Digestive Enzymes and Your Health

You are what you eat. More accurately, you are what you digest—and what you don’t.

Digestion begins when we see, smell, or even think about food, stimulating the production of digestive enzymes. As biochemical catalysts, digestive enzymes help break down food into ever smaller particles along the 25-30 foot digestive pathway. Found in fresh, uncooked fruits and vegetables and manufactured by the body, each digestive enzyme is specialized to act on certain foods. With the help of digestive enzymes, the food we eat is transformed into nutrients or released as waste.

Digestive Enzymes and our Modern Reality

At least, that’s the ideal. At any point on the journey through the digestive system, things don’t always work as smoothly as we wish, resulting in occasional heartburn, gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea—all common signs that digestive enzymes may not be present in optimal levels in our gut.

Our modern diet and lifestyle is partly to blame. Over-processing kills the digestive enzymes found in food. Stress can constrict muscles in the digestive tract and restrict the flow of the digestive enzymes manufactured by our bodies. Aging, genetics and overall health can also impact the quantity and strength of digestive enzymes.

Digestive Enzymes Can Help

Optimal levels of digestive enzymes are necessary to promote optimal nutrient aborption, help with the body’s detoxification process, promote immune health, and help reduce food sensitivities. The holistic approach seeks to promote optimal digestive health and help detoxify the digestive tract—digestive enzyme supplements can be a valuable tool.

Digestive enzyme supplements may include one or more enzymes, among them amylases (which break down carbohydrates), proteases (proteins) and lipases (fats). Two common proteases—bromelain and papain—are derived from pineapple and papaya. Not only do these particular digestive enzymes help break down food and relieve occasional digestive complaints, several scientific studies also suggest that these enzymes may promote a normal inflammatory response and help everyday aches and pains related to muscle and joint strain.

A growing number of healthcare practitioners recommend digestive enzymes for anyone over 35 or for individuals experiencing occasional digestive concerns. Taking digestive enzymes is safe for most adults and children. Some digestive enzyme supplements may be contraindicated for people taking blood thinners and other pharmaceuticals, so be sure to check the label and consult your doctor with any questions. Many natural health experts suggest that you take Digestive enzymes in combination with probiotics. The digestive enzymes help clean up toxic waste, and probiotics promote beneficial intestinal flora, with a goal of promoting overall health and vitality.