HealthHealthy Eating
Apr 21st 2009
By Doug DiPasquale


Scientists at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research in India have completed a study on the key enzyme in the pineapple fruit called bromelain. The researchers have found the enzyme to be quite effective in prevention of tumor formation.

The enzyme has previously been discovered to have anti-inflammatory, anti-invasive and anti-metastatic (tumor spreading) properties, but here the scientists studied bromelain's ability to stop tumors from growing in the first place. In their study on mice the researchers discovered that pre-treatment with bromelain lead to reduction in skin tumor volume by up to approximately 65%. This could prove to be a coherent approach to cancer prevention in the future.

Bromelain has previously been used in the holistic health world as an anti-inflammatory which, in a clinical trial involving patients with periarthritis of the shoulder or osteoarthritis of the knee, was found to be as effective as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) at reducing inflammation. Other uses of the enzyme have been for reduction of swelling and bruising, decreasing healing time, relief of sore throat, arthritis and gout treatments, and relief of indigestion and heartburn due to the enzyme's ability to digest proteins.

A rare disease of the immune system with mysterious origins, Mucha Habermann's Disease (AKA Pityriasis lichenoides chronica or PLC) has been found to respond well to bromelain treatment. Bromelain treatment of PLC, which is characterized by red elevated lesions on the skin, lead to a complete recovery in all treated patients in a 3 month study.

If you're looking to add more pineapple to your diet for these health benefits of this wonder-enzyme, make sure you use fresh pineapple instead of canned. Due to the heat used in the canning process most if not all of the heat sensitive enzyme is destroyed.

Thank you for the informative post Inda.

So if you are searching for a natural way to enhance your body’s healing mechanisms, promote overall good health and tantalize your taste buds, pineapples are the way to go.

Choose the fresh fruit because it has the most healing properties. Unfortunately, most of the bromelain in canned pineapple is destroyed due to the heat used in the canning process.

Love,
Sue

Thank you for the post.
I have not been eating too much pineapple because I did not know about the amazing benefits. I will try and have some.

Sincerely,
Gisele

Thank you for posting Inda.

Pineapple is Loaded with Vitamins and Minerals.
Its nutrients include calcium, potassium, fiber, and vitamin C. In addition it is low in fat and cholesterol.

I have always had a fair bit of the fruit because I was told that it has high anti-inflammatory benefits aside from all the other valuable ingredients. I was not really aware of the bromelain that it contains, another reason to eat pineapple.

Love,
yoko

It's time to buy one. Yesterday whole food was selling really ripe strawberries too. The bromeliads are an interesting species of plant. No two subspecies are alike if the leaves may be similar. Thanks for that information. I always figured pineapple has to do something good to you just for it's fiber and the cleansing sensation of the juice. Dried pineapple is good too and I can always find it in the store down the hill, but there is nothing like fresh pineapple neatly trimmed. It's so good with a bit of coconut milk too. Yum yum.

Thank you Sue, Gisele, yoko and yogionefromobie for your helpful replies.

Enjoy your pineapple.

Thank you for the information.

We eat quite a lot op pineapple, and fruit in general.
I did not really know how very beneficial pineapple is due to the bromelain that it contains.

Love,
Vicky

Thank you Vicky.

Nice to have you here, even if it is just for a bit.


Pineapple is low in sodium, cholesterol and saturated fat. However, it has generous amounts of Vitamin B6, thiamin, copper, manganese, vitamin C, and dietary fiber, along with trace amounts of other vitamins and minerals.