Quercetin with Bromelain Anti-Inflammatory Effects Backed by Science

Bromelain is a natural enzyme found in the stem of pineapples. These enzymes are known for their ability to help reduce pain and swelling in different types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

They may also be beneficial for some autoimmune diseases where inflammation plays a significant role. Overall, bromelain can be a helpful option for managing discomfort related to these conditions.

Bromelain for Injuries

But bromelain enzyme supplementation has also been shown to be effective for sports injuries and traumatic injuries because it helps to break down the clots that are formed from the trauma.

How Bromelain Works

So here's how it works.

The bromelain enzymes tend to promote the synthesis of anti-inflammatory hormones, such as the prostate gland and series one.

And so as you promote the synthesis of prostaglandin series one, you tend to have an anti-inflammatory effect.

It also inhibits the release of inflammatory kinins, which are part of the inflammatory process in most inflammatory conditions.

And then it helps to break down abnormal clots from traumatic injuries, sports injuries, car accidents, other types of trauma that we might incur.

By encouraging activation of what is called plasmin, which is in the blood vessel wall, which helps to break the clot down.

Bromelain enzymes can be very helpful at reducing inflammation and helping to speed the recovery of traumatic injuries.

Dosage and Interactions

But you have to know how much to take. Also, there are some very important drug nutrient interactions to know about with respect to using bromelain so that it doesn't become a dangerous supplement for yourself.

Bromelain with Other Nutrients

I believe every single person should take a supplement that contains glucosamine with Bromelain, with quercetin, with MSM as I do.

To help prevent cartilage breakdown that normally occurs as we get older so we don't end up with arthritic joints, we have to stop cartilage erosion and bromelain with quercetin and MSM have this great anti-inflammatory effect.

As we get older, there's a propensity for the joints to make more inflammatory chemicals that lead to joint inflammation and more painful joints.

What is Quercetin?

Quercetin is the most abundant flavonoid in the diet, and its estimated that the average person consumes 10-100 mg of it daily, just from diet alone.

And if you ever wondered what makes a food become a superfood, well its because of quercetin.

Its been shown in dozens of studies to have anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activities, usually when combined with with the use of bromelain as an anti-inflammatory enzyme.

We already discused what quercetin is, why its beneficial, and whether or not quercetin is worth it.

Sources of Quercetin

Now, quercetin is found naturally in many plant-based foods, particularly in the outer layer or peel.

The color of fruits and vegetables reflects the amount of flavonoids present in them, So keep that in mind.

And some of the highest sources of quercetin is found in elderberries, red onions, white onions, and cranberries, all having bright and distinct colors.

Quercetin vs Other Nutrients

And how it compares with other nutrients, quercetin is a more powerful antioxidant than vitamin C, E, and beta-carotene.

And when it comes to multitasking, quercetin plays a number of different roles in the body. It wears a lot of hats.

Health Benefits of Quercetin

The first thing that it does is that it has a very strong antioxidant property which enable it to scavenge free radicals, reduce oxidative stress, and protect against cellular damage.

Secondly, quercetin's anti-inflammatory properties help stop the production of inflammatory cytokines and enzymes, making it useful for various inflammatory conditions.

Thirdly, it has anti-cancer effects by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis.

And lastly, has cardiovascular benefits such as lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol levels, and improving endothelial function.

Research on Quercetin

And because of the long list of use cases, we'll look at our Journal of Pharmaceuticals on Quercetin. It's interesting because they list capers as having 180.7 mg per 100 grams, which is pretty significant, and I've recently become a fan of capers; they don't taste that bad, actually.

So lets briefly go over what we find without spending too much time on each aspect.

For antioxidant activity, the presence of corcicin was found to reduce lactate dehydrogenase and H2O2-mediated cytotoxicity, which is great for anticancer activity.

Numerous studies have reported that quercetin can induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in different cancer cell lines, such as those of breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancers, for anti-inflammatory activity.

It has been shown that quercetin can mitigate the negative effects of inflammation and hypoglycemia on the vascular endothelium.

The pathway looks like this, where you have Q representing quercetin,

And As for antiallergenic, quercetin has been shown to decrease mast cell degranulation in subsequent.

Histamine release, thereby attenuing the allergic response.

So you can see the research is ample.

This is why quercetin is considered to be the most widely distributed and extensively studied flavonoid.

There is just so much out there on it.

Quercetin with Bromelain

Now the question is, why do quercetin supplements contain bromelain?

Is bromelain necessary?

Well they add bromelain because it is a naturally occurring enzyme from pineapple stems, which is pretty neat since it helps increase the bioavailability of quercetin.

you'll find different types of supplements: quercetin-3-glycoside, quercetin-aglacone, isoquercetin, quercetin-7-rutinoside, there are various types.

There's also quercetin dihydrate, which is mostly insoluble in water, and may not absorb as well as the others, so keep that in mind.

Additionally, the most common dosages are 500 mg taken twice daily.

However, here's the thing: it's also possible to experience benefits from taking lower doses, getting all your nutrients from just your diet.

You may not need a supplement if you already have a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables like onions and capers.

Personally, this is just one that I will get from food sources and not a supplement, but if you're looking for one, make sure it is from a reputable company that does third-party testing for purity and quality.

Side Effects and Safety

Potential side effects that you should be aware of are Headaches and tingling in the arms and legs, although these are relatively rare.

But as with any supplement, consult with your doctor before taking quercetin, as it can interact with some medications, including antibiotics and blood pressure medicines like losartan.

It should be by no means a reason to stop taking your medicines.

At this point, there isn't enough evidence to say that quercetin carries out all of its studied mechanisms in the body; therefore, what it works for in vitro in our mice may work differently in humans.

This is one of those cases where you have to be the judge and weigh the pros and cons against your own goals, health history, and personal food philosophy.