Digestive Enzymes

Digestive enzymes are present in the digestive tract and saliva and play an essential role in aiding the complete digestion of food. These enzymes work by breaking down macromolecules such as proteins and carbohydrates into smaller building blocks like amino acids, fatty acids, glycerol, starch and sugars. These enzymes are produced by the body and are secreted by the salivary glands, glands in the stomach and pancreas, and glands in the small intestine. These enzymes are essential to good health. They are directly related to good digestion which is essential to provide the body with the nutrients it needs to maintain a good immune system and for adequate cell repair.

The ability to produce these enzymes in sufficient quantity diminishes over time. From birth we are usually able to produce all the necessary enzymes required to support life, but this reduces as we grow older. Suffice to say that supplementing your diet with foods that contain high levels of digestive enzymes becomes more important the older you get. Raw fruits, dairy products, meat and vegetables naturally contain digestive enzymes which is why it is important that these foods are eaten as raw as possible. Heat destroys the enzymes which significantly reduces their beneficial effect. Dietary supplements are also available that will increase your intake of digestive enzymes.

If your body is lacking in digestive enzymes it can flow on to have many adverse health effects. The digestive system and overall health go hand in hand, so without sufficient digestive enzymes you will not be able to achieve proper nutrition. If you are lacking in digestive enzymes you will likely suffer from poor digestion and poor nutrition. Symptoms of digestive enzyme deficiency include acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, bloating, excessive gas and cramping. Poor digestion can lead to more severe health conditions such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, chronic fatigue and circulatory problems.

Including the right amount of digestive enzymes in your diet can be difficult to achieve. Western culture means that most of our dishes are cooked; we wouldn’t be able to eat uncooked meat or unpasteurized dairy products without becoming ill. By taking supplements or modifying our diets we are able to provide our digestive system with the digestive enzymes it requires to get the highest nutritional content from our foods. This in turn with improve our immune systems, slow the aging process and make you more resistant to disease.