Due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, the bromelain enzyme complex found in pineapples has the potential to treat arthritis. So is pineapple really good for arthritis? Read this article and you can learn more about pineapple and arthritis.
Arthritis And Pineapple
Bromelain, a class of enzymes found in pineapple, is being studied for its potential as an anti-inflammatory and painkiller. Although it is present in the fruit, the core and stem are where it is most heavily concentrated.
In 1891, pineapple’s bromelain was first removed. However, studies since then have focused on osteoarthritis and bromelain’s effects on it. A 1964 study examined effects in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Although bromelain has the potential to be used as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, there is not enough data to recommend this supplement.
Indigenous peoples of Central and South America have long used pineapple juice as an anti-inflammatory, to induce labor, to relieve digestion and fluid retention, and to soothe sore throats and queasy stomachs while at sea.
How Does It Work
It’s intriguing to understand how something operates in our bodies to have an effect, but we don’t fully understand how bromelain works.
It appears to exert an overall anti-inflammatory effect on the body by acting on both pro- and anti-inflammatory signaling molecules via the three major metabolic pathways.
Although bromelain may function in our bodies in other ways that are also advantageous, it may also have an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) effect for those who have arthritis.
How Bromelain Is Taken
Bromelain requires more than just heaping extra pineapple on your Hawaiian pizza if you want to experience any clinical benefits.
Bromelain is a dietary supplement that can be purchased in a variety of forms, including tablets, creams, and powders. You can learn the best way to take it from a clinician.
According to Ginger Hultin, a registered dietitian with a practice in Seattle, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the owner of ChampagneNutrition, supplements are frequently administered in therapeutic doses when treating a specific, targeted condition.
“Although a supplement may have the strongest effects, those often have side effects or could interact with other medications or nutrients. Despite being the most effective, food sources aren’t always the safest.”
According to Rothenberg, your healthcare provider must determine the ideal dosage for your condition and weight in order for bromelain to be effective.
She explains that she typically advises patients to take 500 mg tablets two to three times daily and that bromelain functions best when taken between meals because it doesn’t compete with the other foods you may be eating.
According to some research, bromelain activity in the body may be inhibited by both potatoes and soybeans, Hultin continues.
Is It Safe
The lower doses that have been studied, averaging 500 mg per day and providing symptom relief comparable to that of prescription painkillers, appear to have good tolerability and safety.
With higher doses of up to 2000 mg/kg body weight, it also seems safe and well tolerated with no relevant side effects. Keep in mind that your doctor must determine your dosage for you.
Attention should be paid to:
- long-term supplementation
- People with kidney issues
- people using antibiotics and anticoagulants.
Before beginning a bromelain supplement, be sure to consult your doctor.
Should You Consider Taking Bromelain For Arthritis
Bromelain has reportedly been effective in treating the symptoms of arthritis, but doctors are quick to point out that it shouldn’t take the place of any prescription drugs or other treatments that they have advised you to receive.
To make sure they’re secure and might work for you, discuss any alternative treatments you want to include in your regimen for treating arthritis with your healthcare provider.
Any supplements you take should be combined with general lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and stress reduction that are known to relieve arthritis.
“According to Dr. Rothenberg.
Foods That Relieve Arthritis Pain
Pomegranate Juice
Do your hands, hips, or even your knees hurt? Try some of this sour Persian fruit, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Your cartilage might be protected.
An advantageous result occurred when scientists at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland applied pomegranate extract to cartilage samples that had been harmed by osteoarthritis: Levels of an inflammatory chemical associated with excessive production of a particular enzyme were reduced by the juice.
Foods High In Omega-3 Fatty Acids
For many years, scientists have observed that people with arthritis who consume a lot of oily fish appear to experience less pain and inflammation than those who don’t.
They now have an explanation: Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fatty fish, and it appears that they, like aspirin, increase the production of resolvins, a class of recently discovered anti-inflammatory fats.
Foods Rich In Antioxidants
Free radicals, those unstable molecules that harm healthy cells, have long been thought to contribute to the development of arthritis. It is now becoming apparent how they wreak havoc on joints.
Free radicals impair cartilage’s capacity to maintain and repair itself, according to a recent Japanese study.
People who have arthritis frequently have an excess of free radicals, so they should take extra care to consume more antioxidants, particularly vitamin C and beta-carotene.
Anti-inflammatory Spices
Many spices have been found by researchers to reduce inflammation. Turmeric, a yellow spice that gives curries their color and flavor, and ginger both contain a potent substance called curcumin that prevents the action of enzymes and proteins that cause inflammation. Studies have shown that ginger and turmeric, in particular, lessen arthritis sufferers’ pain and swelling.
Green Tea And Citrus Fruits
One thing binds this oddball group together: quercetin. This chemical compound appears to have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, according to laboratory and animal studies.
Early studies in animals suggest green tea may help prevent or ease symptoms of RA. Additionally, the Iowa Women’s Health Study found that women who drank more than three cups of tea per day were 60% less likely to develop RA than women who didn’t.
