Our bodies are incredible machines, capable of taking the food we eat and converting it into fuel. Digestive enzymes are a crucial part of this process. While our bodies typically produce the enzymes we need for digestion, various factors can sometimes hinder this production. When we experience abdominal discomfort, gas, or bloating, that often indicates that our body may not be producing enough of the enzymes we need for digestion. That’s where supplements like Digestiv Ultimate Relief by Pantiva, with its blend of herbs, mushrooms, and enzymes, can help bridge the gap.
What are Digestive Enzymes?
Digestive enzymes are proteins produced by our bodies to help break down food, so we can absorb the nutrients and use them as fuel.
How do they work?
Our bodies produce several types of enzymes that target sugars, fats, and proteins at different stages of the digestive process. Some of the key enzymes include:
Amylase
Amylase is secreted by both the salivary glands and the pancreas. It breaks down starches from carbohydrates into sugars. Given that many foods we eat are rich in carbohydrates, amylase plays a vital role in digestion.
Maltase
Maltase breaks down maltose into glucose. Maltose is commonly found in foods like sweet potatoes, bagels, pizza, edamame, and pancakes. But maltase doesn’t just break down maltose; it also supports amylase by assisting with the breakdown of starch into maltose.
Lactase
Lactase is the enzyme that breaks down lactose, the sugar found in dairy. For those with lactose intolerance, the body produces insufficient lactase, leading to undigested lactose fermenting in the gut, causing gas, bloating, and discomfort.
Lipase
Produced mainly by the pancreas, lipase is responsible for breaking down fats into fatty acids and glycerol. Smaller amounts of lipase can also be found in the mouth and stomach, further assisting in fat digestion.
Proteases
Proteases are a group of enzymes, including pepsin, trypsin, and chymotrypsin, that break down proteins into amino acids. These enzymes are produced in the stomach and pancreas and are essential for protein digestion.
Sucrase
Sucrose is found in all kinds of foods we eat from table sugar to maple syrup to fruits and nuts. Sucrase breaks sucrose down into fructose and glucose, enabling the body to absorb and use sucrose as fuel.
It’s clear digestive enzymes play an integral role in our digestive processes. Along with our newest digestive enzyme product Digestiv Ultimate Relief by Plantiva, we have curated a list of enzyme products designed to enhance your body’s natural digestive processes. You can find those here.
References
Bolen, B. (2024). What are Digestive Enzymes? Verywellhealth.com. https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-are-digestive-enzymes-1945036
Windsor, R. C. (2024). What are Digestive Enzymes? Verywellhealth.com