This recipe is a fantastic all rounder. It is of relevance to every type of joint malady imaginable and so easy to make. I find it a great breakfast option for a lot of my clients, and one that they themselves make, day in, day out, purely because it gets quite addictive.
½ large fresh pineapple
2 fresh celery stalks
2.5 cm (1 inch) piece of fresh ginger root
- Prepare the pineapple by cutting off each end. Then, slice off the skin in a downward direction. This minimizes waste. Remove “eyes” from the flesh of the pineapple, and then cut half of the flesh into manageable chunks.
- Chop the celery stalks into small pieces.
- Peel the ginger and chop finely.
- Place all the ingredients into a blender, along with a tiny amount of water, and blend into a smooth fragrant drink.
Medicinal Properties
Pineapple – contains a very powerful enzyme called bromelain. This has well documented anti-inflammatory properties. It controls inflammation by interfering with several chemical messengers that are directly involved in the production of series 2 prostaglandins (the inflammation instigating chemicals discussed above). Bromelain also helps to control the role that the immune system plays in inflammatory damage. It seems to be able to reduce the number of neutrophils that migrate to the affected area. Neutrophils are a type of aggressive white blood cell that becomes highly active during inflammatory attacks. Bromelain is found in the highest concentrations in the slightly tougher inner core of the pineapple. Many people discard this piece, but make sure you don’t if you want to pack the greatest anti-inflammatory punch.
Celery – is probably the most seemingly innocuous food on the planet. I bet most of you wouldn’t credit it with much in the way of medicinal benefit. In reality, however, celery is a powerhouse of complex chemicals. It contains a compound called 3-n-butyphthalide (3nB for short). This substance is a very potent anti-inflammatory and a notable painkiller. OK, granted, its effects aren’t exactly comparable to strong pharmaceuticals like ibuprofen, but celery is a perfect example of the type of food that can be added to your daily regime that will give cumulative benefits to support and enhance that of your medication. Celery also contains a wonderful group of chemicals called coumarins. These are the same chemicals that fill the air with that gorgeous distinctive smell when a lawn has just been mown. The coumarins in celery are known to help remove metabolic waste products that can accumulate within the synovial capsule of the joint. Once removed, these by-products enter the lymphatic system where they are sent to the kidneys for removal via the urine.
Ginger – is, without doubt, the crown king of anti-inflammatory ingredients. Ginger contains a powerful group of chemicals that give it its characteristic zingy flavour and aroma, including two chemicals called zingerone and shogaol. These are both powerful anti-inflammatory agents. They work in a similar way to a class of pharmaceutical drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors. These drugs work, again, by interfering with the production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. Ginger also acts as a very powerful circulatory stimulant, so can be of great use in easing discomfort in cold, stiff joints.
