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.
