digestive enzymes: what are they?

In this blog post, we discuss what digestive enzymes are and how they work in the body.

What are digestive enzymes?

Each and every person has enzymes that help breakdown different food products such as: dairy, beans, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. These are made in the mouth, pancreas, stomach and small intestine.

Our digestive tract runs from “gums to bum” meaning enzymes typically work all throughout the digestive tract. Some examples of enzymes that our body makes on a daily basis are:

• Amylase (made in mouth/pancreas to break down complex carbohydrates)

• Lipase (made in pancreas to break down fats)

• Lactase (used to breakdown lactose, the main sugar found in dairy products, made in the small intestine)

• Protease (made in pancreas to breakdown proteins)

• Sucrase (made in the small intestine to break down sucrose)

How do enzymes work?

In order to properly digest and assimilate the food we eat, enzymes are needed.

The moment you start preparing your food, chopping vegetables or simmering a pot of pasta, the digestive enzymes in your mouth and stomach start being released. As the digestive process continues, more and more enzymes are released to aid your body in the digestive process.

Without enzymes, many digestive symptoms can occur such as :

• sudden diarrhea

• extreme gas and bloating

• fatty stools (oily or sticky stools)

• nausea and vomiting

• bloody stools

• unexplained weight loss

Be sure to consult with your health care provider to understand your enzyme needs better.