In addition to being juicy, sweet, and delicious, pineapple (Ananas comosus) has been used by natural healers since ancient times to ease stomach problems. Paradoxically, pineapples grow neither on pine nor apple trees—however, they were so-named in the 17th century because the term “apple,” at that time, was applied to unknown fruits—and it looked like a pinecone. Pineapple’s therapeutic value is mainly due to bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme. Bromelain is found in various supplements and herbal preparations and continues to be studied for its potential use in other medical applications.
History
Pineapples originated in South America. By the 15th century, they appeared in Europe and India thanks to the sailors who found that eating pineapples helped keep their health during their long voyages. Today, 100 different pineapple varieties are sold worldwide, mainly from Costa Rica, Brazil, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and India.Benefits
Pineapple compounds have several health benefits, including strengthening the immune system, helping with digestion, helping maintain the body’s acid-base balance, and reducing the risk of chronic inflammatory diseases.The most important substance in pineapple is the enzyme bromelain. As a proteolytic enzyme, it helps break down the protein molecules in food for better absorption and digestion. This characteristic also has other beneficial actions in the body.
