Enzymes and Digestion
Unsung Heroes
Everyone is focused on what they eat, but what about how they digest?
People have a general idea of what digestive enzymes are, but not many have considered the scope of their importance and the role they play for overall health.
What They Are and What They Do
Digestion doesn’t just take place in your stomach. The pancreas produces a large portion of your digestive enzymes, as do the small intestine, stomach lining, liver, and salivary glands1 (digestion begins in the mouth). But these enzymes do not digest food - they digest nutrients.
Digestive enzymes are catalysts responsible for breaking down food to extract nutrients. They are then converted to:
- Amino acids from proteins
- Fatty acids and cholesterol from fats
- Simple and complex sugars from carbohydrates
- And other vitamins, minerals, and compounds.2
This process is by no means a simple “input-output.” Dozens of different enzymes work together along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to break down macronutrients from the foods you eat. These nutrients are then sent through the bloodstream to the liver and then are absorbed into the lymphatic system, which distributes them to tissues, organs, and muscles.3
As you can imagine, this complex exchange is responsible for the body’s access to fuel. But it doesn’t end there. Digestive enzymes affect factors for daily life that are not often considered.
Nutrition
You can eat all the healthy food in the world, but if you can’t absorb it, not even the healthiest of diets will do any good. However, our bodies can only digest what it’s given. High-fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables contain enzymes of their own that work with digestive enzymes to break down foods faster and allow your body to access nutrients quickly for cell reparation and growth.4 This is another good reason for eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Luckily, enzyme production is versatile and can be tailored to the composition of food consumed. However, if a diet doesn’t include this pairing of essential enzymes, or if the body is unable to produce enough enzymes to promote healthy digestion and diverse microbial life5, you run the risk of malnutrition. This could lead to symptoms such as:
- Bloating
- Indigestion
- Constipation
- Thyroid issues
- Lackluster hair, skin, and nails
- Mood swings
- And depression6
Maintaining a healthy diet and sometimes taking digestive enzyme supplements can be helpful for dealing with digestive symptoms.
Schedule a Discovery Call here to discuss your digestive problems.
1 Wallace M. The Digestive System & How it Works. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. September 2013. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health- information/digestive-diseases/digestive-system-how-it-works. Accessed May 17, 2017.
2 Wallace M. The Digestive System & How it Works. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. September 2013. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health- information/digestive-diseases/digestive-system-how-it-works. Accessed May 17, 2017.
3 Wallace M. The Digestive System & How it Works. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. September 2013. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/digestive-system-how-it-works. Accessed May 17, 2017.
4 Tweed V. Top 10 Digestive Enzymes. Better Nutrition. http://www.betternutrition.com/enzyematichealth/. Published December 6, 2016. Accessed May 17, 2017.
5 Conlon MA, Bird AR. The Impact of Diet and Lifestyle on Gut Microbiota and Human Health. Nutrients. 2015;7(1):17-44. doi:10.3390/nu7010017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4303825/
6 Tweed V. Top 10 Digestive Enzymes. Better Nutrition. http://www.betternutrition.com/enzyematichealth/. Published December 6, 2016. Accessed May 17, 2017.