(NaturalNews) There are all sort of reasons that people come down with a cough. This symptom can be caused by respiratory infections like bronchitis or pneumonia, a particularly bad allergic reaction, or viral infections like a cold or the flu. It can also be caused by certain medications, such as those which help treat high blood pressure. Whatever the reason, this can be a difficult condition to live with, especially if that coughing is interfering with the ability to get a good night's sleep. There are many products on the market that can help tamp down a cough – but before reaching for a bottle of cough syrup, read on to find out more about pineapple juice and why recent studies have found it to be even more effective that mainstream products at taming an irritating cough.

Why is pineapple juice so effective for coughs?

Back in 2010, researchers in India – which has a strong history of natural healing due to its Ayurvedic traditions – compared the effects of over-the-counter syrups to a natural mixture of pineapple juice, salt, pepper and honey on the coughs of tuberculosis patients. It was found that the natural mixture was far more effective at soothing down coughs and throat irritation than the commercial preparation.

This sparked other studies on the subject, and scientists came to the conclusion that the reason that pineapple juice is so effective for taming a cough is the presence of bromelain, an enzyme that has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which allow it to reduce irritation of the throat and thus relieve even persistent coughing.

Also helpful is the fact that pineapple contains high amounts of vitamin C (another power antioxidant) as well as a wealth of vitamin A and minerals like magnesium, manganese and potassium, all of which help boost the immune system and make it easier for the body to fight off infections that cause coughs in the first place.

A recipe for a pineapple-based cough remedy

Below is a recipe for a pineapple-based cough remedy similar to one used in the Indian study mentioned earlier in this article.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pineapple juice

• ¹/₄ cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon ginger powder

• 1 tablespoon organic, raw honey

• Dash of salt

• Dash of cayenne pepper

Directions:

Combine all ingredients together and process in a blender. The remedy can be used up to three times a day to help counteract a cough.

In short, cough remedies with pineapple juice – or even pineapple juice on its own – are a great way to treat a cough naturally due to the presence of powerful antioxidants like bromelain as well as other vitamins and minerals which support the body's immune system while it is fighting off an illness.

Sources:

http://derpharmachemica.com^[PDF]

http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com

http://www.newhealthguide.org

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

About the author:
Sandeep has written many health field articles for both Internet and print publication. He currently writing for insurancetips4u.co.

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