Just What is Bromelain and What it Can Do for You

Bromelain is a mixture of enzymes found naturally in the juice and stems of pineapples. Bromelain is called a proteolytic enzyme and is believed to help with the digestion of protein.

There's a few things you should know about bromelain before you begin taking it. You need to weigh the benefits of bromelain and weigh them against the side effects of bromelain. Let's go over them.

Nutritional Benefits Of Bromelain

Bromelain has blood thinning properties. This can help with the treatment of blood clots and plaque in the arteries. In turn, a person taking Bromelain is also helping to prevent cardiovascular problems.

Bromelain builds up your immune system by increasing cytokines, a hormone produced by your white blood cells to improve immunity.

Health Benefits of Bromelain

Bromelain breaks down proteins in your body helping those with digestion problems.

Bromelain fights inflammation that may be caused by an injury, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, nasal allergies, and even post surgery.

When bromelain is applied directly to burns, it can help to remove dead tissue and reduce the need for surgery thus promoting faster healing.

Symptoms Of Deficiency

Most people can benefit from taking bromelain. Symptoms of deficiency include a compromised immune system. Think about it, everyone gets sick from time to time. Even if you don't have a compromised immune system, bromelain will strengthen your existing immune system. Bromelain can help you if you have any of the following immune diseases.

Asthma, Ataxia telangiectasia, Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome, Burkitt Lymphoma, Type 1 Diabetes, DeGeorge Syndrome, Familial Mediterranean Fever, Immunodeficiency with hyper I-gM, Leukemia, or severe combined immunodeficiency.

Food Sources

Bromelain is an enzyme found naturally in the flesh and the stem of pineapples. Extracting it could be quite a messy and tedious process. Most people who take bromelain take it by way of nutritional supplements.

Precautions

Now just because bromelain is natural does not mean that you cannot have side effects and that it's good for everyone.

Common side effects of bromelain include indigestion, nausea and diarrhea. Other side effects may include vomiting, increased heart rate, drowsiness and abnormal uterine bleeding or heavy menstruation.

Bromelain has been known to cause allergic reactions that include asthma symptoms, tightness in the throat, skin hives, rash, or itchy skin. If you're allergic to pineapples, you should avoid taking bromelain. People with allergies to latex, carrot, celery, fennel, rye, wheat, papain, bee venom, grass, or birch or cypress pollens could also have an allergic reaction to bromelain.

People with peptic ulcers should not take bromelain. People with any other digestions problems should consult a physician before taking bromelain.

Bromelain is a natural anti-coagulant. Those taking any anti-coagulant medications or herbs should only take bromelain under the close supervision of a doctor. Bromelain should not be taken two weeks before or after any dental procedures, or surgery.

Bromelain has also been known to increase the absorption of the following medications:

Medications that make you drowsy such as benzodiazepines (Ativan, Valium, Klonopin, Xanax) and some anti-depressants.

Amoxicillin, tetracycline, and other antibiotics.

Chemotherapy drugs such as 5-fluorouracil and vincristine.

ACE-Inhibitor blood pressure medications such as lisinopril and captopril.

As with any medication or nutritional supplement you should consult with your doctor or a pharmacist before beginning to take bromelain.