Pineapple can ease your joint pains!

If you suffer from joint aches and pains perhaps caused by arthritis or multiple sclerosis you may not be aware that pineapple can be used to great effect in giving you relief. This is because it contains both good amounts of Vitamin C and an active substance Bromelain in its stems. The bromelain is extracted for the manufacture of supplements recommended for helping arthritis sufferers due to its anti-inflammatory properties and beneficial effects on the body.

Pineapple is an everyday fruit in the UK that originates from tropical islands in the Pacific ocean, where it has been not only a time-honoured and traditional treatment for digestive problems and sore throats, but also for muscle and joint aches and pains. Locals would drink the crushed pineapple or even apply it locally on the affected limb or joint, diminishing the pain and repairing affected tissue resulting in freer and easier movement.

It is the bromelain in the stem of the fruit that eases the pain and discomfort and this is because it contains various enzymes; apart from the one for digestion it possesses peroxidase and acid phosphatase which appears to act with the calcium in the fruit in the healing process.

In the past research has shown that Bromelain works partly due to its ability to inhibit the action of prostaglandins which cause inflamation and pain, and also to break down fibrin which is responsible for swelling and fluid retention

Now, a new study researching these positive effects of bromelain especially on the knee a very vulnerable joint, has been launched at the School of Food Biosciences at the University of Reading. Leading the research study is Dr Ann Walker who is senior lecturer in human nutrition at the school. She said: "The knee joint is one of the most complex in the body and subject to considerable stresses in maintaining the upright position and coping with the body's twisting movements."

If you like pineapple and suffer from knee complaints, arthritis generally or just digestive problems, you can drink the fresh juice or eat the fruit. Some people say that easy-to-open tins of pineapple are just as effective and certainly easier to eat than fresh whole pineapple!

However, for added ease and convenience Bromelain is now available in tablet form and has been recommended for a number of conditions. Regularly taking Bromelain tablets has been shown to end the misery of joint pain for many sufferers in under two months.

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