Food enzymes are enzymes found naturally in fresh, raw foods. For example, avocados and nuts contain naturally occurring lipase, while oats have a high amount of amylase, or starch-digesting enzyme. The contribution of food enzymes to the digestive process is extremely important to overall digestive function and is too often overlooked. Cooking, storing, and processing destroy most enzymes that are naturally present in foods, and the body is therefore required to supply all of the enzymes necessary for the digestion of that food. But more important, undigested particles of food may cross the intestinal wall and reach the blood stream, where they are identified as foreign substances by the immune system.
Many people take supplemental digestive enzymes to aid the digestive process.
Digestive enzymes prepare food so that it is in the best possible form for proper processing in the intestine. Enzyme supplements do not replace the body s naturally secreted enzymes. They are needed simply to replace the enzymes that are destroyed by the cooking, storing, and processing of food. When selecting supplemental enzymes, be aware that enzyme effectiveness is best described in terms of activity. When comparing two supplements, the one with the higher weight of enzymes may not necessarily have the greater activity, or potency.