Digestive enzymes Digestion is a vital physical process, during which food that is consumed is broken down into a basic form that can be used by the body. The mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus are the organs that comprise our digestive system. The process begins in the mouth with chewing of food, carries on in the stomach and small intestine where the food is chemically broken down by the digestive juices and enzymes and ultimately completes in the large intestine. The gastrointestinal (GI) or digestive tract is made up of these digestive organs that take in food, digest it to absorb essential nutrients and energy and eventually expel the remaining waste. Digestive enzymes are complex proteins that stimulate chemical changes in other substances, are found in the digestive tract and are used by the body to break down food into nutrients which are then digested. Our bodies produce around 22 different digestive enzymes, each of which acts on a different classification of food. They work optimally at a specific temperature and pH. They are secreted by particular glands in the body, including the salivary glands, the stomach and pancreas glands and the glands in the small intestines. These enzymes also have specific sites of action, including the oral cavity, the stomach, the duodenum and the jejunum. They are present in fruits, vegetables, meat and other foods. Many of these enzymes, produced from plants and animals, are sold as food form supplements and are used (together with probiotics) to help support the symptoms of a varied selection of digestive system complaints, including irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, bloating and heartburn. Without digestive enzymes, we could not survive. Our body's reactions would be too slow for life to be a possibility, because they are involved in virtually everything that takes place in the body. How do digestive enzymes work? The human body makes over 3,000 kinds of enzymes that quicken chemical reactions and preserve energy. Digestive enzymes, which are only a few of the thousands of known enzymes, break down the foods we eat into basic building blocks that our body then absorbs and reassembles to build cells, tissues, organs, glands and body systems. These enzymes are made by the body to help break down food into nutrients and waste. The nutrient molecules must be digested into small enough particles to be absorbed through the lining of the small intestine. When we don't produce enough digestive enzymes to complete this process properly, gas, bloating and more severe health issues may take place. They come from two sources: • internal • and external. Internally, the digestive system secretes the enzymes found in saliva, the stomach, pancreas and intestines. Externally, living and raw food is arguably the best source. Food digestive enzymes are found in raw foods. Unprocessed whole foods contain most of the enzymes required for digesting that specific food. This is one reason why it's vital to include many raw foods in our diets. It relieves the stress on the body having to produce all the digestive system enzymes itself, which are needed for food digestion. Chewing raw food releases these enzymes and digestion begins. Our own enzymes then assist in this process. What are the possible benefits of digestive enzymes? Caffeine, alcohol, illness, pregnancy, stress, severe weather and exercise all have an impact on our enzyme reserves. Notably, our bodies also produce less as we age. By the age 35, the production of enzymes in the stomach, pancreas and small intestines begins to decline. Enzyme production in the body decreases by 30% in most adults over 50. But, one of the main reasons we don't digest food efficiently is due to the processed food in our diets. Our diets don't contain as much raw food as they did previously, and modern food processing techniques and cooking destroy nearly all of the enzymes naturally present in food. Even raw food doesn't contain as many enzymes as it once did, because of environmental factors, depleted soil and preservation techniques. The body tries to compensate by making more internal digestive enzymes to compensate for the lack of external plant enzymes. Enzyme-deficient food puts pressure on the digestive system that it wasn't intended to handle. Incomplete digestion can lead to deficient nutrient absorption, tiredness, digestive upset, food allergies and other health conditions. Partly digested food particles escaping from the gut have the potential to cause an immune response, affecting the immune system. The body may also "steal" enzymes from the immune system, compromising it even further. It is thought by many that digestive enzymes play a vital role in helping the systems of the body, including the digestive system and colon, to function properly. If your body is enzyme deficient, it could potentially lead to a wide variety of health issues. * Before changing your diet or taking health supplements, it is recommended to consult your doctor or qualified health practitioner (particularly if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medications).   © Specialist Supplements Ltd 2011  0845 094 3627 [Allergy] [Bad Breath] [Bloating] [Colitis] [Constipation] [Crohn’s Disease] [Diarrhea] [Diverticulitis] [Flatulence] [Halitosis] [Irritable Bowel Syndrome] [IBS] [Indigestion] [Leaky Gut Syndrome] [ibsdiarrhea.hypermart.net/1] [Lactobacillus acidophilus and Plantarum probiotic bacterium] [Probiotic Bacteria] [HTML Sitemap] [Diets and Health Information] [Natural Menopause Herbs] [Weight Loss Pages] [Probiotic and Herbal Supplements] [ibsdiarrhea.hypermart.net/2]   Your health is your responsibility Suppliers of probiotic bacteria supplements Suppliers of probiotic bacteria supplements This is an information site only! 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