How to increase nutrition absorption with digestive enzymes
Digestive enzymes are substances that help you digest your food. Your saliva, stomach, small intestine and pancreas all make digestive enzymes. The pancreas is really the enzyme “powerhouse” of digestion.
Some foods require certain digestive enzymes to break down the specific nutrients they contain.
A variety of health conditions, especially those that affect the pancreas, can lead to deficiencies in digestive enzymes. This is because the pancreas secretes several key enzymes.
Often these deficiencies can be fixed by changing your diet. You can eat foods containing digestive enzymes. You can also take prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) enzyme supplements.
Different types of enzymes target different nutrients.
Types of #Digestive Enzymes:
Here are some key digestive enzymes and their roles:
- Amylase: Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down (complex) carbohydrates, like starches and glycogen, into simpler sugars like glucose and maltose. It is produced in the salivary glands and the pancreas.
- Proteases: Proteases are enzymes that break down proteins into amino acids. They are produced in the stomach (as pepsinogen) and in the pancreas (as trypsin, chymotrypsin, and others).
- Lipases: Lipases break down fats (lipids) into fatty acids and glycerol. They are produced in the pancreas and play a crucial role in the digestion of dietary fats.
- Lactase: Lactase is responsible for breaking down lactose, the sugar found in milk and dairy products, into glucose and galactose. Some people have lower levels of lactase, leading to lactose intolerance.
- Sucrase, Maltase, and Isomaltase: These enzymes break down disaccharides (double sugar molecules) into their component sugars. Sucrase breaks down sucrose (table sugar) into glucose and fructose, maltase breaks down maltose into glucose, and isomaltase breaks down isomaltose into glucose.
- Peptidases: These enzymes further break down peptides (short chains of amino acids) produced by the action of proteases. They help break down peptides into individual amino acids, which can be absorbed by the body.
- Cellulase, Amylase, and Xylanase (Plant-Based Enzymes): While humans don’t naturally produce these enzymes, some plant-based foods (like raw fruits and vegetables) contain them. They assist in breaking down plant cell walls and complex carbohydrates, potentially aiding digestion.
- Alpha-Galactosidase: This enzyme helps break down complex carbohydrates called oligosaccharides, commonly found in beans, lentils, and certain vegetables. It can be particularly helpful for individuals who experience gas and bloating after consuming these foods.
- Pepsin: Pepsin is an enzyme produced in the stomach that helps break down proteins into smaller peptide fragments. It works in an acidic environment and is one of the first enzymes involved in protein digestion.
- Gelatinase, Collagenase: These enzymes are involved in breaking down specific proteins like gelatin and collagen, which are found in connective tissues and cartilage.
Fruits, vegetables, and other foods have natural digestive enzymes. Eating them can improve your digestion.
- Honey, especially the raw kind, has amylase and protease.
- Mangoes and bananas have amylase, which also helps the fruit to ripen.
- Papaya has a type of protease called papain.
- Avocados have the digestive enzyme lipase.
- Sauerkraut, or fermented cabbage, picks up digestive enzymes during the fermentation process.
In summary, digestive enzymes play a crucial role in breaking down food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed and utilized by the body. They ensure efficient digestion, nutrient absorption, and overall gut health.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-are-digestive-enzymes-1945036
https://www.drugs.com/drug-class/digestive-enzymes.html
