Is Pineapple Good for Gout?
Why do many health-related myths endure for so long? Are we not living in an age where we can type in a Google search and get the truth we need within minutes?
I mean, it’s not like we have to go to a library to use a computer anymore. These days our pocket-sized “smart” devices give us instant access to the world wide web, a.k.a. The information universe.
Yet here we are in 2021 still hearing things like “vaccines can cause autism.” Or that “you have to drink at least 8 glasses of water to stay healthy.” And then there’s one of our personal favorites, “eating pineapple can help treat gout flare-ups.”
Whether you are directly or indirectly affected by gout, we know the heavy toll it can have on our quality of life. So, when we hear about a fruit that promises gout relief, you bet that’s as attention-grabbing as it gets!
Is it possible that eating a delicious yet common fruit like pineapple can help relieve or even prevent such a terrible affliction as gout?
Well, we already know for a fact that consuming large quantities of red meat can lead to painful gout attacks. Therefore, it’s not outside the realm of possibilities that eating other foods might actually have the opposite effect, right? Right.
Let’s take a look at some key findings that can help us decide whether consuming pineapple is good for gout or just another disappointing hype.
Why health-related myths persist
In today’s digital age, access to information has never been easier. Believe it or not, there was a time when stories posted on the internet were pretty accurate. As an old-school internet user, I relied (and still do!) on reputable news sites to get up-to-date info and factual news.
However, as more companies go online to grow their businesses, regular users like you and I are bombarded with ads and promotions on a daily basis. There’s only so much our already-shortened attention spans can handle.
Needless to say, checking the veracity of stories published online becomes a big ask.
With no due diligence or source checks, it’s easy to take an attention-grabbing headline (or clickbait) and accept it as news. But when you’re talking about the potential benefits that pineapples can provide in gout treatments, it pays to do the research.
Fortunately, we’ve already done the heavy lifting for you. We’ll discuss our findings and the reasons why we feel that pineapple as an alternative gout treatment really has or lacks any merit.
The benefits of eating fruits
Fruits are a staple of any nutritious and healthy diet. Exotic fruits like guava, acai and the mighty-sounding dragonfruit of Southeast Asia are rich in antioxidants and vitamins.
That being said, even common household fruits like apples and bananas have been shown to offer excellent health benefits as well. Best of all, you don’t need to go to specialty stores to find them.
Prunes are nature’s original laxative solution. Eating grapefruits can help you lower your weight and fight diabetes. And yes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away by lowering your risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity, and much more.
Gout is a serious and painful form of arthritis
A gout is a serious form of inflammatory arthritis that causes acute pain in joint areas. The pains can cause swelling, the warmness of the skin, and leave a terribly tender muscle area. In fact, the pains can be so severe as to prevent the victim from doing simple day-to-day activities like wearing a sock!
Although most people get gout attacks in the big toe, any joint area of the body is pretty much vulnerable to gout flare-ups.
Gout is caused by the buildup of excess uric acid in the blood. The body naturally creates uric acid to help break down purines found in foods. However, certain foods have notoriously high levels of purines especially red meats, anchovies, and beer.
Since the kidneys can’t effectively metabolize these waste products into the urine, the excess uric acids start hardening into urate crystals in the joint areas. These urate crystals tend to have needle-like formations which can break off over time.
When this happens, the body’s immune response system treats it as an infection and creates an aggressive inflammatory response. Thus, the gout attack flare-ups begin.
How to treat and prevent gout attacks
Treating gout entails adopting certain lifestyle and dietary changes that can help relieve gout flare-ups. Without these changes, the person will only feel short-term relief from constant medications.
As anyone who has suffered gout can attest, it is NOT an experience they would like to keep having. Obviously, the intake of foods rich in purines such as red meat, alcohol, and oily fish should be kept at a minimum.
As a long-term solution, however, the most effective option is to commit to an active and healthy lifestyle. This includes regular exercise and having healthy meals that contain complex carbohydrates. Such foods include whole-grain breads, fruits, and vegetables.
Are pineapples really good for gout?
So now we have a pretty good idea that eating fruits can help mitigate the painful effects of gout flare-ups. With effective weight-control benefits and excellent nutritional properties, an adequate amount of fruit consumption on a daily basis can have long-lasting positive effects.
But what makes pineapple stand out from other fruits when talking about gout? What is it that gets it so singled-out when it comes to potential gout treatments?
Well, for starters, we know that pineapples are rich in Vitamin C. In addition, they contain powerful antioxidants that can help fight diseases. Moreover, pineapples can help enhance weight loss and improve your digestive system among other powerful benefits.
As it relates to gout treatments, pineapple stems contain a special enzyme called bromelain that helps digest proteins as well as reduce pain and inflammation. In fact, pineapples are the ONLY fruits that contain bromelain in their natural form.
What is bromelain?
If you’ve ever wondered how meat tenderizing powders work to turn a slice of solid meat into mush, it’s because of the pineapple-derived bromelain it contains. Bromelain helps the powder soften the meat by breaking apart its protein bonds.
Bromelain is basically a combination of proteolytic enzymes that help break down the proteins found in foods. Bromelain also provides other therapeutic benefits that can improve digestion, boost the immune system, and bring down inflammation.
Before you start stocking up on boxes of pineapple, it’s important to remember that bromelain is found in the stems of pineapples. Sure, you can get some residual exposure to bromelain by eating the pineapple flesh.
Although the bromelain you get won’t be enough to relieve your gout pain, it may be enough to degrade the protective mucous that coats your tongue. Not only will this make eating and drinking very unpleasant for a few days, but you’ll also still have your gout pains to deal with!
Pineapple juices and teas
Pineapples are also a common ingredient in many herbal tea recipes. Teas that contain pineapple are known to help flush water from the body. In addition, their high output in Vitamin C and Antioxidants make them highly suitable for boosting the immune system and digestion.
However, cooking or boiling pineapples can reduce the amount of bromelain contained. Therefore, bromelain extraction must take place while the fruit is fresh. Therefore, drinking freshly-made pineapple juice is an excellent option to help maintain your uric acid levels in check.
Although pineapple juice is frequently touted as a great anti-inflammatory remedy, there is very little data to back up that claim. That being said, consuming bromelain via natural pineapple drinks can go a long way in preventing future gout episodes.
Plus, pineapple juice is easy to source, easy to make, and easy to enjoy!
How pineapple is really used to treat gout
Because pineapple contains many important minerals and vitamins, it is widely used in the world of medicine. Here are some to keep on your radar if you’re looking for pineapple-related medications or supplements:
● Bromelain supplements:
Bromelain is an all-natural blood thinner and anti-inflammatory. As it is derived directly from pineapple stems, bromelain can help stimulate blood circulation and help drain out swollen tissues.
Check out our highly-rated NutriGout Uric Acid Support Formula on Amazon!
● Bromelain powder:
As a powdered supplement, bromelain mixes quite nicely and leaves no nasty aftertaste. In fact, it doesn’t really have ANY aftertaste. While it may be a little on the expensive side, the reviews are overwhelmingly positive.
Check out Douglas Avenue Herbs + Spices Bromelain Powder on Amazon!
Pineapples do not provide the end-all solution to gout treatment
As cases of gout keep increasing in North America, it is only natural that alternative solutions and treatments will keep coming to market. As with any medical treatment, you should first consult with your local doctor about the best course of action to take for your particular situation.
Although pineapples don’t provide us with the silver bullet we all hope for in gout treatment (there is no cure, at the moment), they can certainly help with gout pain and prevention management.
Want to learn more about Gout???
>>>>>>>>Visit our website at GoutandYou.com
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for any health concerns.
