So you banged your head (or leg or arm or…) into something you didn’t notice was there, and now you look like you were in a bar fight. While it makes a “colorful” conversation starter, wouldn’t it be nice if there were an easy way to get your bruise to fade faster? There is—eat a certain amount of a certain fruit. Here’s the story…
The medical term for bruise is contusion. Bruising is a natural part of your body’s healing process when trauma, such as a blow, causes small veins and capillaries under the skin to burst and leaked blood gets trapped under the skin. The resulting discoloration—the “black and blue”—typically lasts about two to three weeks, progressing from pink and red…to blue and dark purple…pale green…and finally yellow and brown.
While most bruises are not a cause for concern, certain things can make you more prone, including certain medications such as aspirin, blood thinners and corticosteroids…herbal supplements such as ginkgo and fish oil…medical conditions such as certain blood disorders or cancer…and low vitamin C. Also, older people tend to bruise more easily than younger people and women more easily than men. If a bruise isn’t healing, is growing larger, has become more painful or appeared without any apparent cause, it could be a sign of something serious, and you should alert your doctor.
But if you know how you got your bruise and it seems to be “just a bruise,” pineapple can speed the healing.
HOW PINEAPPLE MAKES A BRUISE GO AWAY
Pineapple contains bromelain, a protein-digesting enzyme that breaks down the cell bonds that form body tissue. In fact, bromelain is so good at doing this that it’s used to tenderize meat…and it’s why putting fresh pineapple into Jell-O (derived from protein) prevents it from setting. Pineapple is the only natural source of bromelain, which has a long history of safe use and is very effective at helping break down the blood clots that form bruises. The enzyme is absorbed from the gut and conducted to the “troubled” area by the cells that aid in the breakdown of the components of bruises. In one study of bruised boxers, half of whom were given bromelain and the other half a placebo, 58 of the 72 who took bromelain lost all signs of bruising within four days, compared with only 10 of the 72 who got the placebo.
What to do: While there’s more bromelain in pineapple stems than in the fruit, there is still enough in the fruit to be beneficial. So when you’re trying to get rid of a bruise, substitute pineapple for your other daily fruit. Each day for several days, have two or three four-ounce servings, preferably between meals, of fresh, canned or frozen pineapple or pineapple juice—and watch your bruise fade away. The sugars in pineapple are roughly half glucose and half fructose and, like most fruit and juices, are safe in moderation even if you need to watch your blood sugar. Bromelain supplements, often combined with the anti-inflammatory curcumin, are good sugar-free alternatives. After examining a patient and determining that bromelain will be helpful, Dr. Rubman will typically prescribe 200 milligrams (mg) to 400 mg three times a day, taken on an empty stomach. As with taking any supplement, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor first.
No one gets through life without a few bumps and bruises. But now you’ll know what to do next time you’re black-and-blue!
