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Enzymes and Probiotics are
Keys to Healthy Digestion
The gastrointestinal system is a complex network of organs and glands that helps
us break down and absorb nutrients. The food we consume is processed by the
gastrointestinal system in six phases:
I. Mental Preparation: prepares the stomach for the food being consumed.
II. Ingestion: the actual consumption of food (eating).
III. Peristalsis: the movement of food through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
IV. Digestion: the breakdown of food by both mechanical and chemical processes.
V. Absorption: the passage of digested food from the digestive tract into the
vascular and lymphatic systems for distribution to the cells.
VI. Elimination: the elimination of indigestible substances and waste products
from the body.
Digestion itself is divided into two categories: mechanical and chemical.
Mechanical digestion refers to the physical movement that aids chemical digestion.
After the initial breakdown by chewing, food is churned by the smooth muscles of
the stomach and the small intestine. This step also introduces enzymes and the
start of chemical digestion.
Chemical digestion is a series of complex chemical reactions that break down
large carbohydrate, lipid, and protein molecules into molecules small enough to
enter the blood vessels. Chemical digestion occurs through the action of several
different enzymes, such as amylases, proteases, and lipases.
For optimal digestion to occur, all these processes must work together in a
synchronized fashion. If any part of this complex system is out of balance,
physiological problems result that may eventually lead to an array of chronic conditions.
Q. How important are enzymes to
digestion?
A. Without enzymes, digestion could not
take place and the food we eat could
not be absorbed and utilized by our
bodies. Enzymes are complex proteins
produced by living cells and they start
chemical reactions in the body. Enzymes
are present in the digestive juices. The
pancreas secretes nearly 1.5 quarts of
pancreatic juice into the small intestine
daily. Within this juice we find enzymes
that act upon food, breaking it down
into simpler components the body can
use for energy.
Q. What happens if digestive enzymes
don't work adequately?
A. Inadequate digestion is thought to be
a significant cause of food allergies.
When not digested completely, food can
initiate allergic reactions in the body,
causing inflammation and immune
sensitivity. This can lead to chronic
inflammatory conditions and certain
types of autoimmune diseases, such as
rheumatoid arthritis.
Q. What enzymes are involved in the
digestion process?
A. Although many enzymes are part of
the digestion process, the three main
ones are amylase, protease, and lipase.
Other enzymes, such as sucrase, lactase,
and maltase, have a significant
secondary function in digestion.
Amylase breaks down carbohydrates.
Saliva contains amylase, which initiates
the digestion of dietary starches.
Pancreatic secretions also contain
amylase, which breaks down starch into
several disaccharides (simpler
molecules).
Disaccharides, which include lactose,
maltose, and sucrose, are further broken
down into simple sugars by the enzymes
lactase, maltase, and sucrase
respectively. These simple sugars can then be absorbed through the small
intestine to help energy production.
Proteases break down protein. Protein
digestion begins in the stomach with the
action of the protease, pepsin. The
stomach's acidic environment activates
this enzyme. Pepsin is deactivated in the
alkaline environment of the intestine.
However, certain plant based proteases
remain active even in more alkaline
environments.
Proteins are further broken down by
pancreatic enzymes in the alkaline
environment of the intestine. Most
proteins are ultimately broken down into
amino acids, the building blocks of life.
Lipases break down fat. Fat digestion
accelerates in the second part of the
small intestine with the action of the
pancreatic lipases. These enzymes break
down fat into essential fatty acids. The
lipase enzymes, along with bile salts, are
responsible for the absorption of the
fat-soluble vitamins: A, D, E, and K.
HEALTH FACT:
Plant enzymes are able to survive a broader range of pH
differences and provide a wider range of activity throughout the gastrointestinal tract.
Q.What is the difference between
plant enzymes and animal enzymes?
A. Animal enzymes, particularly
porcine-derived enzymes, closely
resemble human digestive enzymes. For
this reason, many experts believe animal
enzymes are effective for specific
applications. In general, animal enzymes
are more sensitive to pH extremes. To
compensate for this pH sensitivity, many
of the animal enzyme formulas sold as
dietary supplements contain
bicarbonates to protect the enzymes
from stomach acid.
Plant enzymes are derived from fungal or
botanical sources. These enzymes areable to survive a
broader range of pH
differences and provide
a wider range of
activity throughout the
gastrointestinal tract.
Also, plant enzymes
may be preferred by people who wish to
avoid animal-derived products.
Q. What other dietary supplements or
enzymes could support digestive
health?
A. There are many dietary supplements
effective at supporting digestive health.
Probiotic supplements, in particular,
offer a myriad of health benefits.
Q. What are probiotics?
A. Probiotics are beneficial nontoxic live
bacteria that are necessary for life and
do not cause disease (non-pathogenic).
The probiotic bacteria most commonly
studied include members of the
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium group.
Because of the Lactobacillus and
Bifidobacterium's ability to break down
lactose, these probiotic bacteria are also
known as lactic acid bacteria. Both of
these probiotic bacteria are well-studied
and are available in foods and dietary
supplements.
Q. Why are probiotic bacteria
important for digestive health?
A. Colonies of bacteria in the intestine
are called "microflora". While a normal
microflora is associated with good
health, changes in intestinal health are
associated with weakened immune
function. An imbalance in the natural
microflora is frequently associated with
various disease states such as yeast
infections and colon cancer.
Oral ingestion of probiotic bacteria helps
support and modify the composition and
metabolic activities of the large intestine
microflora. Microflora of the large
intestine assist digestion through fermentation (lowering the pH of the
intestine, making it more acidic and
inhospitable to invading species);
protect against disease causing bacteria;
and stimulate the development of
certain immune system components.
Lactic acid bacteria have a central role
in the gut flora enabling them to
influence the composition of the flora for health benefits
HEALTH FACT:
Probiotic bacteria need to be ingested regularly for their
health-promoting effects to persist.
Probiotic bacteria also have been
demonstrated to have anti-cancer
properties. In a study, colon cancer
patients given L. acidophilus fermented
milk showed significantly increased
numbers of intestinal Lactobacilli and
decreased risk factors associated with
colon cancer.
Lactose is an important sugar that is
converted to lactic acid by lactic acid
bacteria.Lactose intolerance results
from an inability to digest lactose, due
to the failure of small intestine mucosal
cells to produce lactase, an enzyme
needed to digest lactose.This often
results because of genetics,
gastrointestinal disease, or because of
the decline in the amount of intestinal
lactase levels associated with aging.
Lactase deficient people accumulate
nonabsorbed lactose in the
gastrointestinal tract, which draws water
and electrolytes into the gut and
accelerates transit time, leading to
bloating, cramping, diarrhea, and
malabsorption of nutrients. Lactic acid
bacteria have been shown to support the
breakdown of lactose, specifically by
enhancing the activity of lactase (beta
galactosidase), which improves lactose
digestion and tolerance.
Q. How often should probiotics be
taken to ensure optimal support of
the digestion system?
A. Although probiotic bacteria may
survive passage through the stomach,
they do not permanently colonize in the
body and need to be replenished.
Therefore, they need to be ingested
regularly for their health-promoting
effects to persist.
Conclusion
Everything our body has ever been or
ever will be is dependent upon nutrition.
Every building block, every bone cell,
even the sheen of our hair, is the result
of the food we eat. But what good does
it do to select high quality food if its
nutrients are not fully absorbed?
Enzymes that assure greater levels of
digestion and absorption of your food,
and probiotic bacteria that keep
problems in check, can make a huge
difference in your health. Try a broad
spectrum, plant-based, pure enzyme
product from a quality manufacturer with
each meal for one week. Or, for enzymes
that more closely resemble those
naturally found in your digestive tract,
consider pancreatic enzymes that deliver
ten times the digestive power than the
minimum activity specified by the
United States Pharmacopeia (USP).
You'll feel an immediate difference.
Couple the enzyme product with a
quality probiotic product that contains
both Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria.
Find a probiotic that says the bacteria are guaranteed to be alive in the numbers stated on the label until the date printed on the bottle.
The bacteria should also be encapsulated in a coating that will protect them from stomach acid so that they reach your intestines alive and ready to go to work.
Again, try these two kinds of supplements for even a week. As good as the short-term results are, the long term results are even better.
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