• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
BarBend

BarBend

The Online Home for Strength Sports

  • News
    • CrossFit
    • Strongman
    • Bodybuilding
    • Top Athletes
    • Powerlifting
    • Weightlifting
    • Competition Results
    • Latest Research
  • Reviews
    • Recovery
      • Best Cold Plunges
      • Best Saunas
      • Best Mini Massage Guns
      • Individual Recovery Reviews
    • Supplements
      • Best Protein
        • Best Whey Protein Powders
        • Best Vegan Protein Powders
        • Best Whey Isolate Protein Powders
        • Best Mass Gainers
        • Best Protein Bars
      • Best Pre-Workouts
        • Best Pre-Workouts for Women
        • Best Pre-Workouts for Men
        • Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts
        • Strongest Pre-Workouts
      • Best Creatine
      • Best Electrolyte Supplements
      • Best Greens Powder
      • Best Meal Replacements
      • Best Nitric Oxide Supplements
      • Best Fat Burners
        • Best Fat Burners for Men
        • Best Fat Burners for Women
        • Best Non-Stim Fat Burners
      • More Supplements
        • Best Supplements for Muscle Growth
        • Best Supplements for CrossFit
        • Best Supplements for Weight Loss
        • Best Supplements for Bodybuilding
        • Best Supplements for Men
        • Best Supplement Stacks
      • Individual Supplements Reviews
    • Equipment
      • Cardio
        • Best Treadmills
        • Best Rowing Machines
        • Best Exercise Bikes
        • Best Ellipticals
        • Best Recumbent Bikes
      • Strength
        • Best Adjustable Dumbbells
        • Best Dumbbells
        • Best Kettlebells
        • Best Barbells
        • Best Squat Racks
        • Best Free Weights
        • Best Weight Benches
        • Best Resistance Bands
        • Best Slam Balls
        • Best Weighted Vests
        • Best Leg Extension Machines
        • Best Cable Machines
        • Best Power Racks
        • Best Pull Up Bars
      • Best Home Gyms
        • Best Smart Home Gyms
        • Best Gym Equipment Under $100
        • Best Home Gym Essentials
        • Best Home Gym Flooring
      • Individual Equipment Reviews
    • Fitness Accessories
      • Apparel
        • Best Weightlifting Shoes
        • Best Cross Training Shoes
        • Best Gym Bags
        • Best Gym Shorts
      • Training
        • Best Weightlifting Belts
        • Best Knee Sleeves
        • Best Lifting Straps
        • Best Grip Strengtheners
        • Best Wrist Wraps
        • Best Lifting Gloves
      • Individual Fitness Product Reviews
    • Certifications
      • Best Sports Nutrition Certifications
      • Best Personal Trainer Certifications
      • Best Nutrition Certifications
      • Individual Certifications Reviews
    • Programs
      • Best Online Workout Programs
      • Best Workout Streaming Services
      • Best Home Workout Programs
      • Individual Program Reviews
  • Nutrition
    • Diets
      • Carb Cycling
      • Vertical Diet
      • Reverse Dieting
      • Carnivore Diet
      • Ketogenic Diet
      • Intermittent Fasting
      • IIFYM Diet
    • Fat Loss
      • Macros for Fat Loss
      • Calorie Deficits
      • Natural Fat Burners
      • Cut 2 Pounds Weekly
    • Muscle Gain
      • How to Dirty Bulk
      • Go From Cutting to Bulking
      • Eat These Carbs
      • How to Eat for Muscle
    • Supplement Guides
      • Pre-Workout
      • Whey Protein
      • Mass Gainers
      • Greens Powders
      • Creatine
      • BCAAs
    • Nutrition Tips
      • Daily Protein Needs
      • Pre- and Post-Workout Nutrition
      • Foods With Creatine
      • Bulking Tips
  • Training
    • Workouts
      • Back Workouts
      • At-Home Workouts
      • Chest & Back Workouts
      • Full-Body Workout
      • HIIT Workouts
    • Exercise Guides
      • Deadlift
      • Bench Press
      • Back Squat
      • Overhead Press
      • Bent-Over Row
      • Lat Pulldown
      • Crunches
      • Farmer’s Carry
    • Best Exercises
      • Shoulder Exercises
      • Back Exercises
      • Chest Exercises
      • Glute Exercises
      • Ab Exercises
      • Hamstring Exercises
      • Quad Exercises
      • Calf Exercises
      • Biceps Exercises
      • Triceps Exercises
    • Programs
      • Push-Up Program
      • Pull-Up Program
      • German Volume Training
      • 5/3/1 Program
      • Powerbuilding Program
      • The Cube Method
      • 5×5 Program
      • Bodybuilding Programs
      • Build Your Own Program
    • Fat Loss
      • How to Burn Fat
      • Spot Fat Reduction
      • How to Train on a Cut
      • Body Conditioning
      • Workouts
        • Kettlebell Circuits
        • Dumbbell Complexes
        • Farmer’s Carry Workouts
    • Muscle Gain
      • Muscle Hypertrophy Explained
      • How to Build Muscle
      • How to Maintain Muscle
      • What Researchers Say About Muscle Gain
        • Workouts
          • 20-Minute Workouts
          • Kettlebell Circuits
          • CrossFit Workouts for Muscle
          • Bodybuilding Workouts
  • Calculators
    • Protein Intake Calculator
    • Macros Calculator
    • BMR Calculator
    • Squat Calculator
    • Calorie Calculator
Roundups

Best Bromelain

Written by Matt DaSilva
Last updated on August 28th, 2023

Civilizations in Central and South America used the pineapple for its supposed medicinal properties for centuries. Today, we still harness the power of the pineapple in the form of bromelain, a mixture of enzymes derived from the same fruit that gave us the piña colada. Evidence suggests that bromelain may be useful in alleviating some symptoms of nasal and sinus inflammation, particularly when used in conjunction with more common treatments, as well as reducing heartburn (1) (2). It also has some purported anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, though more research is needed to substantiate these claims (3).

It’s wise to consult with a medical professional before introducing any supplement to your diet, as your individual health may dictate unique instructions. Since bromelain is derived from the pineapple plant, you’ll want to avoid it if you’re allergic to pineapples. There are a host of bromelain supplements available on the market. Before selecting one, it’s important to know how to distinguish between them. 

Best Bromelain

Editors’ Choice:

Doctor’s Best Bromelain

Pros:

  • At 3,000 GDU per gram, this is one of the more potent bromelains on the market by that measure. 
  • Each capsule contains 500mg of bromelain, and a bottle contains 90 servings. 
  • Vegan friendly and gluten-free.
  • Doctor’s Best touts their bromelain as being particularly well-suited to aid in digestion. 

Cons:

  • While the higher strength 3,000 GDU bromelain may be a benefit for many, some with more particular stomachs may want to opt for a less potent option. 
Doctor’s Best Bromelain
Doctor’s Best Bromelain
Doctor’s Best Bromelain

Doctor’s Best Bromelain offers a strong, straightforward dosage of third-party tested bromelain. These vegan friendly capsules are made in a Good Manufacturing Practices compliant facility.

Shop Amazon

Also Consider:

Superior Labs Best Bromelain

Pros:

  • Each serving of Super Labs Best Bromelain contains 500mg of bromelain. 
  • Super Labs bromelain contains 2,400 GDU (gelatin digesting units) per gram, a measurement used to measure how much protein each serving of bromelain is able to aid in digestion. 
  • No preservatives or artificial ingredients of any kind are used in the making of these vegetable capsules.
  • These capsules are marketed as helping with joint comfort, digestion, and cardiovascular health. 

Cons:

  • These caps use rice in their formulation, which may be an issue for anyone with a rice allergy.
Superior Labs Best Bromelain
Superior Labs Best Bromelain
Superior Labs Best Bromelain

With 500mg of bromelain per capsule, Superior Labs offers a solid source of the pineapple-based supplement at a reasonable price point. These vegetable capsules are made without any preservatives or artificial ingredients, so you know exactly what you’re getting with each serving. 

Shop Amazon

Best Value:

NOW Supplements Bromelain

Pros:

  • Each capsule contains 500mg of bromelain with 2,400 GDU per gram. 
  • These capsules are vegan, gluten free, and keto-friendly.
  • NOW Supplements recommends these capsules should be taken with food to support digestion or between meals to relieve soreness and/or muscle pain. 
  • Compared to some of the other bromelain supplements on the market, this one is available at a very affordable price point. 

Cons:

  • Though these capsules are vegan-friendly, they do contain a few additional ingredients – such as magnesium stearate and silica – in comparison to some of the other supplements we looked at. 
NOW Supplements Bromelain
NOW Supplements Bromelain
NOW Supplements Bromelain

Available at a very competitive price point, NOW Supplements offers an uncomplicated bromelain supplement. Each capsule contains 500mg of bromelain produced in a Good Manufacturing Practices facility.

Shop Amazon

Tablet:

Source Naturals Bromelain

Pros:

  • On a cost per serving basis, these are among the most affordable bromelain supplements available on the market. 
  • Each tablet contains 500mg of bromelain and 68mg of calcium.
  • Source Naturals suggests to take their bromelain with food to help with digestion and between meals to aid with physical stress.

Cons:

  • By GDU measure, this is one of the weaker sources of bromelain on the market, checking in at only 600 GDU per gram.
  • A look at the ingredients label reveals a number of additional ingredients to help formulate the tablet.
Source Naturals Bromelain
Source Naturals Bromelain
Source Naturals Bromelain

Source Naturals offers a very reasonably priced bromelain supplement that comes in tablet form. Each tablet contains 500mg of bromelain and 68mg of calcium.

Shop Amazon

Unique Formula:

NOW Supplements Quercetin with Bromelain

Pros:

  • Each serving contains 800mg of quercetin, a flavonoid commonly found in fruits and vegetables that’s believed to be a strong antioxidant. 
  • In addition to quercetin, each serving contains 165mg of bromelain, checking in at 2,400 GDU per gram. 
  • This supplement is marketed as an immune system booster, with instructions to take two servings daily before meals.
  • Kosher, non-GMO, vegan.

Cons:

  • If you’re just looking for bromelain support, you may want to look elsewhere. 
  • On a cost per serving basis, this is among the more expensive supplements we checked out.
NOW Supplements Quercetin with Bromelain
NOW Supplements Quercetin with Bromelain
NOW Supplements Quercetin with Bromelain

For those looking for an immune system booster, you may consider NOW Supplements Quercetin with Bromelain capsules. Each capsule contains 800mg of quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid available in a number of fruits and veggies, known for its strong antioxidative properties.

Shop Amazon

Methodology

Bromelain is a mixture of enzymes found in the pineapple plant. It’s a very widely available supplement used for its supposed anti-inflammatory properties. Before adding bromelain to your daily regimen, you should consult with a medical professional to make sure it jives with your nutritional needs. If you are looking for bromelain, there’s a few things you should look for before making your purchase. 

What’s Inside?

Unfortunately, there aren’t any widely available third party tests for purity on bromelain supplements. However, it’s still important to check out the ingredients label to ensure you know what’s inside each capsule. Some brands will stuff their supplements with artificial flavors or additives.

Dosage

The two numbers to look for in bromelain are the amount of bromelain per serving and the GDU (Gelatin Digesting Units) per gram. This GDU value is meant to measure how much each protein each gram of bromelain can help digest. Though much more research is needed to verify these claims, it may be a helpful measure if you’re thinking of adding bromelain for digestive help. 

Cost

To ensure you’re getting a good deal, divide the total cost by the amount of servings listed on the bottle. Not all brands have single tablet or capsule servings, so it’s important to count the servings – not just the number of tablets in each bottle.

BarBend Tips

  • Consult a medical professional before adding bromelain to your diet.
  • Take a look at the label to ensure you know what you’re putting in your body.

Bromelain is a very common supplement that’s been used for its anti-inflammatory properties for centuries. Though some claims of its efficacy have been a bit exaggerated, it may provide relief from folks suffering from chronic nasal inflammation. 

References

  1. Büttner L, Achilles N, Böhm M, Shah-Hosseini K, Mösges R. Efficacy and tolerability of bromelain in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis–a pilot study. B-ENT. 2013;9(3):217-225.‌
  2. Bromelain. NCCIH. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/bromelain. Published September 24, 2017.‌
  3. Brien S, Lewith G, Walker A, Hicks SM, Middleton D. Bromelain as a Treatment for Osteoarthritis: a Review of Clinical Studies. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2004;1(3):251-257.

About Matt DaSilva

Matt DaSilva is a writer at BarBend.com. After getting burned by a few too many poorly researched purchases, Matt is here to make sure no one else suffers a similar fate. In addition to testing many products himself, he combs through reviews and spec sheets, giving you the info you need to know before making your next purchase.

View All Articles

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

Ashley Kaltwasser’s Tricks For Longevity in Competitive Bikini Bodybuilding

Enahoro Asein (83KG) Deadlifts a Monster 355-Kilogram (783-Pound) Triple Raw

2023 Rising Phoenix and Arizona Pro Women’s Bodybuilding Show Preview

2023 Sheru Classic France Pro Bodybuilding Show Preview

2023 Daytona Pro-Am Bodybuilding Show Preview

Latest Reviews

Alaskan Cold Plunge Feature

Redwood Outdoors Alaskan Cold Plunge Review

Living.Fit Grip Strengthener Review

Bells of Steel Competition Kettlebell Review

Bells of Steel Barenaked Powerlifting Bar 2.0 Review

REP BlackWing Feature

REP Fitness BlackWing Weight Bench Review

Be the smartest person in your gym

The BarBend newsletter is everything you need to know about strength in a 3 minute read.

I Want In!
BarBend

BarBend is an independent website. The views expressed on this site may come from individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the view of BarBend or any other organization. BarBend is the Official Media Partner of USA Weightlifting.

  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Sections

  • CrossFit
  • Strongman
  • Bodybuilding
  • Powerlifting
  • Weightlifting
  • Reviews
  • Nutrition
  • Training

More

  • BarBend Newsletter
  • BarBend Podcast
  • The Ripped Report
  • 1RM Calculator
  • BMR Calculator
  • Macros Calculator
  • Protein Calculator
  • Squat Calculator

Policies

  • Accessibility
  • Advice Disclaimer
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimers
  • Disclosures
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2023 · BarBend Inc · Sitemap