Enzymes: Why they are so important for digestion

Where would we be without them: enzymes? They keep our digestion on the go, enable the absorption of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, promote the regeneration of cells, the elimination of waste and toxins, and the immune system. As biocatalysts, they enable reactions that would otherwise take place only very slowly or not at all. Enzymes play an important role in all areas of bodily function, but a very special one in the digestive system. If there were no digestive enzymes, we would excrete everything again without having absorbed and utilized a single nutrient. The same applies to vitamins, minerals and hormones: without enzymes, they could not do their work effectively, even if they were present in sufficient quantities. In today’s article, you will learn which enzymes are particularly important and how you can influence and improve their function.

Little time, but you don’t want to miss anything? Here are the facts !

• Enzymes play an important role in all areas of bodily function, but a very special one in the digestive system.
• If there were no digestive enzymes, we would eliminate everything without having absorbed and utilized a single nutrient.
• Enzymes are proteins that are found in all cells and are involved in almost all metabolic processes.
• The number of naturally occurring enzymes is gigantic. Even in ordinary E. coli intestinal bacteria, 500 different enzymes are active, and there are probably more than 100,000 enzymes in total.
• The “peak” of enzyme release is about 60 minutes after the start of the meal and lasts up to four hours.
• The degree of enzyme secretion is also determined by calorie density — the more calories we consume, the more enzyme secretion is released.
• In addition to the body’s own enzymes, many foods also contain enzymes that aid digestion. Food or plant enzymes have the same function as digestive enzymes and come from fresh, raw, and uncooked foods
• Pineapple, papaya and ginger support the digestion and utilization of proteins

Brief general information

Enzymes are proteins found in all cells and are involved in almost all metabolic processes. Enzymes are very specific in terms of the substrate they convert and the reaction they catalyze. In addition, enzymes can be regulated in many ways — and with them the entire metabolism. Since enzymes are involved in all metabolic processes, their distribution and the quantity present can be used to check whether the respective metabolic process is functioning regularly in the body. The suffix “-ase” in the name already indicates that a molecule is an enzyme.
The number of naturally occurring enzymes is gigantic. Even in ordinary E. coli intestinal bacteria, 500 different enzymes are active. The structure and mode of action of about 5000 enzymes are known in detail, but there are probably more than 100,000 enzymes in total. The particular advantage of enzymes is their specificity: they act very precisely and usually without “side effects” — a given enzyme always carries out only one specific reaction.
Enzymes are also suitable tools for removing undesirable substances or substances that are incompatible with certain groups of people from foods: they can break down lactose to produce lactose-free dairy products; they can also reduce the gluten content in cereal products.

Which enzymes are relevant for digestion?

When we eat, even before the food arrives in the small intestine, the olfactory stimulus, the taste and also the stomach distension ensure the production and release of digestive enzymes. The “peak” of enzyme release is about 60 minutes after the start of the meal and lasts up to four hours. The degree of enzyme secretion is also determined by caloric density — the more calories we eat, the more enzyme secretion is released. Most relevant to digestion are the so-called LAP enzymes, a mixture of the following three digestive enzymes:

• Lipases: These enzymes break down fats into free fatty acids and glycerol.
• Amylases: They convert carbohydrates into simple sugars; some of them are already formed in the mouth.
• Proteases: These digestive enzymes break down proteins into individual amino acids.

The resulting basic building blocks can now be absorbed through the intestinal mucosa of the small intestine. A corresponding amount of these digestive enzymes is released with each meal, but in the case of too large portions and an excess of fat or protein, this can quickly lead to overload. The food can no longer be completely broken down, so that undigested food components such as fats, proteins and carbohydrates are further broken down by intestinal bacteria. The result is gas, which leads to bloating, flatulence, premature satiety and pain in the upper abdomen.

In addition to the body’s own enzymes, many foods also contain enzymes that support digestion. Food or plant enzymes have the same function as digestive enzymes with the exception that food or plant enzymes come from fresh, raw and uncooked foods, such as vegetables, lettuce, etc. They are highly sensitive to heat and are therefore destroyed even when heated to over 50°C.

Enzyme-rich foods

Pineapples are among the top enzyme-rich foods because they contain the important digestive enzyme bromelain. This protease breaks down proteins into their smallest building blocks, amino acids, and thus supports the digestion and utilization of proteins. In addition, bromelain supports the pancreas in the production of enzymes. The better utilization of proteins is essential, especially for the muscle-building phase, and larger amounts of proteins are also easier to digest and lead less to unpleasant flatulence.

Papaya is another tropical fruit rich in enzymes and contains the protease papain. Studies have shown that papain can likewise help relieve digestive symptoms such as bloating or constipation. Ginger has also been used for thousands of years as a natural remedy for digestive problems — some of ginger’s many health benefits can be attributed to its digestive enzymes. Namely, ginger contains the protease zingibain, which can break down proteins into tiny amino acids. Avocados support the more complex digestion of fats because they contain the digestive enzyme lipase. Unlike other fruits, they are rich in healthy fats and very low in sugar. Just like the body’s own lipase, the avocado’s helps break down fat molecules into fatty acids and glycerol and thus supports the body right away in digesting the fats supplied by the avocado.

How are the body’s own enzymes influenced?

In addition to what we eat and drink every day, environmental influences and our body’s reactions also have an impact on digestion. With increasing age, the body’s own production of enzymes and their release decreases. Psychological stress or environmental pollution can also be responsible for the body no longer being able to maintain sufficient enzyme production. Especially under these conditions, it is enormously important to supply the body with sufficient enzymes from raw fruits and vegetables.

Text Sources:

(1) Enzyme Nutrition — The Food Enzyme Concept by Dr. Edward Howell, M.D., Avery Publishing 1985

Image Sources:

(2) https://www.freepik.com/search?dates=any&format=search&page=1&query=pineapple%20papaya&sort=popular