How Digestive Enzymes Work

Digestive enzymes begin their predigestive work in the upper stomach. All digestive enzymes are primarily used to aid the digestion of foods and absorption of nutrients, especially protein. If proteins are not completely digested, undigested protein particles may make their way into the bloodstream through the intestinal wall with other nutrients. This phenomenon is known as Leaky Gut Syndrome, and it can result in allergic reactions that may be more or less severe, depending upon the strength of the immune system. This is one reason why the proper digestion of proteins is so important.

The enzymes in your mouth, help to break down food, and the enzymes that get secreted in the stomach are called gastric enzymes.

The main digestive gland in our body is the pancreas, The pancreas works at secreting these enzymes.

How Digestive Enzymes Work In The Digestive System

Foods such as meat, eggs, and beans consist of giant molecules of protein that must be digested by enzymes before they can be used to build and repair body tissues. An enzyme in the juice of the stomach starts the digestion of swallowed protein. Then in the small intestine, several enzymes from the pancreatic juice and the lining of the intestine complete the breakdown of huge protein molecules into small molecules called amino acids. These small molecules can be absorbed through the small intestine into the blood and then be carried to all parts of the body to build the walls and other parts of cells.

How Digestive Enzymes Work The Small Intestine

The small intestine receives the enzymes lipase, trypsin and amylase from the pancreas. They are then transported from the pancreas to the duodenum through the pancreatic duct. Protein, fats and starch are broken down into smaller molecules. However, they are not fully broken down yet. This causes the enzymes of the small intestine to act upon them.

These enzymes include peptidase, which breaks down peptides into amino acids and the enzyme maltase acts upon maltose which produces glucose. These molecules are absorbed by the villi in the small intestine and according to the molecule they are either absorbed by the lacteal or blood capillaries.

Specific enzymes work on specific foods. You need the right type of enzyme for the foods you want it to break down, to choose the right digestive aids. Think of the foods you have problems with and then choose a product that contains at least those types of enzymes for digestion. Your digestive health depends on you.

How Digestive Enzymes Work – Enzymes For Digestion!

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