolytic enzyme in pineapples, is often used as a supplement itself to
help boost health and clear up various health issues. Of course, eating
pineapple in itself will deliver these same effects such as better heart and
circulatory health, improvement in asthma and other breathing conditions as
well as improved immunity, reduced inflammation and suppressed growth of cancer
cells.
Anti-inflammatory
Benefits
Bromelain
possesses anticoagulant properties, and thus slows down the ability of blood to
clot. This, combined with bromelain’s anti-inflammatory properties, make it a
great nutritional supplement (in pure form – aka. eating a pineapple) for
bruise prevention and to reduce swelling and redness from burns or sports
injuries. Consuming pineapple after surgery is another way to reduce the trauma
associated with incisions or injections.
There
are a variety of inflammatory-related conditions, ranging from arthritis to
inflammatory bowel disease and sinusitis as well as inflammatory skin conditions
like eczema, acne, rosacea, dermatitis and psoriasis. The list doesn’t end
there. In fact, many diseases nowadays are caused by a major influx of
inflammation in the cells and tissues, whether that be from consuming the wrong
foods or living in less-than-optimal environmental conditions (i.e., chemical
hazards, smog, pollution, etc.).
Bromelain
has been useful in treating all of the above inflammatory disorders. The major
mechanism of action of bromelain is proteolytic in nature, and may also involve
immunomodulatory and hormone like activity acting via intracellular signalling
pathways. It has also been shown that bromelain significantly reduces CD4+T
lymphocytes, which are the primary effectors involved in inflammation in the
body.
Research
also indicates that the pain and discomfort associated with arthritis can be
reduced by supplementing with 200 – 400 mg of bromelain per day (or you could
just eat lots of pineapple every day and get the same effects – remember, the
natural, real form of these enzymes are far better than their modified,
synthetic form).
Immunity
& Cancer
Research
published in the journal Planta Medica, found that the chemotherapy drug,
5-fluorauracil, was incredibly inferior to bromelain when treating cancer in an
animal study. Those treated with bromelain survived 263% times more than those
treated with 5-fluorauracil, relative to the untreated control. Bromelain
caused no external harm to the animals, other than improving their health.
Chemotherapy drugs do more harm than good, and actually kill off your healthy
cells, and make more chemo resistant and malignant cell types within the tumour
(meaning the cancer becomes resistant to the chemo drugs).
In
addition, the anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulant effects of bromelain help to
boost our immunity. Studies have shown that it may be able to enhance certain
immune receptors in the body, and thus enhance the ability of the body to
defend against bacteria and viruses at a more efficient rate. Bromelain helps
mechanisms that are already in place to work faster, and more efficiently
together, and to allow cells to communicate better with one another.
Pineapple
is also incredibly rich in vitamin C, which is the body’s primary water-soluble
antioxidant. It defends against free radicals that attack and damage normal
cells. Vitamin C is essential for proper immune function, and has also been
extensively studied by Dr. Ronal Hunninghake (15-year research project called
RECNAC), who showed that vitamin C was selectively cytotoxic against cancer
cells in cell cultures.
Heart
& Circulatory Health and Breathing Conditions
Bromelain,
being an anti-coagulant, means that it may allow blood to flow more freely
through the circulatory system. Blood that flows more freely is thinner, and is
associated with a reduced chance of stroke, heart attack and other circulatory
and heart related issues.
Not
only does it help with cardiovascular health, but pineapple’s bromelain enzyme
also works in such a way that it breaks down mucus and thins its consistency.
In conditions like asthma where breathing is often blocked by thick mucus in
the lungs, bromelain acts as a mucus thinner, and helps un-clog the bronchial
tubes of the lungs, helping patients breathe better.
All
parts of the pineapple contain bromelain, however, the core of the pineapple
has more concentrated amounts – be sure to stick the core through a juicer to
get all the benefits out of your next pineapple feast!
Tochi,
B., Wang, Z., Xu, S., & Zhang, W. (2008). Therapeutic application of
pineapple protease (bromelain): A review. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 7,
513-520.
Gaby,
A. (1999). Alternative treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. Altern Med Rev, 4, 392-402.
Maurer,
H. (2001) Bromelain: biochemistry, pharmacology, and medical use. Cellular and Molecular Life
Sciences CMLS, 58,
1234-1245.
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