| Digestive enzymes are proteins that | | | | the digestive system to stimulate the |
| break down food into a form that can be | | | | secretion of enzymes from the pancreas |
| used by the body. Enzymes are the body's | | | | and also activate certain enzymes such |
| catalysts that make it possible for | | | | as pepsin. It also sterilizes the |
| biochemical reactions to take place. | | | | stomach by killing off many parasites |
| Digestion of food is no more than a | | | | and bacteria, and is the highly acidic |
| series of chemical reactions taking | | | | substance that causes heartburn and the |
| place using enzymes and the chemicals | | | | painful effects of acid reflux. |
| that make up our foods. Another such | | | | Digestive supplements that contain |
| enzyme is the metabolic enzymes, which | | | | hydrochloric acid can supplement poor |
| help every other reaction to occur, such | | | | acidity in the stomach, but can also |
| as cell repair, correct brain function | | | | make indigestion and heartburn worse. |
| and those needed by the immune system. | | | | Glutamic acid is important in |
| There is a third type of enzyme claimed, | | | | metabolizing fats and sugars, and also |
| that is called the food enzyme. This is | | | | acts as a neurotransmitter. It uses up |
| not natural to humans, but contained in | | | | ammonia molecules when forming |
| the foods we eat when raw, and that are | | | | glutamine, and is the only way that the |
| destroyed by cooking. Originally, the | | | | brain can remove ammonia. Glutamic acid |
| human body would use the natural food | | | | also helps to feed the brain with much |
| enzymes to help break down the foods it | | | | needed potassium from the blood. If |
| ingests, but along came cooking and | | | | there are insufficient enzymes in the |
| along with more stresses were put on our | | | | food we eat, normally through |
| digestive enzymes, specifically the | | | | overcooking and destroying what enzymes |
| pancreas, to make up for those missing | | | | are present by excessive heat, the |
| in a cooked diet. Some digestive enzymes | | | | pancreas gets overworked trying to |
| are created by the pancreas, and their | | | | produce all the enzymes needed to break |
| function is to break down food into | | | | down our protein intake. Eventually too |
| smaller molecules than can be absorbed | | | | much is asked of it, and it can no |
| into the blood and used in human | | | | longer meet demand of the proteolytic |
| biochemistry and physiology. When | | | | enzymes. Undigested protein then enters |
| digestive enzymes are in short supply, | | | | the bloodstream and can trigger off an |
| the pancreas will spend more time | | | | immune response of pro-inflammatory |
| producing them, at the expense of | | | | cytokines that then cause inflammation. |
| production of metabolic enzymes, and we | | | | Inflammation can occur in the joints, |
| could become ill or suffer some | | | | muscles and intestines, and cause |
| malfunction to a lack of chemicals and | | | | significant pain and stiffness. A blend |
| enzymes elsewhere in the body. If | | | | of proteolytic enzymes, taken as a |
| digestive enzymes were provided as a | | | | supplement, can reduce inflammation by |
| supplement, then the pancreas could | | | | reducing the immune response and by |
| spend more time producing the metabolic | | | | helping to digest proteins that caused |
| enzymes needed for everyday life. Up to | | | | the immune response initially. However, |
| 80% of the body's energy and enzyme | | | | proteolytic enzymes can also destroy |
| production is spent on digestion and | | | | lipases that digest fats, so you may |
| some of this could be alleviated more | | | | want to refer to your doctor if you have |
| would be spent on the metabolism. People | | | | a general enzyme deficiency. |
| would feel more energetic and less | | | | Inflammation is not the only problem |
| drowsy immediately after a meal. Also to | | | | that can occur if food is not digested |
| be considered is the proven fact that as | | | | properly. Large undigested protein |
| we age, our digestion degenerates, and | | | | molecules in the blood can act as |
| digestive enzyme supplements have been | | | | allergens by attracting the attentions |
| shown to remedy that failure and allow | | | | of the immune system. Basically they |
| older people to make better use of the | | | | shouldn't be there, and the end result |
| food they eat. There are several enzymes | | | | could be the release of histamine by the |
| and other chemicals included in | | | | body to fight against them. Undigested |
| digestive enzyme supplements, each | | | | food leaking into the bloodstream can |
| having a specific role to play in the | | | | also cause chronic tiredness and other |
| digestive processes in our bodies. | | | | undesirable symptoms. One way to avoid |
| Pancreatin is a commercial mixture of | | | | this is to break down meals into |
| various enzymes produced by the | | | | specific food types, and eat mainly |
| pancreas, and contains amylase, protease | | | | protein at one meal, and mainly |
| and lipase. Amylase is responsible for | | | | carbohydrates at another. In that way, |
| breaking down carbohydrates such as | | | | the enzyme demand on the pancreas is |
| starches into simple sugars, and also | | | | reduced. Alternatively take an enzyme |
| breaks down more complex sugars. | | | | supplement that is relevant to the food |
| Protease, as the name suggests, is | | | | you are eating. A proteolytic enzyme |
| needed to break down complex protein | | | | mixture is of little benefit if you are |
| into single amino acids, while lipase | | | | on a high carbohydrate diet. The most |
| breaks down fats and oils into fatty | | | | important factor to keep in mind when |
| acids and glycerol. All of these | | | | considering supplementing your digestive |
| smaller molecules are essential to the | | | | enzyme intake is that they are active |
| biochemistry that carries out the | | | | chemicals, not living things. They take |
| chemical reactions to sustain life. The | | | | part in the chemical reactions of the |
| digestion of fat is improved by ox bile, | | | | body, and each enzyme has a specific |
| which also stimulates the flow of bile | | | | function in your body's biochemistry. |
| from the liver that helps to digest | | | | Always know what you are doing, and |
| fats. Another enzyme, papain, also helps | | | | follow instructions when taking enzyme |
| to break down proteins. There are many | | | | supplements of any type, and if you have |
| different types of protein, and more | | | | any doubts, take the advice of a |
| than one enzyme is needed to process | | | | physician. Enzymes can do harm as well |
| them. Another is pepsin, though the | | | | as good. |
| effectiveness of pepsin depends on the | | | | More information can be found at where |
| hydrochloric availability in the system, | | | | a large selection of digestive enzymes |
| and yet another is bromelain. | | | | can be found that is specific to your |
| Hydrochloric acid is the acid used by | | | | needs. |