|  | Diet Nutrition | Vitamins

What is Ficin & Bromelain?

Bromelain and ficin are both proteolytic, or protein digesting, enzymes found in nature. The enzyme bromelain is found in pineapple and is available as tablets for use as a nutritional supplement. The enzyme ficin comes from fig sap. These enzymes have a long history of use by a variety of industries and have many natural, commercial and medical benefits.

  1. Digestive Aide

    • Bromelain may be used by people with digestive health issues to assist in the digestion of protein.

    Parasitic Treatment

    • Ficin is widely used in many tropic regions for parasitic infections because of its ability to digest various living worms, such as roundworms and whipworms, without harm to the human host.

    Natural Health

    • Bromelain has been touted as an anti-inflammatory for joint pain sufferers and as natural relief for colds and asthma because of its mucus thinning abilities.

    Food Industry

    • Both bromelain and ficin, in concentrated amounts, are used to tenderize meat. Additionally, ficin is used to remove sausage casings, in the brewing of beer and when making cheese, is used like rennet.

    Medical Uses

    • Bromelain is undergoing continued testing for use in the debridement of third degree burns, with some concentrations already receiving approval.

Vitamins - Related Articles