Every time you take in food into the body, the digestive system gets down to working on breaking it down and absorbing the nutrients into the body. This is the digestive process, where food is mixed with enzymes and other digestive juices, starting at the mouth, through the esophagus, the stomach, and the small intestine. These enzymes are produced in different parts of the digestive tract, namely the salivary glands, the glands in the stomach, the pancreas, and the glands in the small intestine.
What Digestive Enzymes Do
Enzymes are the catalysts of the body. They naturally accelerate the chemical processes inside the body and can do so for up to a billion times the original speed, making survival possible for all of us. Enzymes are also responsible for breaking down fats, sugars, and proteins into small molecules that can easily be absorbed into the bloodstream and by the different cells of the body. They also regulate the proper elimination of waste from the body and help reduce constipation from improper digestion.
Various Digestive Enzymes and their Purposes
Different enzymes work on different kinds of food. There are several enzymes needed during the digestive process, but the most important of these are the following:
- Protease – breaks down proteins into amino acids
- Amylase – breaks down carbohydrates into simple sugars
- Lipase – breaks down lipids, fats, and oils into fatty acids and glycerol
- Maltase – breaks down grains and malt sugars
- Lactase – breaks down lactose and milk sugar
Other enzymes are also needed for more specific processes, such as digesting fibrous foods and releasing other enzymes.
The Human Body Without Digestive Enzymes
Proper digestion of food, absorption of nutrients, and elimination of wastes from the body are all done with the help of digestive enzymes. Without these natural substances in the body, the food is not digested properly and is passed on to the large intestine without the nutrients being assimilated into the body. The undigested food is then lodged up in the large intestine and clings to the walls of the colon.
Over time, more and more undigested food is packed onto the colon’s walls, making it harder and harder for fecal waste to pass through. Unfortunately, this is a vicious cycle that, if not interrupted by enzymes, will lead to conditions much worse than constipation because the rest of the body failed to receive their fair share of nutrients to function properly. The colon is considered the septic tank of the body. Without the enzymes to help it function properly, the body begins to store undigested food and waste and is slowly poisoned if the waste is not gotten rid of right away.
Improve Digestion with Enzymes
Enzymes are naturally produced by the body, but we cannot ensure that the body works perfectly well all of the time. We can also get them from the food we eat, but cooking and processing strips the food of the natural enzymes and other nutrients they provide. There are ways, though, to make sure your digestive system has all the enzymes it needs to digest food properly. These are:
- Eat less processed foods.
- Eat more foods that have high fiber content, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
- Drink lots of water to keep you hydrated.
- Take digestive enzyme supplements.
Recommended Digestive Support Formula