BROMELAIN WITH QUERCETIN FAQS
Indications/Contraindications
1. What are the indications for Bromelain with Quercetin?
2. Is Bromelain with Quercetin appropriate for an individual who has had gastric bypass surgery?
3. What are the contraindications for Bromelain with Quercetin?
Product Benefits
4. What is the primary benefit of using Bromelain with Quercetin?
5. What makes VitaMedica’s Bromelain with Quercetin product unique?
Product Formulation
6. What is the importance of Bromelain during the peri-operative period and how does it work?
7. VitaMedica’s Bromelain also contains Quercetin. What is Quercetin?
Product Timing & Dosing
9. When do I start taking Bromelain with Quercetin? When do I stop taking Bromelain with Quercetin?
10. What is the recommended dosing for Bromelain with Quercetin?
11. Why does Bromelain with Quercetin need to be taken on an empty stomach?
12. What other VitaMedica products may be beneficial to support healing after surgery?
1. Who should use Bromelain with Quercetin? Bromelain with Quercetin contains specific nutrients that are useful for control of inflammation and reduction of post-operative swelling. When used in combination with Arnica Montana, Bromelain is ideal for patients undergoing a surgical procedure such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), forehead lift, facial implants and breast augmentation. Bromelain can also be beneficial for some non-surgical procedures such as chemical peels, collagen injections and fat/filler injections. Bromelain has also been shown to be useful for other conditions that involve inflammation including acne, psoriasis, eczema, rosacea and osteoarthritis.
2. Is Bromelain with Quercetin appropriate for an individual who has had gastric bypass surgery? Yes, but the dosing may need to be lowered to allow for the proper absorption of nutrients and to prevent gastrointestinal upset. Following gastric bypass surgery, many patients have a difficult time obtaining a sufficient quantity of the micronutrients (vitamins & minerals) required for good health. At the same time, a dramatically reduced stomach size makes it difficult to take certain supplements, especially tablets. This becomes important should the gastric bypass patient elect to have surgery down the road (e.g., body contouring), as nutrient deficiencies delay the healing process. For this reason, Bromelain with Quercetin is ideally suited for these patients. Given the capsule formulation, many gastric patients have been able to comfortably take the supplement.
3. Who should not use Bromelain with Quercetin? Enzyme supplements have an excellent safety track record. However, certain individuals should seek the advice of their doctor before beginning any nutritional supplement program, particularly diabetics and pregnant or lactating women. Bromelain with Quercetin is contraindicated in patients with a history of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias); patients taking blood thinners like coumadin; or those with allergies to pineapple.
4. What is the primary benefit of using Bromelain with Quercetin? Bromelain with Quercetin is a simple, yet effective nutritional supplement that helps alleviate inflammation and swelling whether from injury, overuse or surgery. Many patients who have taken Bromelain with Quercetin for surgery have continued on the product because it provides effective relief from rheumatoid arthritis.
5. What makes VitaMedica’s Bromelain with Quercetin product unique? Bromelain with Quercetin contains a targeted number of ingredients, formulated at a dosing level that provides effective relief from inflammation and swelling. Supplements containing bromelain are relatively easy to find. But, these products are typically sold in combination with other enzymes (e.g., papain, amylase) so they are therapeutically effective in relieving inflammation. Most enzyme formulations also do not contain quercetin which works in concert with bromelain to increase the efficacy of both. Of the bromelain only formulations available, many do not provide a sufficient quantity of milk clotting units to be effective as an anti-inflammatory.
6. What is the importance of Bromelain during the peri-operative period and how does it work? Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme (capable of digesting protein) that is extracted from the pineapple stem. Bromelain’s most common application is in the treatment of inflammation and soft tissue injury. Bromelain inhibits prostaglandins (hormone-like compounds) that cause inflammation and promotes the formation of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. Bromelain is also helpful in breaking up hematomas, or a collection of blood that can sometimes occur as a result of soft tissue injury.
7. VitaMedica’s Bromelain also contains Quercetin. What is Quercetin? Quercetin (que-er-ce-tin) is a type of flavonoid (plant pigments that give plants & fruits their color) that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The combination of quercetin and bromelain is used to effectively inhibit the inflammatory response function.
8. Bromelain’s strength is measured in milk clotting units or gelatin dissolving units. What do these terms mean? Unlike vitamins and minerals, which are measured in a variety of ways including milligrams (mg), micrograms (mcg), or International Units (IU), bromelain is measured by either milk clotting units (mcus) or gelatin dissolving units (gdus). MCUs and GDUs are used somewhat interchangeably (1 GDU equals 1.5 MCU) and relate to the activity level of the bromelain. Since bromelain is an enzyme, a measure of its strength is how quickly it can breakdown a protein. The unit of measurement is either a MCU or GDU. To be effective, at least 2,000 MCUs must be consumed in divided amounts during the course of a day.
9. When do I start taking Bromelain with Quercetin? When do I stop taking Bromelain with Quercetin? Bromelain should be taken 72 hours or 3 days prior to surgery. Bromelain should be continued until the inflammation and swelling has subsided, typically 7-10 days following surgery.
10.What is the recommended dosing for Bromelain with Quercetin? The recommended dosing is 2 capsules, taken three times a day. Bromelain should be taken between meals preferably on an empty stomach, e.g. upon awakening, late morning and late afternoon.
11. Why does Bromelain with Quercetin need to be taken on an empty stomach? To ensure that the bromelain works on the site of injury and not in aiding digestion, it is best to not take the supplement on a full stomach.
12. What other VitaMedica products may be beneficial to support healing after surgery? Given that demands on the body are much higher during the healing process it is important to eat healthy during this period of high metabolic activity. Supplementing the diet with certain supplements can support and speed the healing process. DermalNutrients was formulated specifically to help support the dermis following surgery. The extra protein and nutrients in the formula are designed to help build new dermal tissue. VitaMedica’s Arnica Montana 30X products help to reduce bruising and swelling. VitaMedica’s Healing Supplements Program provides Arnica Montana 30X and Bromelain with Quercetin in a convenient 10-day kit. VitaMedica’s Surgery Program provides both of these products along with Clinical Support for Surgery in a convenient one-month kit to provide a complete healing program.