Enzymes - the secret to healthy digestion

Enzymes - the secret to healthy digestion

Our body’s primary way of getting nutrition and energy is from eating healthy food. Digestion releases nutrition into our bodies; without it, a healthy fruit like an orange is just an orange. Through digestion, an orange is converted into vitamin C, folic acid, potassium and fibre which nourishes every cell in our body, giving us vitality and strength. Eating food is just a small part of maintaining a healthy body; digestion is what truly makes the difference.

The work of digesting food is done by digestive enzymes. Once you understand how important digestion is to your health, you can start to understand why you need to take very good care of your digestive system. Be aware of any bloating, cramping or wind that follows eating, as these are early clues, that indicate you may have digestive problems.

Chewing is the first stage of the digestion process. We do this to break food down into smaller parts. Nutrients and minerals in food are so small they can only be viewed under a microscope. Our food must reach this microscopic level of breakdown before it can give us any nutritional benefit. Once food is swallowed, we can no longer rely on teeth or physical tools to blend it. Instead, our body uses stomach acid and digestive enzymes. In our stomach, chewed food is broken down into a fluid called chyme. It is then sent into our small intestine where it is broken down even further and then continues through our bloodstream to nourish our body. So, what are digestive enzymes, and how do they work?

The following are key digestive enzymes, each tackling different components of our food.

1.           Protease

When we eat proteins like meat, fish and eggs, we need the digestive enzyme protease, to break them down and release the nutritional benefits. Protein is vital for our muscles and organs to work properly.  It is used to build organs like our heart and our blood is also made from it.

When we are properly digesting protein, we stay fuller for longer. However, food cravings and hunger pangs for meat, fish, or eggs could signal that we are not digesting proteins properly and need to absorb more. Another sign that we are not getting enough protein is feeling hungry soon after a meal or feeling that food stays in our stomach for too long.

To digest proteins, our body needs protease. Our body naturally makes proteases because protein is essential for health. Proteases can also be found in fruits like pineapple and papaya, which contain small amounts of plant proteases to help us digest. This is why we often see meals with protein and fruit together, like gammon and pineapple.

2.           Amylase

Amylase is a digestive enzyme that we produce naturally and helps to break down carbohydrates. Carbs are our body’s favourite source of energy and large quantities are found in fruits, vegetables, potatoes and pasta.

A craving for junk foods, is a sign that we may not be properly digesting carbohydrates. This happens when our body needs a quick energy fix that it’s not receiving from our diet. If you suffer from bloating, belching or burping after eating a high carbohydrate meal like pizza or  pasta, this may be a sign that you are intolerant to carbohydrate.

If you feel that your body is lacking in amylase, you could try some raw and fermented foods such as honey where it occurs naturally.

3.           Lipase

Lipase is an enzyme made by our body to digest fat. We need fat to support our eye, skin, hormone and brain health. Healthy fat is found in oily foods like salmon, olives, nuts and avocadoes. Some of our most important nutrients, like vitamins A, D, E and K are also oils. So good fat digestion is vital for us to be able to break down and absorb these beneficial fats.

If you don’t digest fat properly, you may experience dry hair, skin or nails. Other signs of insufficient fat digestion include heartburn or burping after eating a fatty meal or floating stools that are greasy and strong-smelling.

Lipase is found naturally in some foods like Kimchi and Miso. However, natural sources of lipase are rare and usually, a specialist enzyme supplement will be required to help with fat digestion problems.

In Conclusion

Digestive enzymes are critical for extracting the nutrition from the food we eat, maintaining optimum health. When your body cannot produce sufficient enzymes, identifying which enzyme(s) you are deficient in, can help you determine which foods to add to your diet.

If changes to your diet don’t have the desired effect, digestive enzyme supplements are another option. They work best when made from full-spectrum formulas, containing multiple digestive enzymes that address every food group.

Cura Nutrition’s CuraBlend™ technology is an enzyme blending process.  Multiple variants of each digestive enzyme category are carefully selected and blended to be effective throughout the entire human digestive tract. Most supplemental enzyme formulas are only effective or active within a very narrow pH range, so it is important to choose an enzyme formula that will be active throughout the entire digestive tract.  Also, it is important to check the ingredients label and avoid any products that contain fillers such as magnesium stearate, apple pectin or rice starch.

Cura Nutrition’s CuraZyme Ultra is a strong enzyme blend that quickly breaks down proteins, carbs, fats and fibres. This vegan and Kosher supplement is formulated with 13 different digestive enzymes, Magnesium citrate, phytase and CoQ10 in an easy to swallow capsule.