Pineapple juice is certainly yummy but did you know that it can give you cough relief? Well, according to a study pineapple juice is 5 times more powerful to relieve cough than over the counter (OTC) cough syrups.
So why should you really go for commercial medicines which have chemicals that produce side effects.
A natural compound called bromelain in pineapple has the capability to reduce inflammation in allergic situations which clog airways. Bromelain dilutes mucus and expels it. Mucus, cough and congestion caused in sinuses, bronchitis and bronchial asthma are effectively cured by it.
Remember, you can get rid of your cough with many home remedies but pineapple juice for cough is one of the most powerful remedy.Go for it!
Table of Contents
- What is Cough?
- What Is Pineapple Good For?
- How Good is Pineapple for Cough?
- How Good is Pineapple for Cough?
- Important Tips About Pineapple Juice
What is Cough?
Let us first understand the mechanism of coughing and what goes wrong when you have persistent cough. A cough is a natural reflex helping clear your airways of lung irritants, such as smoke and mucus to prevent infections. On the other side a cough also can be a symptom of a medical problem.
Prolonged coughing can cause chest pain, exhaustion, lightheadedness, and loss of bladder control. It can also interfere with sleep, socializing, and work.
There are airways or tubes that carry air into and out of the lungs. Coughing occurs when the nerves ending the airways become irritated. Smoke, pollen, chemical fumes, medical conditions and certain medicines irritate the ending of the nerves. Depending on how long the cough lasts you can call it acute or chronic. Common cold and other upper respiratory infections can cause acute cough which can last up to 3 weeks. A cough that lasts for 3-8 weeks is called subacute and the cough lasting more than 8 weeks is called chronic cough. GERD, Acid Reflux, sinus infections and allergies are conditions that cause excessive mucus formation resulting in cough.
You would never like to have a persistent cough as it is just so inconvenient and embarrassing. You become a center of attention for the wrong reasons in a quiet lecture hall when you suddenly cough and disturb the silence. Those disgusting looks of everyone really hurt.
A cough on the dining table can be very unhygienic as the bacteria can spread in to the food. If there are other people on the dining table then it causes inconvenience to all. Generally, most cough can be tackled with cough syrups and others with antibiotics.
What Is Pineapple Good For?
Pineapple is a tasty fruit with lots of health benefits. It has been used as a breast milk sweetener, a congestion reliever, an anti-inflammatory agent, parasite killer, a blood thinner and a blood pressure reducer in addition to many other uses. It contains bromelain and vitamin C that fresh pineapple juice contains which offer these health benefits.
Bromelain in pineapple juice is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Research has shown that it can relieve pain in osteoarthritis, kills parasites in the intestine and help dissolve the mucus formation in the respiratory diseases when taken empty stomach.
When pineapple juice is taken with meals, it helps digest proteins by breaking them down into amino acids. Even bromelain in pineapple juice has been found to possess powerful anti-cancer compounds.
In addition to bromelain, pineapple juice contains vitamin C and Vitamin K. One cup of pineapple juice contains nearly 50% of the daily requirement for vitamin C intake which works to implement the use of vital enzymes within the body that regulate metabolism and energy conversion.
Pineapple juice is also a good source of manganese, a mineral that predominantly helps form healthy connective tissue and bones. Manganese metabolize carbohydrates and fats, works to absorb more calcium and increases regular nerve function.
How Good is Pineapple for Cough?
If your persistent cough is not because of any serious underlying medical condition such as pneumonia then pineapple juice will treat it. There is no need of taking any cough syrup. Pineapple juice is less expensive, has no toxic chemicals and contains the nutrients that will help fight a cold as compared to any other cough syrup.
Pineapple juice will help to remove the thick mucus in your lungs and sinuses that causes endless spasm and coughing, sneezing and painful infections.
Pineapple Juice is 5X More Effective Than Cough Syrup
In a scientific study, researchers compared over the counter cough syrups with pineapple extract on cough and cold patients. They found that found that pineapple juice could decrease mucus five times faster than over-the-counter cough syrups. These patients recovered 4.8 times faster and exhibited a decrease in all symptoms related to coughing, especially hacking.
Pineapple Cough Suppressant Recipe
There are many different ways you can consume pineapple juice to get rid of your cough. 3 of the prominent ones are given below:
1. Pineapple Juice
Drink a glass of pineapple juice empty stomach daily until your cough is gone. This is the simplest way to treat your cough.
2a. Pineapple Juice Cough Syrup with Salt and Honey
- 1 cup fresh pineapple juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon honey
Mix it well and drink empty stomach daily.
2b. Pineapple Juice Cough Syrups - with Cayenne Pepper
You can make the following concoction
- 1 cup of fresh pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp raw honey
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 piece of ginger (about 3 inches
Mix the ingredients well and fill it in a glass bottle. Take one third of the quantity at a time to consume empty stomach. Finish the contents by drinking the syrup 3 times a day. Make another fresh concoction the next day to similarly consume. Within 3-5 days you will see your coughing reduces and stops gradually.
Important Tips About Pineapple Juice
Do not use canned or pasteurized pineapple juice as they do not contain enough bromelain. Always use fresh pineapple juice.
Canned juices are also sweetened. Most of us do not need additional sugar in our diets, so consume only natural unsweetened pineapple juice.
Store pineapple at room temperature. Since pineapple stops ripening when picked from the plant, therefore watch them carefully as they get soiled quickly in storage. You can cut and keep them in airtight containers in refrigeration for use within 2-5 days. However the flavor will change.