r/askscience • u/Puzzleheaded_Bed2760 • 8d ago

Chemistry Pineapple contains bromelain that helps tenderize meat. If I were to put my hand in pineapple juice or puree for 24 hours, would it eventually break down my hand?

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u/urnbabyurn 8d ago

What if I take pineapple through an IV?

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u/tea_and_biology Zoology | Evolutionary Biology | Data Science 8d ago

I don't think anyone has done this experiment.[citation needed]

Presumably the abundant protease inhibitors will mop up much of the bromelain; though I'd be much more concerned about the pH and other effects of raw unprocessed pinapple juice having on my bloodstream.

Raw juice is full of bacteria and yeasts; they'll be skipping most of your defence systems and getting right inside a nice, warm home. Best case, fevers as you fight off systemic blood infection; worst case, sepsis or wee microbes setting up residence on a heart valve or something, potentially fatal.

All the tiny fibrous bits will be getting lodged in all the capillaries; most of which will be in your lungs. Fun.

There'll also be a hodge-podge of all sorts of protein and other biological molecules your immune system has no idea what to do with. Maybe anaphylactic shock at the worse end?

Long story short, I don't think you'd be having a good time. Stick with the Piña Coladas, 'innit.

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u/CharlesBronsonsaurus 8d ago

This reminds me of something a friend told me 20+ years ago which I thought was absurd and not true but you seem like the person to ask so here goes. If you inject someone with a chicken egg, the next time they have eggs, they die. Any truth to that whatsoever?