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Complementary Medicine / Nature's anti-inflammatories
« on: 10/11/2008 04:33:36 »
Back to the question about natural anti-inflammatories. Bromelain has been used for many years in sports medicine as an anti-inflammatory. It is not, however, an analgesic. There have been several studies that have shown faster healing, quicker resolution of sprains/strains. One study with animals looked at oral bromelain in relation to recovery from eccentric exercise (animal equivalent to post-exercise muscle soreness). They found less inflammatory chemicals and less muscle fiber damage.
Studies on other proteolytic enzymes, such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, papain (from papaya) have also shown when taken orally they have anti-inflammatory properties. Some studies have suggested that combinations of different proteolytic enzymes work better than single types. This is where bromelain has an advantage if taken by itself, because it is actually contains 5 different proteolytic enzymes. Bromelain is derived from Pineapple, and is why if you eat too much your tongue gets sore. Eating a lot of Pineapple would not help because the enzyme is not very concentrated, and when taken with food, would be utilized to digest the protein, hence less absorption. It is recommended bromelain be taken on an empty stomach if being used for it's anti-inflammatory properties.
A problem arises from heat. The enzyme is inactivated with heat. So if transported to the store in the summer, in a hot truck, it is possible to have a worthless supplement. How can you tell?
A simple test can tell you if you have good bromelain, or if your batch is either ruined, or the brand you bought is not quality. Take about 10ml of WHOLE milk. Heat it up so that it is very warm, but not hot. Then add the bromelain (open the capsule or crush up the pill). If the enzymes are good, you should begin getting a yogurt consistency in one to two minutes. If it stays liquidy, then the enzymes are not active and the bromelain will not help you.
The other thing about bromelain is the concentration. Bromelain is measured in MCU's or GDU's. You want MCU's or GDU's listed in the 1000's, not hundreds. Otherwise the concentration is too small (compared to that used in the studies). Also, if they don't list the MCU's or GDU's on the label, I don't recommend buying it.
Other anti-inflammatories? Turmeric contains curcumin which is potently anti-inflammatory (again NOT analgesic), but make sure that the brand you buy has a standardized concentration of curcumin, because the studies always used curcumin with a standard concentration.
Of course, the type of inflammation can also determine the approach necessary. The information above is mostly for acute injuries, post-surgical healing, post exercise soreness, etc, and there may be better approaches for more chonic or expansive inflammatory problems. Always best to check with someone who specializes. However, unless you have an allergy to these substances, they shouldn't cause any secondary problems, so you can always try them and if they don't work, at least you tried. There is some research to show other benefits of oral proteolytic enzymes and so they may also have other benefits even if you don't have inflammation.
The biochemistry of inflammation is a complex cascade and can be effected in different ways by diet and lifestyle. Inflammation in the body is more widespread than previously thought, and is now being correlated in the medical literature with the vast majority of health problems as we grow older. It is also important for normal healing, so there is a fine line to inhibiting it, and controlling it. Bromelain seems better at keeping it within its normal limits, allowing normal healing. Whereas we often have too much inflammation that lasts too long. Just inhibiting inflammation alone may inhibit the healing process.
Whoops, I'm rambling again.
Duane
Studies on other proteolytic enzymes, such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, papain (from papaya) have also shown when taken orally they have anti-inflammatory properties. Some studies have suggested that combinations of different proteolytic enzymes work better than single types. This is where bromelain has an advantage if taken by itself, because it is actually contains 5 different proteolytic enzymes. Bromelain is derived from Pineapple, and is why if you eat too much your tongue gets sore. Eating a lot of Pineapple would not help because the enzyme is not very concentrated, and when taken with food, would be utilized to digest the protein, hence less absorption. It is recommended bromelain be taken on an empty stomach if being used for it's anti-inflammatory properties.
A problem arises from heat. The enzyme is inactivated with heat. So if transported to the store in the summer, in a hot truck, it is possible to have a worthless supplement. How can you tell?
A simple test can tell you if you have good bromelain, or if your batch is either ruined, or the brand you bought is not quality. Take about 10ml of WHOLE milk. Heat it up so that it is very warm, but not hot. Then add the bromelain (open the capsule or crush up the pill). If the enzymes are good, you should begin getting a yogurt consistency in one to two minutes. If it stays liquidy, then the enzymes are not active and the bromelain will not help you.
The other thing about bromelain is the concentration. Bromelain is measured in MCU's or GDU's. You want MCU's or GDU's listed in the 1000's, not hundreds. Otherwise the concentration is too small (compared to that used in the studies). Also, if they don't list the MCU's or GDU's on the label, I don't recommend buying it.
Other anti-inflammatories? Turmeric contains curcumin which is potently anti-inflammatory (again NOT analgesic), but make sure that the brand you buy has a standardized concentration of curcumin, because the studies always used curcumin with a standard concentration.
Of course, the type of inflammation can also determine the approach necessary. The information above is mostly for acute injuries, post-surgical healing, post exercise soreness, etc, and there may be better approaches for more chonic or expansive inflammatory problems. Always best to check with someone who specializes. However, unless you have an allergy to these substances, they shouldn't cause any secondary problems, so you can always try them and if they don't work, at least you tried. There is some research to show other benefits of oral proteolytic enzymes and so they may also have other benefits even if you don't have inflammation.
The biochemistry of inflammation is a complex cascade and can be effected in different ways by diet and lifestyle. Inflammation in the body is more widespread than previously thought, and is now being correlated in the medical literature with the vast majority of health problems as we grow older. It is also important for normal healing, so there is a fine line to inhibiting it, and controlling it. Bromelain seems better at keeping it within its normal limits, allowing normal healing. Whereas we often have too much inflammation that lasts too long. Just inhibiting inflammation alone may inhibit the healing process.
Whoops, I'm rambling again.
Duane