Enzymes And Why They're Good for Digestion

As interest in food intolerance grows, supplemental digestive enzymes are gaining traction with consumers. So what exactly are these enzymes? Should you be taking them?

Enzymes: concept

Enzymes are an essential part of a healthy digestive system and are naturally produced by the body. They help accelerate the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats and proteins into simple compounds that your body can absorb and burn for energy or use to repair tissue. Most fall within three categories:

• Proteases that break down protein
• Lipases that break down fat
• Amylases that break down carbohydrates

The benefits of their consumption

There are a handful of circumstances in which supplemental digestive enzymes offer a very clear benefit. Such is the case of lactase, required by the body to break down and absorb milk sugar.

We lose the ability to naturally produce lactase as we're aging into our twenties. This makes dairy products difficult to be comfortably digested. Rates of lactose intolerance are much higher among African Americans and those of Hispanic origin as compared to Caucasians. For dairy-loving folks with lactose intolerance, lactase enzyme supplements are widely available and effective—if taken at a sufficient dose along with dairy foods.

For those who adhere to “high-fiber” diets (e.g. vegetarians and vegans), alpha-galactosidase (e.g. Beano) helps to effectively relieve gas and bloating by breaking down certain non-digestible sugars found in many plant foods (particularly beans/legumes).

If you’re considering the use of specialty enzymes, it’s smart to look for products with an “enteric coating.” This helps ensure the enzymes within the capsule make it into your intestine, since many cannot survive stomach acid. Note: lactase easily survive stomach acid and do not need enteric coating.