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Digestive enzymes in the digestive system are necessary in the body for the proper conduct of digestive processes. They not only enable this process, but also make it simpler and less time-consuming, and promote the absorption of nutrients by the body. They also make us feel comfortable in our body. What exactly is their role and why is it worth taking care of their proper level?
Digestive enzymes – functions
Digestive enzymes catalyze (cause or accelerate (react) by acting as a catalyst) the breakdown of food in the mouth and gut, so that nutrients are released and can be absorbed through the intestinal barrier into the bloodstream. Therefore, one of the main functions of digestive enzymes is to increase the bioavailability of nutrients.
Digestive enzymes are produced in saliva and as exocrine (glands that secrete a substance through the duct) secretions from the pancreas, released by pancreatic juices into the duodenum by specific hormonal signals during food ingestion. The environment in which digestive enzymes function, as well as the availability of energy, is key to their synthesis and function. This means digestive health, including the structure and function of the gastrointestinal mucosa; The pH and composition of the gut microflora play a key role in the digestive process.
Do you want to support your digestive system with enzymes? Check the offer: Digestive enzymes – YANGO dietary supplement or Digestive Aid Formula – Viridian digestive enzymes.
Digestive enzymes – types
There are many digestive enzymes. The main digestive enzymes produced in the pancreas are:
- amylase (produced in the mouth and pancreas; breaks down complex carbohydrates)
- lipase (produced in the pancreas; breaks down fats)
- protease (produced in the pancreas; breaks down proteins).
Some other digestive enzymes are produced in the small intestine, including:
- lactase (breaks down lactose),
- aacharase (breaks down sucrose).
Digestive enzymes – amylase
Amylase is responsible for breaking the bonds in starches, polysaccharides and complex carbohydrates into easily digestible simple sugars. Salivary amylase is the first step in the chemical digestion of food. This is one of the main reasons why it is so important to chew your food thoroughly. This initial stage of the digestive process is necessary for the proper breakdown of the food you eat and the eventual release of the nutrients it contains for later absorption. As starch, polysaccharides, and complex carbohydrates pass through the gastrointestinal tract, they are further broken down from additional amylase released from the pancreas into the proximal small intestine.
Digestive enzymes – protease
Another important enzyme for the efficient digestion of the consumed food is protease. Responsible for the primary breakdown of animal and plant proteins and polypeptides, and for proline dipeptides from gluten and casein. Proteases are released by the pancreas into the proximal small intestine, where they mix with proteins already denatured by gastric secretions and break them down into amino acids, the building blocks of protein that will eventually be absorbed and used throughout the body.
Digestive enzymes – lipase
While amylase and protease are great at breaking down carbohydrates and proteins, the body needs a different enzyme to break down fats, oils, and triglycerides. This is where lipase works. Lipase is necessary for the full digestion of fats into their smaller fatty acid components.
See: Omega-3, i.e. fatty acids valuable for human health
Digestive enzymes – deficiency and excess
There are many reasons why we don’t produce enough of our own digestive enzymes. Poor enzyme production can lead to nutrient deficiency problems, resulting in a whole host of health problems.
One of the main reasons for the decreased production of digestive enzymes is the poor exocrine function of the pancreas. The causes of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) vary widely and include:
- problems with the endocrine part of the pancreas,
- gallstones that block the bile duct and restrict / stop the flow of pancreatic juices,
- weak function of Oddi’s sphincter, which controls the release of bile and pancreatic juices from the bile duct into the small intestine,
- alcohol abuse,
- shortage of micro and macro elements,
- protein deficiency,
- a diet rich in refined carbohydrates causing hypoglycemia, insulin resistance and diabetes
- high caloric intake,
- physical inactivity.
Other factors that greatly influence the production of digestive enzymes include:
- foods or drinks that promote inflammation of the intestines, including coffee, alcohol, sugar, and highly processed foods
- individual food sensitivity,
- chronic infection or inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract,
- multiple exposure to antibiotics that affect the gut microflora, digestion and liver health
- physical, emotional, or psychological stress that reduces the production of pancreatic digestive enzymes and affects many other areas of digestive function and health
- smoking tobacco,
- pregnancy, which places additional demands on the body’s energy needs,
- aging, which leads to the deterioration of the functions of the pancreas and digestive tract.
See:What does upper gastrointestinal bleeding mean?
Digestive enzymes – deficiency symptoms
There are many symptoms associated with a deficiency in digestive enzymes. Let’s face it, if you are not getting all the essential nutrients from your diet, the potential effects on your health can be endless!
The symptoms of a deficiency in digestive enzymes are usually first seen in the gut. Symptoms may take a day or even a week to appear and may include:
- flatulence
- abdominal pain,
- symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome,
- diarrhea,
- constipation
- intestinal microflora dysbiosis,
- undigested food in the stool
- constant feeling of fullness,
- food allergies and intolerances.
In some, the lack of enzymes can become a chronic failure. The broader effects of a deficiency in digestive enzymes on health include:
- obesity,
- depression and anxiety
- premenstrual syndrome,
- tiredness,
- autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease
- ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
It should be remembered that our digestive functions deteriorate with age. The general medical trend is often to view common acute digestive symptoms such as heartburn and indigestion as excess stomach acid. Antacids or proton pump inhibitors are often prescribed to reduce stomach acid levels or production.
Stomach acid is needed to activate endogenous digestive enzymes, to properly digest food and to release nutrients (especially calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B12, and folic acid) and, importantly, to protect against pathogens. This means that reducing or blocking its production has a potential impact on other digestive processes and on health in general.
Digestive enzymes and digestive disorders
There are many causes of digestive disorders and indigestion. Most often, such problems are manifested by discomfort associated with the feeling of overflow, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting. In these less health-threatening ailments, relief is usually brought by preparations containing the addition of digestive enzymes, which will help especially people whose organisms have some abnormalities in the amount of enzymes and there are too few of them.
Try Nº1 Enzymes SHOT – a digestive supplement that contains 10 digestive enzymes to support the digestive system. You can buy the preparation at an attractive price on Medonet Market. If, on the other hand, you want to comprehensively take care of your body, improve its digestion, strengthen the intestines and immunity, reach for the Set of digestive and intestinal supplements – Harmonix + Cemmunix.
Stomach pain is often associated with insufficient production of gastric juice or bile: there are many herbal remedies that help regulate their production. Such an effect is also achieved by numerous infusions and herbal preparations, e.g. from psyllium plantain. It is worth noting, however, that the herbs from which the infusions are made should be of good quality. Therefore, it is best to buy them from proven suppliers. Intenson offers psyllium seeds of the highest quality. The product was created as a result of the cooperation of nutritionists and food technologists. You can also try the Fit & Detox Slimming Elixir Intenson fiber cocktail, which has a beneficial effect on digestive processes.
The correct level of digestive enzymes is responsible for a smooth and fast digestion process, which has many benefits for the body. First of all, the undigested debris does not remain in the intestines, which would cause a feeling of discomfort and heaviness. In addition, it is possible to digest quickly and, as a result, quickly gain energy and nutrients from food, a feeling of lightness and full comfort – the indirect effect of digestive enzymes is our well-being and a feeling of comfort in relation to our own body!
For better digestion and better functioning of the digestive system, try the tea made of Hops, which you can buy at Medonet Market. You can also use Bear’s Garlic in your everyday kitchen and add it to your dishes. Also try Peppermint Leaf as a tea base.