How well you digest and absorb your food can make or break your health. The ability to break down the big protein, carbohydrate and fat molecules into their smaller and bioavailable molecules such as amino acids, vitamins and minerals is essential for good health.

Gut health is important

Poor digestive function is usually only discovered when symptoms such as bloating, indigestion, a feeling of fullness, heartburn, nausea, excessive flatulence, constipation, diarrhoea or general digestive discomfort occur. Digestive enzymes can help to break down different food groups and supercharge your digestion.

Digestive enzymes can boost digestion

Digestive enzymes speed up and supercharge the process of digestion, allowing you to digest food more easily. Our current diet is high in processed and refined foods which are typically low in enzymes, whereas raw, unprocessed foods maintain high levels of enzymes. The importance of digestive enzyme supplementation is especially relevant here. Different types of enzymes break down different food groups:

• Protease – breaks down proteins in your diet such as red meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, nuts and seeds.
• Amylase – breaks down carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, bread, oats and green leafy vegetables.
• Lipase – breaks down fats found in avocado, vegetable and nut oils, oily fish, deep-fried foods and junk food.
• Tilactase (lactase) – breaks down lactose, the primary sugar found in dairy products, making it beneficial for those who are lactose intolerance.
• Cellulase – breaks down fibre or cellulose from plant sources including fruits and vegetables.

Digestive enzymes derived from microbes are highly stable and active throughout a wide pH range, making them more active and functional for a longer distance through the digestive tract. Microbial enzymes, due to modern filtration technology, do not contain any microbial residue in the finished enzyme product. Unlike animal derived enzymes, plant derived enzymes begin pre-digestion in the mouth and they function in both an acid and alkaline environment, enabling them to work, without being destroyed, in the hostile environment of the gastrointestinal tract.

What about Bromelains? Pineapple enzymes and protein

Bromelains, derived from Pineapple, are protease enzymes that assist in the break down and digestion of proteins. Bromelain, when combined with other digestive enzymes, can help to relieve many digestive disturbances. Bromelains are effective in a wide pH range which allows them to be active in the stomach as well as the small intestine. Problems with poor digestion tend to accumulate and can lead to many health conditions and supplementing with digestive enzymes can help to support healthy digestion.

Mr Vitamins recommends

Herbs of Gold Products for Improved Digestion Find out more and shop online here for 

• Digest-Zymes 
• Bromelain Forte