HealthHealthy Eating
Apr 21st 2009
By Doug DiPasquale
Scientists at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research in India have completed a study on the key enzyme in the pineapple fruit called bromelain. The researchers have found the enzyme to be quite effective in prevention of tumor formation.
The enzyme has previously been discovered to have anti-inflammatory, anti-invasive and anti-metastatic (tumor spreading) properties, but here the scientists studied bromelain's ability to stop tumors from growing in the first place. In their study on mice the researchers discovered that pre-treatment with bromelain lead to reduction in skin tumor volume by up to approximately 65%. This could prove to be a coherent approach to cancer prevention in the future.
Bromelain has previously been used in the holistic health world as an anti-inflammatory which, in a clinical trial involving patients with periarthritis of the shoulder or osteoarthritis of the knee, was found to be as effective as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) at reducing inflammation. Other uses of the enzyme have been for reduction of swelling and bruising, decreasing healing time, relief of sore throat, arthritis and gout treatments, and relief of indigestion and heartburn due to the enzyme's ability to digest proteins.
A rare disease of the immune system with mysterious origins, Mucha Habermann's Disease (AKA Pityriasis lichenoides chronica or PLC) has been found to respond well to bromelain treatment. Bromelain treatment of PLC, which is characterized by red elevated lesions on the skin, lead to a complete recovery in all treated patients in a 3 month study.
If you're looking to add more pineapple to your diet for these health benefits of this wonder-enzyme, make sure you use fresh pineapple instead of canned. Due to the heat used in the canning process most if not all of the heat sensitive enzyme is destroyed.
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