Digestive Enzymes: A Brief History

Most of us don’t give our digestive systems much thought unless they’re malfunctioning. We bite, chew, swallow, and then forget about it, as though the important work is finished. But that’s when our bodies kick into high gear, releasing digestive enzymes to break down the meal we just ate.

Digestive enzymes are proteins that help our food break down chemically into smaller, more absorbable components. When we’re deficient in enzymes, some of the foods we eat aren’t broken down thoroughly enough for the body to absorb the nutrients they contain, so we miss out on the good stuff.

Enzymes are found in every cell of the human body and control not only digestion but also the entire metabolic process. Enzymes come in a variety of forms, including:

*Amylase is a digestive enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates into sugar.
*Protease is a digestive enzyme that breaks down proteins into amino acids.
*Lipase is a digestive enzyme that breaks down fat.

What are we going to do with them if we don’t need them?

Despite their importance in metabolism, according to Dr. Edward Howell, the founder of enzyme research, each cell can only manufacture a certain amount of enzymes. We must refresh our “enzyme storage” from our diet in order to multiply it.

However, many of the items we eat, such as the standard Western diet of hamburgers and fries, pizza, and the ubiquitous chicken nuggets, are deficient in the digestive enzymes required to effectively break down foods. As a result, we are not providing our bodies with the enzymes they require.

Worse, because our bodies are incapable of adequately digesting down junk food, we are unable to gain the minuscule nutritional benefits that it provides.

As a result, we’re in a lose-lose situation, and our bodies — as well as our energy levels – pay the price.

Because our focus at Xtend-Life has always been on fundamental health, we’ve included digestive enzymes in our Total Balance product line for a long time – not just to aid in the digestion of the meals we eat, but also to ensure that all of the necessary elements in our supplements are absorbed.

What good is it to consume nutritious meals and take high-quality supplements if your body can’t absorb what they have to offer?

Enzyme Deficiency Symptoms

You may believe that your digestive problems are unavoidable, but it’s conceivable that you’re deficient in essential digestive enzymes.

Because the staples of both diets are tougher to break down, those who follow a high-fiber diet, especially vegetarians and vegans, can benefit from digestive enzyme help.

Constipation, weight gain, allergies, indigestion and heartburn, gas and bloating, poor energy, slow-healing injuries, advanced signs of ageing, and headaches are some of the symptoms.

All other areas of the body rely on the digestive system, which is strongly linked to the immune system.

It houses nearly 70% of the immune system, thus it’s critical that everything works properly. When it’s not working properly, your entire body will show it.

Maintaining a healthy mix of intestinal micro flora – the good bacteria that help to protect us from illness – is one of the best methods to ensure both digestive and immune system health. We commonly deplete them when we take antibiotics, and inadequate diets don’t do much to refill them, putting us at risk of sickness.

To the rescue, probiotics?

Probiotics are microorganisms that aid in the maintenance of the intestinal microflora’s natural balance. Probiotics, such as the well-known lactobacillus acidophilus (live yoghurt cultures) found in the human body, not only aid to decrease the growth of dangerous bacteria, but also function in combination with digestive enzymes to promote a healthy digestive system.

While many companies advertise probiotics, our bodies are capable of producing the majority of what we require, albeit helpful bacteria differ between thin and overweight persons, young and elderly, and those who consume a healthy or unhealthy diet. Antibiotics, as previously said, can wipe them out, putting your digestive and immune systems at risk2.

Because of the way most probiotic pills are packed, the good bacteria they contain are frequently unable to survive the digestive process, making them a waste of time and money.

A better approach is to replenish your probiotic supply – especially after taking antibiotics – through prebiotics, which feed existing probiotics and stimulate the production of new ones.