Bromelain is a digestive enzyme and is found in the pineapple plant. The enzyme helps the stomach and intestines digest food, converting food into useful nutrients for the body. When the stomach or intestines have problems digesting food, they can often use the support of digestive enzymes. The pancreas can also be supported by taking these enzymes. Finally, it can help with allergies and intolerances.
- Digestive enzymes
- Benefits of bromelain
- When to take bromelain and how much
Digestive enzymes
The body uses various digestive enzymes to convert food into useful nutrients for the body. There are enzymes that help convert proteins, but also enzymes for converting fats and converting carbohydrates. Bromelain and papain are examples of proteases , enzymes that can convert proteins. The proteins are converted into amino acids with the help of these enzymes. Bromelain is also called a protein-splitting enzyme. It is not only active in the gastrointestinal tract, but it is also absorbed into the blood through the small intestine and can also perform useful work there. Bromelain is found in the stem of the pineapple plant as well as in the fruit itself.
Benefits of bromelain
Bromelain can help with:
Source: Bettinaglaeser, Pixabay
- stomach and intestinal complaints
- inflammation
- pain
- increase resistance
- allergies and intolerances
- cataract
- remove toxins
- support pancreas
Support for stomach and intestinal complaints
Because bromelain helps digest food, it can support the stomach and intestines in their function and thus reduce complaints in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, it can also reduce inflammation in that same channel. It also supports the healing of a leaky gut.
Anti-inflammatory function
Bromelain has an anti-inflammatory effect. That is why it can be used for all kinds of inflammatory processes in the body, such as:
- arthrosis
- respiratory infections
- mucous membrane infections
- intestinal infections
Support for allergies and intolerances
By taking extra digestive enzymes, you can be much less likely to suffer from allergies or food intolerance. This effect can sometimes be felt within a day, but it often takes a week before the difference becomes clear. Allergies often arise from reactions of the intestines to nutrients. Bromelain’s enzymes break down parts of food better, making them less irritating to the intestines.
Removal of toxins
Proteases are able to remove toxins from the body. They also promote intestinal health. Viruses, bacteria and parasites all consist partly of proteins. Proteases therefore also influence these invaders and can help remove them.
Pancreas support
One of the functions of the pancreas is to produce digestive enzymes. If the pancreas needs some support, it is a good idea to take extra digestive enzymes so that the pancreas does not have to produce them as much (temporarily).
When to take bromelain and how much
When you take a bromelain supplement just before, during or after a meal, the proteases will mainly focus on the digestion of the food. If you take bromelain between meals, there is a greater chance that the bromelain will enter the bloodstream, via the small intestine, and do its work there. The enzyme will then mainly remove toxic substances from the body. In that case, bromelain can better demonstrate its anti-inflammatory properties.
Most people benefit from a dosage of 500 to 1500 mg bromelain per day. It is sold in supplement form by several companies, including NOW, Best Choice and AOV. It is also possible to consume a fresh pineapple every day, but the amount of bromelain you consume is much lower than that in a supplement.
read more
- Enzymes and their action
- Enzymes in all their aspects
