According to a Taiwanese study that was published in American Science, pineapples can be an effective treatment for eye floaters. An experiment was conducted to see if regular consumption of pineapple could help people experience fewer floaters. The results were outstanding, but it's still too soon to declare a panacea.
Pineapple: Fights against eye floaters
A study conducted in Taiwan and published in American Science shows that pineapples can be a good tool against eye floaters.
Eye floaters are spots, blots, and other pseudo-microorganisms that appear in our field of view and interfere with a clear picture. With age, the vitreous body in our eyes loses its consistency, shrinks – and microscopic fibers are formed inside, the shadows of which we perceive as floaters.
In a simple experiment, an attempt was made to check whether pineapple as a consistent part of a diet can reduce floaters.
About 400 volunteers participated, with an average age of 42. They were supplied with pineapple for three months, from 100 to 300g. Specifically: they ate from 1 to 3 pieces of pineapple, 100g each, and were divided into three groups according to the dose.
Pineapple vs. Eye Floaters
Three months later, out of 120 subjects in the first group (1 slice), only 35 still experienced eye floaters, an improvement of 70.8%. In the second group, only 19 participants still saw floaters, an improvement of 72.8%
In general, it was noted that the higher the dosage, the more effective the result. Floaters disappeared in 54.5% in the low dose group, 62.2% in the middle dose group, and finally 69.8% in the high dose group.
How does it work? Scientists believe that enzymes in the pineapple can decompose extracellular substances that cause the formation of microscopic fibers. Apparently, these same enzymes can absorb free radicals leading to the degradation of hyaluronic acid.
In the past it was thought that enzymes and proteins extracted from pineapple have pharmaceutical properties, acting against inflammation, edema, thrombosis, etc. Pineapple extracts are used (at least in Southeast Asia) to treat cardiovascular disorders, menstrual dysfunctions, pulmonary edema, obesity, and can even prevent colorectal cancer. We have no data on how effective this is, so back to the floaters.
***
There is a hypothesis that pineapple enzymes not only decompose extracellular substances in microfibers, but hydrolyze them. According to a Taiwanese scientist, it is possible that “They reduce the tension of the vitreous humor, openings in the retina and even prevent retinal detachment and blindness. Pineapples contain vitamin C, i.e. “an antioxidant that can inhibit lens oxidation and prevent cataracts.”
On the one hand, it is unlikely that any food can prevent cataracts or even eye floaters. There is no panacea.
On the other hand, why not try pineapple (if there are no contraindications), especially since it contains Bromelain, famous for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Vadim Avrukin
Photo by Sumner Mahaffey/Unsplash
