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