During a 2006 National Health Survey, 30 percent of adults reported experiencing some type of joint pain, according to the Centers for U.S. Disease Control and Prevention. Knee pain was the most widely reported, followed by shoulder pain. These conditions may result from various factors such as a disease like arthritis, an injury or a structural problem. Natural fruits contain ingredients that may help with joint pain.
Pineapple
Bromelain, a mixture of protein-digesting enzymes found in pineapple, is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It was first isolated from pineapples in the 1880s. Besides reducing pain, bromelain may also reduce bruising, swelling and healing time after physical injury or surgery.
Passion Fruit
Passion fruit may also be able to relieve joint pain. In a study published in the journal "Nutrition Research" in September 2010, an extract from passion fruit peel significantly reduced pain --- by 19.2 percent --- in patients with osteoarthritis after 60 days. Physical function and stiffness also improved. By contrast, symptoms of patients in the placebo group became worse. The researchers suggest that passion fruit's beneficial effect may be due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Pomegranate
Pomegranates, which come from the Punica granatum tree, are loaded with antioxidant polyphenols that protect cells from damage and fight inflammation. Receptors involved in pain trigger the inflammatory reaction. Researchers at Case Western University found that pomegranate juice extract significantly reduced the severity of arthritis in mice. In their study, which was published in a 2008 issue of the journal "Nutrition," fewer inflammatory cells infiltrated the joint and there was less bone and cartilage damage.
Considerations
If your pain does not improve with eating, pineapple pomegranate or passion fruit, speak to your doctor or a naturopath about taking a supplement with higher concentrations of the active ingredients. Make sure you ask about any potential side effects. Also, your doctor can also recommend other natural remedies to fight join pain such as therapeutic exercises or natural topical remedies, such as a capsaicin cream or ointment.
References
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Adults Reporting Joint Pain or Stiffness in the Past 30 Days, 2006
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Bromelain
- "Nutrition Research"; Oral Intake of Purple Passion Fruit Peel Extract Reduces Pain and Stiffness and Improves Physical Function in Adult Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis; R. Farid; September 2008
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Pomegranate
- Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research: The Mechanisms of Pain and Inflammation
- "Nutrition"; Consumption of Hydrolyzable Tannins-Rich Pomegranate Extract Suppresses Inflammation and Joint Damage in Rheumatoid Arthritis; M. Shukla, et al.; July-Aug 2008
