Digestive Enzymes: The Key to Unlocking Nourishment in Food
Digestive Enzymes are enzymes that assist with splitting proteins, carbohydrates, and fats into smaller compounds, forms that our bodies can use. This process allows the nutrients from these foods to be easily absorbed into the bloodstream and carried throughout the body.
We naturally make our own digestive enzymes, but make less as we age.
And if there is inflammation in the gut or poor gut health (e.g. food intolerances, bacterial overgrowth, IBD, IBS) the enzyme producing cells lining the digestive tract may also be compromised.
Did you know … chewing your food well (mechanically breaking down food) really helps digestive enzymes do their jobs!
What Happens if Your Food is not Digested Fully?
- The undigested food may pass into the large intestine.
- The bacteria and yeast in your gut uses the undigested food to nourish themselves.
- The by-products of bacterial digestion and yeast fermentation (hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane gas) can produce very uncomfortable symptoms like gas and bloating, indigestion and irregularity.
- The undigested food and by-products can trigger an inflammatory response which may damage the gut lining, creating a vicious cycle.
Comparing Digestive Enzymes
If you need a digestive enzyme, it can be pretty confusing to decide which one is best for you. I hope the comparison below will help you.
In this chart below, I compared the ingredients in three excellent digestive enzymes from Enzyme Science and then discussed the rationale behind when each might be a good choice.
- Many people begin with Complete Digestion as it provides a “good coverage” of digestive enzymes for a reasonable price.
- If there is a requirement for a more potent digestive enzyme (more proteases, amylases lipases and across the board more other enzymes), Critical Digestion is a good option.
- People with specific food sensitivities often utilize Intolerance Complex in situations when they are unable to avoid foods they have trouble digesting or are eating out and not exactly sure how their meal is prepared.
