Pineapples contain bromelain, an enzyme with anti-inflammatory properties. It fights infections and kills bacteria. The juice from fresh pineapples can suppress coughs five times more effectively than cough syrup.
One cup of pineapple juice contains nearly 50% of the daily requirement for vitamin C intake. This helpful nutrient works to implement the use of vital enzymes within the body that regulate metabolism and energy conversion.
Pineapple juice also contains high levels of manganese, a mineral that predominately helps form healthy connective tissue and bones. Manganese works to absorb more calcium, metabolize carbohydrates and fats, plus increases regular nerve function.
Some bromelain appears to be absorbed by the body intact, so it’s also thought to have effects outside the digestive tract. In fact, bromelain is often marketed as a natural anti-inflammatory for conditions such as arthritis. It’s one of the most popular supplements in Germany, where it is approved for the treatment of inflammation and swelling of the nose and sinuses due to surgery or injury.
If you have one of many types of persistent coughs and it’s not something more serious like pneumonia, reach for fresh pineapple instead of cough syrup. It’s less expensive, has no toxic chemicals and contains the nutrients that will help fight a cold.
Drinking pineapple juice helps soothe a sore throat and aids the body to expel mucous easily. Thick and stubborn mucus in your lungs or sinuses can cause seemingly endless spasms of coughing, sneezing and painful infections. In a study published in “Der Pharma Chemica” in 2010, researchers attempted to find beneficial treatments for patients who have tuberculosis, an infectious disease often caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. As part of their studies, they discovered that a mixture of raw pineapple juice, pepper, salt and honey given to patients every day helped to dissolve the mucus in the lungs.
In a subsequent study, research found that raw extracts from pineapple could decrease mucus five times faster than over-the-counter cough syrups. Patients recovered 4.8 times faster and exhibited a decrease in all symptoms related to coughing, especially hacking.
Pineapple Cough Suppressant Recipe
- 1 cup of fresh pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice
- 1 piece of ginger (about 3 inches)
- 1 Tbsp raw honey
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Combine all ingredients and take 1/4 cup, 2-3 x/day and repeat recipe daily.
Curtesy of Karen Foster at preventdisease.com.
I’ve tried cheating and buying pasteurized juice in a carton. The pasteurization process seams to kill the good stuff that soothes the throat and the cough. Go for fresh. I chopped a big pineapple into little plastic bags and put them in the freezer so that I would have some on had for when a cough comes on. That worked really well. – Nichole
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