facebooktwitterlinkedin MARKETS WE SERVE PRODUCTS QUALITY MANUFACTURING ABOUT US LEARN CAREERS CONTACT US ENZYMES 101 What are Enzymes? All biological reactions within human cells depend on enzymes—they are necessary to sustain life. They are not live organisms; they are actually proteins—long chains of amino acids held together by peptide bonds. All enzymes are proteins, but not all proteins are enzymes. Enzymes are catalysts, which means they accelerate reactions in the body without being changed themselves in the process. Enzymes are very specific to what they catalyze. Each type of enzyme facilitates a different process in the body. They are highly efficient, as small amounts yield significant output. In fact, they may accelerate reactions by factors of a million or even more. The human body produces many enzymes to facilitate digestion. Starting in the mouth, enzymes in the saliva begin the digestion process, and as the food we consume travels through the digestive tract, it is broken down by enzymes in the stomach, pancreas and finally the intestines. Enzymes are also naturally present in the actual food that we consume, and serve to help break down those specific foods. 1:59 Digestive Enzymes The role of digestive enzymes is to break down food-derived fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into smaller substances that our bodies can use. Because enzymes are specific to what reactions they will catalyze, there are different types of enzymes that facilitate the digestion of the various components of our food. CARBOHYDRASES PROTEASES LIPASES Systemic Enzymes In addition to digestion, there are enzymes that provide benefits to other body systems. These systemic enzymes break down proteins to improve body functions such as blood flow and inflammatory response. The most important thing that systemic proteolytic enzymes do is to break down excess fibrin in your circulatory system and in other connective tissue, such as your muscles. These enzymes bring nutrients and oxygen-rich blood that remove the metabolic waste produced by inflammation and excess fibrin. Nattokinase and serratiopeptidase are two such enzymes that are commonly used to support joint and heart health. The plant-based enzymes bromelain and papain are also widely used for systemic applications. Why are Supplemental Enzymes Necessary? Although the body produces its own digestive enzymes, it may not be enough. Anyone with lactose intolerance is likely not producing enough of the lactase enzyme to adequately digest dairy products. Plus, enzyme production decreases with age. This is often why so many people are not able to enjoy many of the same foods that they did when they were younger. In addition, during cooking and processing, the natural enzymes present in raw foods are denatured. There are few people that adhere to a mainly raw food diet. And even in the case of a raw-food, vegan diet, the body doesn’t produce the enzyme cellulase at all. This is an enzyme that breaks down the cell wall of plants, releasing the nutrients for the body to absorb. Those who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet are likely missing out on key nutrients from the plant-based foods they’re eating, and would most certainly benefit from an enzyme supplement. Measuring Enzyme Activity It’s important to understand that the potency of enzymes is not measured in the same way as other nutritional supplements. Enzymes are not measured by weight, so the number of milligrams of a product would not describe the true potency. Low potency enzymes may weigh as much as those with high potency, and fillers may add to the weight but not the effectiveness of an enzyme supplement. The determining factor of an enzyme product’s potency is its “activity” – the effect it has on proteins, fats and carbohydrates. “Activity units” are the most commonly used measurement to determine potency because they identify how active the enzyme is. Enzyme activity is determined by various assays (test methods) that are performed under specific conditions. Different enzymes use different units of measurement to determine potency. The national standards (testing methodologies) for determining enzyme potency are defined in the Food Chemical Codex (FCC). Enzyme Functions Carbohydrases ALPHA-GALACTOSIDASE AMYLASE BETA-GLUCANASE CELLULASE DIASTASE HEMICELLULASE INVERTASE LACTASE PECTINASE XYLANASE Lipases LIPASE Proteases BROMELAIN CHYMOTRYPSIN NATTOKINASE PAPAIN PEPTIDASE PROTEASE SERRAPEPTIDASE (OR SERRATIOPEPTIDASE) TRYPSIN Related Articles How Enzyme Supplements Can Aid FODMAP Sensitivities READ MORE Digestible Podcast: Supplemental Enzymes and The Ecosystem of Gut Health READ MORE When to Take Digestive Enzymes: Just as Important as Which You Take READ MORE It Takes Two: Probiotics and Enzymes for Digestive Balance READ MORE LOAD MORE Copyright © , Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes, Inc All Rights Reserved. Contact UsCareersTerms & ConditionsPrivacy Policy facebooktwitterlinkedin 2021 We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume consent.AcceptPrivacy policy