Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is one of the world’s most unique and exotic tropical fruits. The tough, waxy rind is green, brown, and yellow in color with a scale-like appearance. Pineapple juice contains calcium, potassium, manganese, vitamin C. It is also a rich source of vitamin, B1, vitamin B6, copper and dietary fiber.

Pineapple Benefits

Pineapple juice is a great source to find a daily requirement of Vitamin C. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system and prevents the development of illnesses and infections by stimulating the production and function of white blood cells. Mononuclear phagocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes accumulate vitamin C to high concentrations, which can protect these cell types from oxidative damage. Collagen is the main structural protein in the body required for maintaining the integrity of blood vessels, skin, organs and bones. The synthesis of collagen, for which vitamin C is essential, proceeds in the body as one of its major manufacturing enterprises Also, pineapple juice  reduces periodontal disease and gingivitis. A cup of pineapple contains approximately 80 mg of vitamin C.

Pineapple juice good is an source the trace mineral manganese, which  includes an essential cofactor in a number of enzymes important in energy production and antioxidant protection. Manganese is responsible for bone formation, healing wounds, and keeping skin healthy. One cup of pineapple juice provides 70% of the daily recommended amount of manganese.

Bromelain are a family of sulfhydryl proteolytic enzymes derived from the stem and juice of the pineapple plant. The proteolytic enzyme, bromelain, was formerly derived from pineapple juice. Now it is gained from the mature plant stems salvaged when fields are being cleared.  Helps in reducing the swelling in the inflammatory conditions like gout, arthritis and acute sinusitis. Bromelain is an enzyme capable of enhancing digestion,  reducing or eliminating nausea, gastric reflux, and other symptoms that accompany non-digestion of foods. Fresh pineapple juice, has three times the amount of bromelain as canned pineapple.

Anti-Inflammatory

Bromelain is considered  strong anti-inflammatory. Laboratory evidence suggests that bromelain may be helpful in treating ulcerative colitis. Bromelain enzyme inhibits formation of prostaglandin E2, a chemical leading to inflammation, and it helps to stimulate the production of prostaglandin E1, an antiinflammatory chemical. Research reported in 2002 issue of Phytomedicine found that doses of both 200 and 400 mg of bromelain daily helped reduce knee pain in adults. Participants reported their results via questionnaires that included indicators of joint health as well as psychological well-being. The results of a clinical study published in 2004 in Clinical Rheumatology also found that bromelain enzyme, when combined with rutosid and trypsin,  was as effective as dicolfenac in alleviating symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee.

Sinusitis, Bronchitis and Asthma

Bromelain enzyme has a mucus-thinning action and helps to reduce phlegm in respiratory conditions such as sinusitis, bronchitis and asthma. The German Commission E recommends the use of bromelain as a digestive aid, a treatment for traumatic injuries and joint inflammation and a treatment for sinusitis and bronchitis. In a double-blind study, 48 patients to  sinusitis received bromelain or placebo for 6 days.  All patients were placed on standard  therapy for sinusitis, which included antihistamines, analgesics, and antibiotics. At the end of study, inflammation was reduced in 83% of those taking bromelain compared to 52% of the placebo group. When 124 hospital patients with chronic bronchitis or pneumonia were given bromelain enzyme, there was a significant reduction in the volume and purulence of their sputum, enabling it to be more easily expelled by the respiratory tract.

Colitis

Colitis refers to the inflammation or swelling of the colon or large intestine. It’s a painful condition that causes abdominal bloating and cramping, diarrhea and nausea. Other forms of colitis may also come with fever, chills and other kinds of associated infections. The results of an animal study, published in 2010 issue of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases show that  long-term nourishment with bromelain-containing pineapple juice, reduces the severity of inflammation in the colon of mice with colitis.

Immune System

Bromelain enzyme has the ability to activate different immune cells and their cytokines. Cytokines are signaling molecules secreted by immune cells that act as messengers to alert other immune cells. Bromelain enzyme has been shown to remove T-cell CD44 molecules from lymphocytes and to affect T-cell activation. A study in Germany involving 6 breast cancer patients showed the patients to have improved immune function when taking bromelain by mouth.

Cardiovascular Disease

The positive reports in a few clinical trials of bromelain to decrease thrombophlebitis and pain from angina and thrombophlebitis. In one study, the use of bromelain resulted in the disappearance of all symptoms of angina within 4 to 90 days of commencement of daily bromelain treatment. Angina , is chest pain or discomfort that occurs if an area of your heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen-rich blood. It is not a disease itself, but rather a symptom of coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease. Those at an increased risk of coronary artery disease are also at an increased risk of angina.

Magnesium is referred to as the “anti stress” mineral. It is responsible for over 300 essential metabolic reactions in the body. Magnesium is essential as a cofactor in the synthesis of RNA from DNA. Is a dietary mineral that helps regulate blood vessel size, serotonin function, and nerve activity in the brain, among other effects. Allows nerves to send messages in the brain and nervous system. Helps keep blood pressure normal, bones strong, and the heartrhythm steady. This mineral, is your key to insulin sensitivity and blood pressure regulation, and magnesium deficiency is common in people with diabetes. Also can help prevent leg cramps, migraines and fatigue.

The  human body contains about 25 grams of magnesium. Roughly 50% of total body magnesium is stored in our bones. The remaining quantity is predominantly found in the cells of body tissues and organs. Only 1 percent is available in blood. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency; loss of appetite, insomnia, weakness, anxiety, irregular heartbeats, dizziness, shortness of breath, PMS, and poor coordination. Adults require about 310-420 mg of magnesium daily.

What is Migraine?

Migraine are primarily caused by excessive dilation of blood vessels in the head. Migraine pain occurs when the blood vessels and muscles lining the brain and scalp becomes stretched or tensed. Scientists  believe that migraine is the result of fundamental neurological abnormalities caused by genetic mutations at work in the brain. About one in seven adults have migraine, so it is very common. Migraine is three times more common in women than in men.

A migraine headache can cause intense throbbing or pulsing in one area of the head. In addition to headache, migraine attacks are often associated with increased sensitivity to environmental stimuli, nausea or vomiting. Many patient experience migraines with auras just before or during the head pain, but most do not.

Migraine attacks last from 4 to 72 hours and are usually felt on one side of the head. During this time you may need to lie down in a quiet and darkened room since the throbbing headache is often made worse by movement, noise and light. Several factors can trigger migraines, including tiredness, stress, hormonal changes, missed or delayed meals, and certain food and drinks, such as cheese, chocolate, coffee, tea and alcohol.

Magnesium and Migraines

Epidemiological findings show that people’s magnesium status is associated with the severity and frequency of migraine headaches, sleep disorders and mood disturbances. Some studies have shown that magnesium depletion plays important role in blood vessel size. Magnesium mineral, relaxes the blood vessels and allows them to dilate, reducing the spasms and constrictions that can cause migraines. Researchers for migraine recommends 200 to 600 mg of magnesium per day.

Some studies show that about half of migraine headache sufferers have a low amount of ionized magnesium in the blood, which suggests a low magnesium status. It seems magnesium concentration affects serotonin receptors, nitric oxide synthesis and release, as well as other migraine-related receptors and neurotransmitters. The available evidence suggests that up to 50% of patients during an acute migraine attack have lowered levels of ionized magnesium. In a study in France, migraine patients were been shown to have significantly lower erythrocyte magnesium levels than controls. Results of a research conducted by the” New York Headache Center” indicate that chronic migraine sufferers have lower magnesium levels in their white and red  blood cells than those who do not have migraines.

A few clinical trials suggest that magnesium supplements may shorten the duration of a migraine and reduce the amount of medication needed. In one study, oral magnesium or a placebo were given to 81 people with migraines. At the end of the study, the frequency of migraines was reduced by 41.6 % in the group taking magnesium, compared to 15.8 % in the group taking the placebo. A 2002 study demonstrated that intravenous magnesium helps relieve migraines in patients with or without an aura.

The results of a clinical experiment in 30  people with migraine without aura, published in the June 2008 of Magnesium Research, found that taking 600 milligrams magnesium daily for 12 weeks reduces migraine attack frequency. In a study, a placebo-controlled trial in 86 children with frequent migraine headaches found that oral magnesium reduced headache frequency over the 16-week intervention. Some doctors, suggest combining magnesium with the feverfew along with vitamin B2 may be helpful when you have a headache. Two symptoms of B2 deficiency include eye fatigue and light sensitivity, which are also triggers for and symptoms of migraine headaches.

For those patients with low magnesium levels, acute migraine pain can likely be stopped with a single intravenous magnesium treatment. In a study found that intravenous administration of magnesium sulfate was just as effective in reducing migraine head pain as IV infusion of metoclopramide. The researchers recruited 40 people (29 women and 11 men ) who suffered from any type of moderate or severe headaches. When subjects had an acute headache, researchers measured their ionized magnesium, then gave them a 1 g intravenous infusion of magnesium. Only eight patients had no response to the magnesium, while 32 of the 40 patients had complete elimination of their headache pain within 15 minutes.

Beetroot is a root vegetable with dark purple skin and firm flesh. Other members of the genus include chard, spinach and samphire. When selecting beet, check for firm, clean, smooth bulbs with a rich red color.

Beetroot Nutrition İnformation

Beetroot juice is rich in a number of nutrients that are vital for the full and efficient function of your immune system. Include vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, Vitamin C, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, sulfur, iodine and copper. Red pigment betacyanin is a powerful antioxidant and protects against several types of cancer. Beet do have a very high sugar content, but at the same time they possess a very low glycemic load.

Beetroot Benefits

Containing the important antioxidant betacyanin, which gives beetroot its deep red hue, this vegetable purifies the blood and has anticancer effects. Betacyanin, the pigment that gives beetroot its colour, is also an antioxidant. Antioxidants, in protecting artery walls and reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Beetroot juice can  have a positive effect on the body during exercise. Research shows that beetroot juice can improve exercise endurance and help to keep blood pressure low. Drinking beetroot juice boosts stamina and could help people exercise for up to 16% longer.  A study in  2009 issue of the Journal of Applied Physiology reports that consumption of 500 mL of beet juice for six days significantly improved exercise performance in healthy men. The new research showed beet juice doubled the amount of nitrate in the blood of volunteers, and reduced the rate at which muscles used their main source of energy.

One of the most well known effects of beetroot juice is that it is rich in iron which helps in purifying the blood. Due to iron-rich content favors raising the level of hemoglobin in the blood.

Blood Pressure

Beetroot juice contains high levels of nitrate. This is because the high content of nitrates in beetroot produce a gas called nitric oxide in the blood which widens blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. Nitric Oxide  is a gas that is created by the body in the cardiovascular system. Researchers at Barts and The London School of Medicine have discovered that drinking just 500 ml of beet juice a day can significantly reduce blood pressure. The unusually high nitrate level in beetroot helps reduce blood pressure drugs. The study published in the American Heart Association journal, found that blood pressure was lowered within 24 hours in people who took nitrate drugs, and people who drank beet juice. High blood pressure, affects an estimated 25% of the world’s adult population and is a significant factor in coronary heart disease and strokes.

Liver

Beetroot would appear to have a blood cleansing effect as well as reducing liver stagnancy. Researchs claims that compounds found in beets detoxify the liver and have the ability to cure diseases of the digestive system. Beetroot helps in keeping the liver healthy due to the action from the bioactive agent betaine. The betalains found in beetroot  have been shown to trigger GST activity, and to aid in the elimination of toxins that require glutathione for excretion. A poorly functioning liver can result in fatigue, nausea, illness and overweight.

Anti-Tumor

Beetroot juice has been found to inhibit the mutation of cancer cells. An in vivo anti-tumor promoting activity evaluation against the mice skin and lung bioassays revealed a significant tumor inhibitory effect. In recent  studies on human tumor cells, betanin pigments from beets have been shown to lessen tumor cell growth through a number of mechanisms, including inhibition of pro-inflammatory enzymes. researchers from the University of Wisconsin has shown that beet pigments boost levels of proteins, called phase 2 enzymes that helps detoxify  cancer-causing substances and purge them from the body. In the 1950`s, Dr. Dr. Alexander Ferenczi of Hungary had his cancer patients drink a quart of beet juice each day, which was effective in breaking down and eliminating tumors. In several cases, according to Dr. Ferenczi, cancerous tumors disappear and the patients fully recovered from their cancers.