Digestive Enzymes.

Digestive Enzymes.

Here are a few basics about how the digestive  process works and the enzymes you need to stay well…

When any meal begins, the body enters into mechanical digestion mode. This is the chewing and  masticating  your food to break it into bits that can pass through your oesophagus. Most of us don’t think much about what happens next, but knowing what’s going on, may make it easier to stop the bloat.With food broken down from large to small, digestion kicks into chemical mode. This is when enzymes come into play. Enzymes are proteins that break down the food you ingest into even smaller particles, taking them all the way down to their simplest chemical forms – the forms your body can use. Enzymes help the nutrients get to your blood so they can go where your body needs them most. Between the yum in your mouth, and the comfortably full feeling in your belly, there are an army of digestive enzymes hard at work.

Here’s what happens with each meal..

Enzymes for Carbohydrates

The saliva in your mouth actually has a big purpose. It holds amolytic enzymes( derived from starch), like ptyalin and amylase. They get to work breaking down carbs in the form of starches and sugars so the simplified nutrients can make their way to your bloodstream.

A fair amount of carbohydrate digestion happens in the mouth, but carb digestion finishes in the small intestine, thanks to enzymes like maltase, lactase, sucrase and pancreatic amylase.

The more simple or refined the carb, the faster and harder they hit your bloodstream, which is one reason why complex carbs, plant based sources of carbohydrates ( baked sweet potato or the roasted broccoli) are a better choice than the white bread stuffing.

Enzymes for Fats

Is  the fatty gravy and creamy sauces your downfall? When fats find their way into your GI tract, it is the lipolytic enzymes in your small intestine that come into play. Unlike those carbs that digest quickly during that turkey-coma nap, fats may take upwards of 40 hours to fully break down into glycerol and fatty acids, thanks to gastric lipase, which transforms fats into fatty acids and glycerides.You need a healthy pancreas, gallbladder and liver as well as bile to break that pat of butter down.

Enzymes for Protein

Proteolytic enzymes like pepsin, trypsin and chymotrypsin, living in the super acidic environment of your stomach, break down proteins into smaller peptides, amino acids and aromatic amino acids. From here, simpler protein molecules called peptides pass into the small intestine where they are neutralized and absorbed into your bloodstream.  Your body was made to make all the enzymes you need to turn your dinner into energy and waste and it’s often up to the task (even if you overload it). But ageing and consumption of processed foods can affect the amount of enzymes you have available. If you need a little help fighting post-meal bloat  you may want to give enzyme supplements a try.

Supplementing your digestive enzymes with a supplement is key for surviving big meals throughout the holidays.

For optimal digestion, it’s best to take a supplement before eating your dinner)! Look for supplemental enzymes that are organic, non-GMO and with high potency. #Solgar #PatrickHolford #Nature'sGold all do good quality digestive enzymes. 

For large meals like Christmas dinner, try a supplement that can break down carbohydrates, fats, fibre and protein helping the body absorb nutrients and convert food into energy.