La Bromelain is a mixture of enzymes that digest protein and derives from the pineapple plant; bromelain has a centuries-old history of use for various medical treatments, especially in Central and South America.
Bromelain is currently classified as a food supplement and recognized as safe by the Food and Drugs Administration.
Let's find out the properties and health benefits of this supplement!
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Formats and dosage
Bromelain can be purchased in pill form for oral ingestion or in cream form for topical use; the unit of measure for bromelain is calculated in gelatin digestion unit (GDU) per gram.
Doses range from 80 to 400 milligrams per serving, two to three times a day.
Your doctor may recommend taking bromelain with meals to aid digestion or on an empty stomach to reduce inflammation.
Health benefits
Bromelain and its potential health benefits include:
- Osteoarthritis: its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties make it an effective treatment for pain, swelling of soft tissues and joint stiffness; in particular it has been shown to be useful for the treatment of knee and shoulder arthritis
- Cardiovascular diseases: It could be useful in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as peripheral artery disease, stroke, heart attack and hypertension. Bromelain inhibits the ability of blood platelets to stick or clump together; this helps reduce clot formation and cardiovascular episodes
- Asthma: Its anti-inflammatory effects could be beneficial for people with asthma or other forms of allergic airway disease
- Chronic sinusitis: The tablets of this supplement may be effective in relieving swelling, congestion and other symptoms associated with chronic sinusitis.
- Colitis: can reduce inflammation and mucosal ulcers caused by inflammatory bowel disease
- Burns: The topical cream is effective in safely removing tissues damaged by wounds and second and third degree burns.
Side effects and risks
As with all supplements, it is important to discuss this with your doctor before taking bromelain; this supplement can cause mild side effects, especially when taken in high doses; among these effects we have:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Threw up
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
Bromelain can have a antiplatelet effect on the blood, increasing the risk of excessive bleeding; for this reason, it is also important to avoid the use of bromelain before and after surgery.
This supplement should not be used by people who are allergic to pineapple or other substances that can cause a cross reaction such as:
- Pollen
- Grasses
- Latex
- Celery
- Fennel
- Carrots
Does bromelain make you lose weight?
It is now known that pineapple has some slimming properties, but this is not due to the fact that bromelain acts on fat cells or on increasing metabolism, but on its ability to drain excess fluids.
These properties have not yet been scientifically proven, so we cannot consider bromelain a valid slimming supplement.
The only solution for optimal weight loss is always a diet combined with good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.