Uses

Pineapple not only tastes good, it also has healing powers which derive from the bromelain contained in the fruit. This enzyme mixture, which was only discovered in the mid twentieth century, cleaves proteins in a wide variety of contexts. Whether in an acid or alkaline milieu, bromelain works to support the digestion both in the stomach and in the intestines. It also has anti-inflammatory action and dissolves blood clots. Applications include swelling after surgery or major injuries, inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis) and inflammation of the veins with thrombosis. In folk medicine pineapple extracts are used to treat intestinal parasites. People living in the tropics know the fruit as a remedy for constipation, poor appetite, diarrhoea and flatulence.