How An Enzyme Supplement

Types Of Enzymes And How An Enzyme Supplement Can Help Your Body

Although they don't get a lot of attention, enzymes are vital to your body's ability to digest food and absorb nutrients. Your body produces many types of enzymes, and each enzyme has a specific function. You can also take enzyme supplements to assist your body. If you know the exact nature of your digestive issue, you can take the suitable enzyme for the condition or you can take a supplement that contains a variety of enzymes to break down different types of food. Here's a look at various enzymes and how they help your body.

Types Of Enzymes

The enzymes in supplements come from plant sources, such as papaya or pineapple, or they come from animal organs such as sheep pancreas. Some enzymes break down protein while others break down carbohydrates or fat. You can purchase a supplement that contains only lactase if dairy products give you digestive trouble. You can also buy a product that contains a specific enzyme to help you digest beans. Other products contain a combination of enzymes such as lipase for digesting fat, cellulase for breaking down fiber, amylase for carbohydrates, and protease for breaking down protein.

Reasons To Take An Enzyme Supplement

Your saliva also is abundant with enzymes. However, you might have a medical or genetic condition that causes you to be deficient in a particular enzyme. You might have a a digestive problem that keeps you from breaking down foods or absorbing nutrients. In that case, taking an enzyme supplement for the short-term can help you maintain optimal nutrition while your digestive tract heals. You may find enzymes help reduce heartburn and gas. If you go to a naturopathic doctor, he or she may even recommend that you take an enzyme supplement to help with a medical condition you have that affects a part of your body other than your digestive