Digestive Enzymes
Our bodies (liver, pancreas, gallbladder) produce both digestive and metabolic enzymes
Digestive enzymes are secreted along the digestive tract to break down food into smaller parts that can be absorbed, transported and utilized by every cell in your body.
Metabolic enzymes work within cells to carry out a variety of functions related to detoxification, reproduction and replenishment.
So why are enzyme supplements helpful?
Raw foods contain the enzymes necessary to digest them but processing and cooking destroys them. In addition to heat, enzymes are also very sensitive to shifts in pH, which is why different enzymes work in different parts of your digestive tract, based on the pH each enzyme needs in order to function. Candida alters pH causing damage to some key digestive enzymes. Diets high in sugar and processed foods, along with overuse of antibiotics and other drugs also depletes your body’s ability to make enzymes. Your capacity for enzyme production declines with age.Digestive Enzyme deficiency results in poor digestion and poor nutrient absorption. This creates a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms, including: Constipation, bloating, wind, heartburn and acid reflux. Also, the body is forced to divert it’s production of enzymes, which govern metabolic functions into digestive enzymes to break down dead proteins in our diet. The consequence of this diversion can be a weakened immune system, thickened blood, cardiovascular disease, pain and inflammation.
Take a Digestive Enzyme complex with your meals to help break down food in your stomach. This will ease many digestive symptoms (pain, bloating, gas) and help you absorb nutrients. Specific enzymes (protease and lipase) will also break down the wastes of candida – reducing “die-off” symptoms.
