Digestive enzymes are substances that help breakdown the food we eat into smaller particles so it can be properly absorbed by the body. The main sites of digestion occur in the mouth, the stomach and the small intestine. Humans make and secrete digestive enzymes into the saliva, stomach, pancreas and in the small intestine. We can also obtain some enzymes from the foods we eat by including some raw vegetables/fruit or raw vegetable/fruit juices in our food choices.
As people age and as we are influenced by different stressors of life, inside and outside our bodies, the production and secretion of digestive enzymes can decrease. This is why it is so common to hear about bloating, gas and heartburn as people get older. Most youngsters, providing they do not have digestive conditions, can digest just about anything. Improper or inefficient digestion also leads to toxin buildup which further impedes digestive enzyme production and secretion, so it can become a bit of a vicious circle over time.
We can improve our digestion situation by eating non-irritating foods, by eliminating foods that we are sensitive to, by reducing stressors in our life and by reducing our toxic load. Low stomach acid production is also linked to zinc deficiency so we must also examine key nutrients. Assuring an optimal normal flora is also a biggie as the toxins from an overgrowth of Candida and other pathogens in the gut have a strong ability to reduce the excretion of stomach acid. When stomach acid (HCl) is too low, early digestion in the stomach is reduced, affecting the entire rest of the process. Maldigested food from the stomach arrives in the small intestine to be bathed in enzymes from the small intestine and the pancreas. The food, expected to arrive in a certain state, arrives less digested than it should be. Therefore, the enzymes secreted by the small intestine and pancreas cannot fully digest the food so it then passes into the large intestines not as digested as it should be. This is why people will sometimes see particles of food in their poop. This is not normal.
To complicate matters, when there is less stomach acid, the pH is affected. The food passing from the stomach should be at a certain pH when it arrives in the small intestine in order to stimulate other digestive processes and secretions. When this does not happen, the assembly line is disrupted by less optimal pH levels. A sub-par pH also allows microbes that normally should have been killed by adequate HCl in the stomach to pass into the intestines creating disharmony of the normal flora. You can easily see how this system can continue in a downward spiral.
What can be done? Since digestion begins in the mouth, one of the easier ways to improve digestion is by slowing down, chewing well and assuring that your food gets coated in saliva before swallowing. Another way to help out is by eating some raw vegetables with each meal if possible. Fermented sauerkraut and its juice is a good choice as it also stimulates the production and secretion of HCl in the stomach. It only takes a small serving to reap the benefits. You can also begin your meal with a glass of freshly juiced vegetables. Freshly grown sprouts are teeming with enzymes and can be sprinkled into your salad. Drinking a glass of water about 20 minutes before your meal helps to stimulate acid production as well as increasing the flow of bile and enzymes.
Many people will also fare well supplementing with digestive enzymes. Some will do better taking a supplement that contains betaine HCl for the reasons we just read about. You will have to discuss these issues with a health practitioner that is familiar with the use of digestive enzymes to see what is best for you. And remember, life is dynamic. You may need to supplement for just a while, or maybe longer. You may need to change supplements. It is always a good idea to re-visit how things are going from time to time. Ideally, we reach a place where our food and body can provide all the enzymes we need.
Some signs and symptoms that suggest the need for enzymes include: gas and bloating after meals; the feeling that food is sitting in your stomach like a rock; feeling full after only eating a few bites; undigested food particles in your poop; having poop that always floats; seeing an oil slick in the toilet; fatigue or low energy; constipation; heartburn; indigestion; food intolerances or allergies.
For me, for now, digestive enzymes are a part of my life. Depending on what I eat, I take between 0-2 enzyme capsules per meal. If I have some fermented sauerkraut or other raw food, I may only take one or none. If I have a particularly big meal that is low on enzymes, I will take two. And sometimes, I need to rely on enzymes with betaine HCl. It varies greatly depending on what is going on in my life. I do my best to eat what I need and to supplement only when I need to so that I do not tax and deplete my body too much. Be good to your body and it will be good to you 🙂
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To eat is a necessity but to eat intelligently is an art —François de La Rochefoucauld
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