Digestive Enzymes

Enzymes are proteins that facilitate or help other reactions in the body to occur. There are several kinds of enzymes. Today we will talk about the ones primarily used for digestion and breaking down food.

Enzymes are necessary to help break down and extract vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids from our foods. Did you know that digestion begins in the mouth? Our saliva contains enzymes amylase and lingual lipase that help break down starches and fat. Then, once in our stomach the food is mixed with other enzymes, and the breakdown continues.

If you are deficient in certain nutrients you could also be deficient in enzymes; certain nutrients are needed for the body to produce enzymes. Mineral deficiencies can decrease pancreatic secretions (enzymes), as can eating too much sugar and too much along with the wrong kind, of fat. Leaky gut and of course chronic stress also plays a negative role.

If you have had a poor diet, had too much sugar, fat or alcohol or are ill, you may be deficient and it may be a good idea to supplement. Popular are the organic glandular pork. There are also beef or lamb pancreatic enzymes and then there are plant derived, made from fungal antigens. Basically enzymes are taken with meals to help with the assimilation of food.

You want to extract as much nutrients as possible from the foods you eat. If you feel you may need some help in this area My trusted source for a glandular is this one from Klaire Labs.

Some, perhaps because of allergies or other reasons may prefer a plant enzyme such as Similase from Integrative Therapies .

Dairy sensitivity is a common one because some do not have enough lactase, the enzyme in the gut that helps digest milk sugars and this causes milk to be an irritant You may be lactase deficient if you experience bloating, gas or pain after digesting dairy. In that case this enzyme supplement from Integrative Therapies, Similase GFCF could be of benefit.

(Note: This post contains affiliate links. Read our full disclosure here)