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Digestive Enzymes

What Are The 4 Main Digestive Enzymes?

Digestive enzymes are proteins that are biological catalysts to facilitate the breaking down of food and absorbing nutrients in your body. These enzymes/substances speed up the process of digestion by breaking down complex molecules in the food into simpler versions that can be absorbed by the body easily. 

There are different types of digestive enzymes in the body. These include:

  • Amylase[Mouth & Pancreas]
  • Maltase[Saliva]
  • Proteases[Pancreas]
  • Lactase[Small Intestine]
  • Lipase[Pancreas]
  • Sucrase[Small Intestine]

While amylase breaks down starches & carbohydrates into sugars, protease converts proteins into amino acids. Lipase breaks down fats & oils, known as lipids, into glycerol and fatty acids, and Maltase, found in saliva, breaks the sugar maltose into glucose. 

Further, lactase is an enzyme found in the small intestine that breaks lactose, the sugar in milk, into glucose & galactose. Proteases convert proteins into amino acids and contribute to many vital body functions, including cell function & blood clotting. Sucrase is found in the intestines, along the intestinal villi, and breaks down sugar into glucose & fructose. 

What Do Digestive Enzymes Do For Your Body?

Digestive enzymes help catalyze the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients in the body. Further, whenever a cell divides, the enzymes in our body help to replicate the DNA by uncoiling the DNA strands. Moreover, the enzymes found in the liver eliminate toxins in the body and keep us healthy.

Do Digestive Enzymes Make You Poop?

Some foods, such as processed foods, are difficult to digest and produce a lot of waste in the body. This could lead to the waste fermenting and forming a coating on the intestine walls and housing harmful bacteria. As the passage becomes narrower while the layer thickens, it becomes difficult for stool to pass through, causing constipation.

Taking digestive enzyme supplements aids in promoting gastrointestinal health and easing the process of digestion more efficiently. While laxatives or constipation medicines could help for immediate relief, digestive enzymes can help your body in the long run- be it for regular bowel movement, relief in digestive inflammation, and maintaining a healthy balance of probiotics.

What Foods Have Digestive Enzymes?

There are some foods you can take, in addition to digestive enzyme supplements, to enrich your gastrointestinal health. Some of these include:

  • Fruits: pineapple, mango, bananas, papaya, tomatoes
  • Vegetables: carrots, spinach, 
  • Honey
  • Fermented foods liek kimchi & sauerkraut  
  • Ginger
  • Avocados 

Enzymes exist in raw food items, and cooking may kill them, because of which some people may need to take supplements. Unlock the goodness of healthy foods with digestive enzymes through our curated the best collection of good food recipes. Nourish your body while enjoying flavorful dishes that support digestion, making every meal a wholesome and enjoyable experience. 

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fresh fruits falling in water

What Are Examples Of Enzymes?

The human cell contains about 1300 varieties of enzymes that catalyze hundreds of thousands of different reactions to help the body and senses to function. Enzymes require optimum pH and temperature to function correctly. For example, if your stomach doesn’t produce enough acid, pepsin wouldn’t be able to break down the macromolecules into proteins. Some of the commonly found enzymes in the human body are amylase, lactase, lipase, Maltase, peptidase, gelatinase, and protease.

What Are The 4 Functions Of Enzymes?

Digestive enzymes play crucial roles in the body. For instance, Diabetes Care Solution’s Digestive Enzyme Pro Blend helps in:

  • Breaking down food to generate energy
  • Providing antioxidant benefits that can reduce digestive inflammation
  • Maintaining a healthy balance of probiotics
  • Promoting gut health and overall well-being of the body
  • Possibly aid in balancing cholesterol levels
  • Reducing the harsh effects of seasonal allergies
  • Contributing to better managing body weight

Furthermore, digestive enzymes in our body catalyze cell regeneration, boost immunity, generate energy for different activities, eliminate toxins, including carcinogens, and purify blood flow. 

How Do I Choose Digestive Enzymes?

How do you know if your body needs digestive enzymes as supplements? One of the first signs to watch out for is the ill-health of your digestive system. While some foods are rich in enzymes, they aid only the digestion of the food being consumed. There are digestive enzyme supplements you can take after consulting with your doctor for long-term benefits. 

Diabetes Care Solution’s supplements contain an enzyme blend of:

  • Fungal Protease from
  • Aspergillus oryzae
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus
  • Lactobacillus casei
  • Lactobacillus plantarum

You can consume one capsule twice a day or as directed by your doctor. 

How Do I Know If I Need Digestive Enzymes?

When your body cannot produce enough enzymes, it becomes difficult to break down complex food into simpler nutrients that the body can absorb. As a result, the individual can face many digestive disorders- lactose intolerance, for instance, happens when the small intestine cannot produce enough lactase enzyme to break down the natural sugar, i.e., lactose in milk or any such diary products.

Constipation, irregular bowel movements, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and undigested food in stools are signs of enzyme deficiency.  

Is It Ok To Take Digestive Enzymes Every Day?

Always check with your doctor before taking any supplements. You can consume one capsule of Diabetes Care Solution’s digestive enzyme supplements twice daily. For best results, take it half an hour before a meal or as instructed by your healthcare professional.

Can Digestive Enzymes Be Harmful?

After consulting with your doctor and taking the required dosage, digestive enzyme supplements typically are safe unless there is any allergic reaction. Some people could have side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping.

Posted in Nutrition

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