The Health Benefits of Digestive Enzymes

Are you feeling sluggish and bloated despite eating a whole-food diet? Perhaps you struggle to make time for home cooking and rely on processed food and ready-made meals.

In both cases, a digestive enzyme supplement like our VitaRx Enzyme Formula may help you get the most nutrition out of your food! Digestive enzymes are protein chains naturally produced in the body and secreted by the mouth, stomach, and pancreas. Here are the top five health benefits of digestive enzymes.

What are digestive enzymes?

These biochemical warriors wield their catalyst powers, activating and accelerating the breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and fiber in your gastrointestinal tract. They ensure optimal nutrient absorption, giving you the energy to conquer your day with gusto.

While they're so small that we can't see them and might not think about them regularly, digestive enzymes are critical components of our gut health. Our general gut health impacts our wellness and quality of life more than we might notice at times.

When we have a good microbiota balance, our bodies perform better and feel better. Without that balance, we may feel tired and may have digestive issues. Digestive enzymes play a big part in maintaining that balance.

How does digestive enzyme activity work?

The minute you start chewing your food, enzymes start to break it down and ensure optimal nutrient absorption. They target specific macromolecules—protein, carbohydrates, fats, or dietary fiber—and digest them into small, absorbable molecules that can enter your bloodstream.

Enzymes ensure greater bioavailability of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and simple sugars to help you produce energy efficiently and feel your best! A variety of digestive enzymes target different nutrients (it's important to note that not all of the following are naturally produced in the human body):

• Amylase, glucoamylase, lactase, maltase, invertase, and alpha-galactosidase digest carbohydrates into sugars
• Protease enzymes like pepsin, trypsin, papain, and bromelain digest large protein molecules into usable amino acids and peptide molecules.
• Lipase breaks fats down into fatty acids for easy absorption
• Cellulase is responsible for breaking down indigestible fiber, but it's not normally produced in the human body
• Phytase breaks down the anti-nutrient phytic acid to ensure optimal mineral absorption, but it's not normally produced in the human body

Benefits

1. Supports digestive function

Poor digestion can irritate your digestive tract and cause other issues. They can include issues like bloating, cramping, gas, and constipation.

A 2014 study on digestive problems had them consume a dose of either the drug domperidone or a vegetarian enzyme supplement for five days. Both dosage treatments reduced digestive symptoms, but the digestive enzyme complex reduced abdominal pain more effectively.

2. Reduces food intolerances

Consuming a comprehensive digestive enzyme supplement might help alleviate symptoms of food intolerance like nausea, diarrhea, weight loss, weight gain, and other side effects. In addition, a combination of digestive enzymes, molecules, and nutrients may even help lessen symptoms of digestive conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), although more research is needed.

For example, research shows supplementing with the enzymes lactase and beta-galactosidase may reduce digestive symptoms caused by an intolerance to lactose from dairy products.

3. May enhance muscle protein synthesis

Research suggests that enzymes have the potential to enhance the body's muscle protein synthesis by increasing the absorption of dietary protein. Digestive enzymes support the breakdown of dietary protein into the amino acid building blocks needed for optimal lean muscle growth or muscle protein synthesis (MPS).

For example, a study looked at men who took 50 g of whey protein along with a blend of protease enzymes. Promisingly, total serum amino acid levels were much higher in those who took the digestive enzymes, indicating improved protein absorption.

4. Reduces inflammation

Research suggests certain digestive enzymes may soothe pain and inflammation in the body by breaking down inflammatory molecules, although the exact mechanisms aren't well studied yet. When the enzymatic activity has an inhibitory effect on these models, it can prevent associated pain and discomfort.

Beyond that, enzymatic activity can also promote the body's antioxidant capacity. For example, a 2015 study in the Arthritis Journal found that the protein-digesting enzymes bromelain and trypsin were effective at soothing painful osteoarthritis in the knee as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Research has also found protein enzymes:

• Reduce pain and swelling after a minor surgery
• Minimize exercise-induced muscle soreness and damage

5. Enhanced nutrient absorption

By breaking down macronutrients into their building blocks, digestive enzymes promote optimal absorption of essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids. This may help address nutritional deficiencies and support overall health.

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Signs of digestive enzyme insufficiency

If you experience digestive enzyme deficiency, it can negatively affect your quality of life and overall wellness, causing a few common symptoms and issues. Optimal digestive enzyme activity and production ensure that you obtain all the nutrient building blocks needed for a healthy body and mind. However, levels decline with age and are also affected by:

• Eating a diet high in processed foods and low in raw fruits and vegetables
• Digestive conditions
• Low stomach acid
• Stress
• An imbalance in the gut microbiome
• Pancreatic disease
• Certain medications

Signs of insufficient digestive enzyme activity and production may include gas, bloating, diarrhea, acid reflux, nutritional deficiencies, fatigue, dull skin and hair, and low mood.

At VitaRx, we believe taking a comprehensive digestive enzyme supplement with meals could alleviate some of the pressure on your digestive organs and minimize unpleasant digestive symptoms.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the health benefits of digestive enzymes.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, digestive enzymes are essential for optimal gut health and overall well-being. These enzymes, produced naturally in the body and found in certain plant foods, play a crucial role in breaking down macromolecules like proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and dietary fiber into smaller, absorbable molecules.

By doing so, they enhance nutrient absorption and improve the bioavailability of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and simple sugars.

Sources

• Digestive Enzyme Supplementation in Gastrointestinal Diseases: Ingenta Connect
• Treatment for Lactose Intolerance - NIDDK
• Digestive enzymes reduce quality differences between plant and animal proteins: a double-blind crossover study - PMC
• The Safety and Efficacy of an Enzyme Combination in Managing Knee Osteoarthritis Pain in Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial - PMC
• Effect of proteolytic enzyme bromelain on pain and swelling after removal of third molars
• Current Developments in Nutrition