The Digestive Enzymes Enzymes are proteins which make possible or facilitate a chemical reaction under a given environmental condition. Digestive enzymes are enzymes which help break down food substances into forms that can be absorbed and assimilated by the body.
Digestive enzymes are very important.
Unfortunately, starting at about the age of 30, the body's secretion of enzymes begins to gradually decline. By the senior years the decline is usually significant enough to adversly effect the digestion and assimilation of food. Most elderly people can benefit by taking food enzymes with their meals, along with a good multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. Younger individuals commonly suffer from insufficient digestive enzymes as well. Most of these individuals would be much better served by supplementing their diets with food enzymes.