Bromelain is a protein-digesting (proteolytic) enzyme complex found in the fruit and, in higher concentrations, in the stem of the pineapple (Ananas comosus). It is able to hydrolyze or break down a wide variety of protein types in a range of both acid and alkaline environments. Pineapple has been used for centuries in Central and South America to treat indigestion and reduce inflammation. Bromelain, which is derived from the stem and juice of the pineapple, was first isolated from the pineapple plant in the late 1800s. Bromelain can be used to treat a number of conditions. But it is particularly effective in reducing inflammation from infection and injuries. Health Benefits of Bromelain

• Digestive Disorders
• Joint Support
• Swelling and Inflammation
• Helps Balance the Acidity of the Stomach
• May Boost Overall Immune Strength

What Does Bromelain Do? Put simply, Bromelain breaks down protein. This has fairly obvious benefits when you consider that many of the foods you eat contain high amounts of protein and they have been thoroughly cooked, destroying most of the naturally occurring enzymes. As a proteolytic enzyme it assists the body’s own digestive mechanisms in reducing very large, complex protein molecules into smaller peptide units or individual amino acids. These smaller components are crucial for your own production of muscle, neurotransmitters, and other protein-based molecules that your body produces. Many of Bromelain’s benefits; however, are actually based on absorption of the intact enzyme in the small intestine; this absorption makes possible its systemic effects such as reducing redness.