| Digestive enzymes are vital to our health. The are | | | | we require. Fortunately, when natural sources are |
| required for the proper digestion and assimilation | | | | insufficient, we can easily and safely take |
| of the food we eat. Enzymes are proteins that | | | | supplemental enzymes to aid in the digestive |
| facilitate, or speed up, a wide variety of biological | | | | process. |
| activities. They are produced by virtually all living | | | | The human body makes approximately 22 |
| organisms and are essential to every aspect of | | | | different digestive enzymes which are capable of |
| life. Digestive enzymes are a specific category of | | | | digesting carbohydrates, protein and fats. They |
| enzymes that unlock the nutritional value of | | | | are produced in the salivary glands of the mouth, |
| vitamins, minerals, proteins, and hormones and | | | | the stomach, the pancreas, and the small |
| allow them to go to work in the body. They | | | | intestine, particularly the duodenum. |
| break down the larger macromolecules of our | | | | Who Needs Enzyme Supplements? |
| food (such as protein, carbohydrates and fats) | | | | As we age, our ability to produce enzymes is |
| into their smaller building blocks. This makes it | | | | decreased. Many people are simply deficient in one |
| possible for our digestive system to properly | | | | or more enzyme types from birth, and |
| utilize the nutrients they contain, and convert | | | | deficiencies may show up or worsen over time. |
| them into a form of energy that our cells can | | | | Problems digesting dairy products, beans and |
| use. | | | | fatty foods are very common. Relief from the |
| Digestive enzymes influence a wide array of | | | | resulting discomfort can be dramatic when |
| health conditions. Inadequate levels often result in | | | | supplemental enzymes are taken. |
| bloating, belching, gas, bowel disorders, abdominal | | | | Supplementing with digestive enzymes can |
| cramping, heartburn, acid reflux, GERD, reduced | | | | substantially improve your digestive health by |
| energy, poor immune function, and food | | | | ensuring that your food is digested efficiently. This |
| sensitivities. Insufficient enzymes can also lead to | | | | helps to prevent digestion-related discomfort and |
| a bacterial imbalance and nutritional deficiencies. | | | | reduces the potential for other illnesses by |
| Additionally, the digestive process consumes a | | | | improving the assimilation and use of nutrients. |
| large portion of our overall metabolic energy. | | | | The benefits can be impressive. A recent clinical |
| When we suffer from inefficient digestion, it robs | | | | study found that participants who took digestive |
| our body of energy that would otherwise be | | | | enzymes with their meals increased their protein |
| applied to important functions such as rebuilding | | | | synthesis with free amino acid levels by up to |
| and replacing damaged cells and tissues, and | | | | 100%. This is particularly helpful, as proteins are |
| maintaining the immune system. | | | | perhaps the hardest food type for most people |
| Digestive Enzymes Sources | | | | to digest. |
| We get our digestive enzymes from two natural | | | | Digestive enzymes may be exactly the right |
| sources. They are produced at various points | | | | treatment for a wide variety of digestive |
| along our digestive tract, and are also found in the | | | | problems, including gas, bloating, stomach cramping |
| foods we eat. However, since most of our food | | | | and even food sensitivities or food allergies. They |
| is either cooked or processed, destroying the | | | | are safe and affordable and can be found in a |
| enzymes contained within, our bodies must | | | | wide variety of combinations or single-purpose |
| produce the majority of the digestive enzymes | | | | formulas. |