Optimal digestion hinges on the natural release of digestive enzymes. These enzymes play a vital role in breaking down food into essential macronutrients, fuelling every aspect of our bodily functions. Throughout the digestive process, a range of enzymes, including amylase in saliva and proteases, lipases, and carbohydrases in the small intestines, work diligently to facilitate nutrient absorption.
What Causes Enzyme Deficiency?
Various lifestyle factors and environmental influences can diminish our natural enzyme production. Exposure to pollutants, mineral or nutrient deficiencies, stress, and inadequate sleep can all impact enzyme secretion. Additionally, ageing often leads to a decline in enzyme production. Consequently, individuals over 30 would benefit from incorporating a digestive enzyme supplement into their daily routine.
Dietary choices also play a significant role in enzyme deficiency. Consumption of cooked or processed foods can denature the natural enzymes present in raw ingredients, hindering the digestive process. Fast food and heavily processed meals, notorious for their low digestibility, often necessitate enzyme supplementation to aid digestion effectively.
Supporting Healthy Digestion
Insufficient digestion, characterized by symptoms such as gas, bloating, and indigestion, can lead to chronic inflammation and nutrient malabsorption. Recognising signs like fatigue after meals or food intolerance can indicate poor digestive enzyme function. Supplementing with digestive enzymes can help optimise nutrient absorption and alleviate discomfort associated with poor digestion.
Choosing the Right Digestive Enzyme Supplement
Selecting a high-quality digestive enzyme supplement is crucial for optimal digestive health. When evaluating different products, pay attention to the label's enzyme potency or activity level rather than just the weight of enzymes listed. Activity levels, measured in FCC Units, provide a more accurate representation of enzyme effectiveness. For example, proteases are measured in HUT, amylases in DU, and lactases in ALU.
In conclusion, incorporating a broad-spectrum digestive enzyme supplement into your daily regimen can support healthy digestion and nutrient absorption, particularly in the face of lifestyle factors and dietary choices that may compromise enzyme production. Choose wisely and prioritise quality when selecting your digestive enzyme supplement.
References
H.B. El-Serag, N.J. Talley. (2004) Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 19(6):643-54.
Ianiro, G., Pecere, S., Giorgio, V., Gasbarrini, A., & Cammarota, G. (2016). Digestive Enzyme Supplementation in Gastrointestinal Diseases. Current drug metabolism, 17(2), 187–193.
Jayachandran, M., Chen, J., Chung, S., & Xu, B. (2017). A critical review on the impacts of B-glucans on gut microbiota and human health. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 61, 101-110.
Sperber, A.D. et al. (2021) “Worldwide prevalence and burden of functional gastrointestinal disorders, results of Rome Foundation Global Study,” Gastroenterology, 160(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2020.04.014
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