The Juicy Story on Tropical Fruit

Fun in the sun isn't the only reason to head south this winter. You can enjoy many "fruitful" ways to improve your health. Proponents of living food claim that fruit is descended from the original Garden of Eden diet and therefore can be prescribed for healing. Today, we are more concerned than ever with issues of health, so in addition to local fruits, tropical fruits can be added to our list of natural remedies. Hundreds of years of usage and current medical research support their therapeutic actions. Most tropical fruits contain proteolytic enzymes digestive enzymes that break down protein. These include trypsin, chymotrypsin, bromelain, papain and fungal proteases. Trypsin and chymotrypsin occur naturally in smaller amounts, while bromelain and papain are more abundant.

The following is a list of fruits with reputable health benefits.

Pineapple

The pineapple has served as both a food and a symbol of hospitality throughout the history of the Americas. It contains perhaps the best known proteolytic enzyme, bromelain, which is actually a mixture of different enzymes including protease, peroxidase, acid phosphatase, as well as protease inhibitors and organically bound calcium. At least eight proteolytically active components have been identified.

Because of its tolerance to a wide pH range, bromelain is active in the relatively low pH of the stomach as well as the intestines. It has also been found to be a natural protease inhibitor and to have better activity than any prescription drugs for treating acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Of the 19 natural substances proven superior to AIDS pharmaceuticals-all of which cause serious side-effects-bromelain is the best and most readily available.

Conditions that cause malabsorption, such as pancreatic insufficiency and cystic fibrosis, can also be treated with bromelain. There is the possibility that bromelain may enhance the action of anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin. However, this has not yet been substantiated by human research.

Papaya

From papaya we obtain papain, an enzyme that is extracted from the milky juice of the unripe fruit. Papain has similar properties to some protein-digesting enzymes found in the stomachs of animals. It has several medical uses, including preventing cornea scar malformation, treating jellyfish and insect stings, treating edema and inflammation and accelerating wound healing. Papaya's natural digestive enzymes can provide relief for indigestion; a little papaya juice mixed with honey before a meal will prevent heartburn.

For non-medicinal purposes, papain is used to clot milk, to keep beer clear, to increase palatability and reduce viscosity in pet food and as a detergent to remove stains. A newer use for papain is as an ingredient in the cleaning fluids for soft contact lenses. Chymopapain, another enzyme derived from papayas, is used in medicine to dissolve discs in lumbar spine injuries.

Mango

More mangoes are eaten all over the world than any other fruit. Besides being delicious and rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants (particularly vitamins A and C, potassium and beta-carotene), mangoes contain an enzyme with stomach-soothing properties similar to papain. They also have vermifuge (de-worming) and anti-parasitic constituents. In addition, an average mango contains up to 40 percent of our daily fibre requirement. Research has shown that dietary fibre has a protective effect against degenerative diseases, especially those of the heart and certain types of cancer. Fibre also lowers blood cholesterol levels.

Noni Fruit

In 1972, Dr R.M. Heinicke of Hawaii University extracted the active alkaloid xeronine from the bromelain in noni. He has been successful in showing the importance of the substance and revealed that xeronine is not readily absorbed in isolation. The whole juice of the noni plant is particularly useful for its ability to treat painful joint conditions and to resolve skin inflammations. Many people drink noni fruit extracts in juice for hypertension, painful menstruation, arthritis, gastic ulcers, diabetes and depression. Studies and surveys support the ability of the noni plant to stimulate the immune system, inhibit the growth of certain tumours, enhance and normalize cellular function and boost tissue regeneration. It is a powerful blood purifier and contributes to overall well-being.

Guava

The guava plant was domesticated more than 2,000 years ago and is common throughout most tropical regions. It enriches the diet of millions of people as a good source of lycopene, beta-carotene, vitamin C and soluble fibre. Current research suggests that the consumption of guava may reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol. Another health benefit attributed to guava is its antimicrobial potential in fighting certain bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Beta-streptococcus group A. Guava is also employed by people who live in the tropics as a natural treatment for diarrhea.

If you can't live on a tropical isle, at least you can enjoy the benefits of the fruits of paradise.

For more in-depth information, read Papaya The Healing Fruit by Harald W. Tietze, alive Natural Health Guide #14, available at health food stores (or call alive books at 800-663-6513).