Can Pineapple Juice Help Bruises?

Pineapples and other fruit contain natural chemical compounds that are beneficial to the body for many reasons. These compounds include fruit enzymes that help to facilitate body reactions, break down foods during digestion and dissolve blood clots. Pineapples contain a specific enzyme called bromelain that can help dissolve blood clots and fade bruising. However, pineapple juice and pulp does not contain high enough quantities of bromelain to help bruises. If you experience unexplained, chronic or severe bruising, consult your doctor as this may be a sign of illness.

The enzyme bromelain is a natural protein-digesting, or proteolytic, compound that is found in pineapples. Other tropical fruits such as papayas contain similar enzymes. Enzymes are catalyst compounds, which help to initiate or speed up normal reactions that occur in the body. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that bromelain is found in the juice and stem of pineapple. However, medicinal doses of bromelain are only found in health supplements. Supplements should be taken under the guidance of your doctor as bromelain can adversely interact with other medications and supplements.

The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that bromelain helps to reduce inflammation in the skin to treat swelling, irritation and injuries in the body. When used as a topical lotion applied directly over skin bruises, bromelain helps to reduce inflammation and pain, and break down the blood proteins that have coagulated or clotted to form the bruise. Bromelain helps to fade the bruise quickly and prevent further blood clots from forming.

The pineapple fruit enzyme bromelain reduces inflammation by decreasing the number of inflammatory metabolites in the body, making it an effective remedy for pain, inflammation and injury. The site SpineUniverse notes that bromelain also has anti-coagulating properties to prevent the platelets -- the clotting proteins in your blood -- from clumping or sticking together. This helps to reduce blood clots and plaques or blockages in the arteries that can lead to heart disease, stroke and atherosclerosis, which is stiffening and narrowing of the arteries. However, these vascular blood vessel benefits occur when bromelain is taken in supplement form. It is not known whether drinking pineapple juice or eating raw pineapple will have the same effects.

Since bromelain is a proteolytic enzymes, it is used as a supplement to facilitate digestion and help the body break down protein-rich foods. The site DietandHealth.com advises that eating pineapple, drinking pineapple juice or taking bromelain supplements before a meal helps to reduce digestive bloating, constipation, gas and inflammation.