Pineapple contains a proteolytic enzyme bromelain, which digests food by breaking down protein. Only modest quantites of blomelain are in the edible parts of the fruit, all commercially all commercially available bromelain is derived from the stem. Bromelain supplements are particularly poplar among athletes for treating all sorts of physical aches and injuries. There are questions about how well bromelain is absorbed, and to many herbal authorities the value may be overstated. Nature gave us many similar proteolytic enzymes, (like Ginger), that are more highly concentrated in the edible parts of the plants. Pineapple is healthy fruit, a good source of manganese, as well as containing significant amounts of Vitamin C.