It’s no secret that pineapple is good for you. It’s in every health shot, pressed juice, and smoothie you’ll find in most health food stores, but why? Besides being delicious, pineapple has a secret superpower hiding in its core: bromelain!
What Is Bromelain?
Bromelain is a protein-digesting enzyme found in pineapples, especially the core of the fruit, which is commonly thrown in the trash, that has a laundry list of health benefits! Derived from the stem and juice, bromelain was first isolated from the pineapple in the late 1800s and has been deemed safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a supplement.
This homeopathic remedy has been commonly used throughout Central and South America to treat everything from allergies to indigestion and even the common cold, with several powerful components such as vitamin C, vitamin B1, potassium, manganese, and phytonutrients.
However, it has been proven to be incredibly effective in reducing excess inflammation in the body from injuries and chronic diseases or illnesses.
What Are 5 Health Benefits Of Bromelain?
1. Injuries
Studies have shown bromelain can help reduce bruising, swelling, healing time, and pain after surgery or injuries and is often used to reduce inflammation from tendonitis, sprains and strains, and other minor muscle injuries. Fun fact: many European countries use bromelain to treat sinus and nasal swelling following ear, nose, and throat surgeries!
2. Sinus Inflammation
Some studies have shown that bromelain may help reduce swelling, congestion, cough, and nasal mucus associated with the common cold, allergies, asthma, and chronic sinusitis!
3. Cardiovascular Disease
Bromelain also inhibits the ability of blood platelets to stick or clump together, making it an effective option to help treat cardiovascular diseases, such as artery disease, stroke, heart attack, and high blood pressure.
4. Osteoarthritis
Clinical studies have shown that bromelain’s anti-inflammatory properties are an effective treatment for the pain, swelling, and joint stiffness associated with osteoarthritis.
5. Cancer
Studies have indicated that bromelain can help in combating cancer as it has anti-cancer effects like preventing tumor growth, encouraging apoptotic cell death, and may increase the effectiveness of some chemotherapy drugs.
Another Benefit? Bromelain Aids Indigestion
This seemingly magic enzyme also helps with digestion and has been found to help your body absorb nutrients and even medications more effectively. Studies have shown that it also helps decrease colonic inflammation, reduces the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and heals tissues within the gastrointestinal tract.
Bromelain can be beneficial for people with:
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Heartburn
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s Disease
- Colon cancer
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
Side Effects And Risks
As with all supplements, bromelain may cause mild side effects in some people, particularly when taken in high doses, so it’s critical to consult your doctor before use. These side effects include:
- Diarrhea
- Stomach upset
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Increased heart rate
It’s also important to know that even bromelain isn’t for everyone, even though it’s an all-natural treatment option. For example, you should avoid using bromelain if you use blood thinners, such as Warfarin, Pradaxa, etc., as bromelain may increase your risk for excessive bleeding.
Where Can You Get Bromelain?
Even though bromelain is extracted from the pineapple fruit, you can’t just eat mass quantities of the fruit, hoping to feel its anti-inflammatory effects. Unfortunately, the juice doesn’t contain enough of the enzyme to be effective, so this is an ingredient you must seek out in its pure supplemental form.
Luckily, this powerfully beneficial enzyme is easily available on the market all over the world and when we created Proleeva Medical Food we knew we had to include bromelain in our formula for that extra anti-inflammatory punch!
Why Would Bromelain Help With Chronic Pain?
Our nervous systems control how we feel and process pain, so when there’s damage from disease or injury, the tissues in the affected area release chemicals that then communicate with our nerves.
These nerve pathways carry messages from the affected area, travel up the spinal cord, and finally to the brain. Once the pain information reaches the brain, it sends messages back through the pathways to reduce or stop the pain sensations.
When you have long-term inflammation, the nerve cells in your brain and spinal cord can change over time and may even last after the cause of the pain has been treated.
Chronic inflammation is crucial to get under control to reduce your risk of lifelong damage. Controlling and eliminating inflammation is key to maintaining a healthy body and mind!
Proleeva Medical Food helps ensure a healthy level of amino acids in your body, restoring and stimulating neurotransmitters that are used in pain control. The 5 health benefits of bromelain mentioned above are crucial to help reduce pain from chronic inflammation.
What Is Proleeva Medical Food?
Our product was specially formulated to address the underlying dietary and amino acid deficiencies that are commonly associated with chronic pain and inflammatory disorders.
The chemicals in our brain, also known as neurotransmitters, are responsible for how we experience pain. These neurotransmitters are only kept in check by having healthy levels of amino acids but, if your body is deprived, you are more at risk of experiencing pain and inflammation.
Replenish your amino acids to a healthy level, ultimately positively impacting your sleep, mood, and other crucial bodily functions. Proleeva replaces the vital amino acids that have been exhausted by inflammation, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia and supplies the nervous system with the fuel it needs!
Learn more about how ProleevaMax works and the story behind our product.
Sources
“Bromelain.” Mount Sinai Health System
“Chronic Pain Help & Solution.” Proleeva, Lanfam LLC, 1 Sept. 2022
Whelan, Corey. “All about Bromelain.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 21 Apr. 2020
Wong, Cathy. “The Health Benefits of Bromelain.” Verywell Health