Overview

An enzyme is a type of protein found within a cell. Enzymes create chemical

reactions in the body. They actually speed up the rate of a chemical reaction to help
support life.

The enzymes in your body help to perform very important tasks. These include
building muscle, destroying toxins, and breaking down food particles during
digestion.

An enzyme’s shape is tied to its function. Heat, disease, or harsh chemical

conditions can damage enzymes and change their shape. When this happens, an
enzyme doesn’t work anymore. This affects the body processes the enzyme helped
support.

Enzymes are produced naturally in the body.

For example, enzymes are required for proper digestive system function. Digestive
enzymes are mostly produced in the pancreas, stomach, and small intestine. But
even your salivary glands produce digestive enzymes to start breaking down food
molecules while you’re still chewing. You can also take enzymes in pill form if
you’re having certain digestive problems.

Types of enzymes
There are three main types of digestive enzymes. They’re categorized based on the
reactions they help catalyze:

 Amylase breaks down starches and carbohydrates into sugars.

 Protease breaks down proteins into amino acids.
 Lipase breaks down lipids, which are fats and oils, into glycerol and fatty
acids.
Why are enzymes important for
digestion?
Enzymes are essential for healthy digestion and a healthy body. They work with
other chemicals in the body, such as stomach acid and bile, to help break down
food into molecules for a wide range of bodily functions.

Carbohydrates, for instance, are needed for energy, while protein is necessary to
build and repair muscle, among other functions. But they must be converted into
forms that can be absorbed and utilized by your body.

How enzymes work in your digestive system

Amylase is produced in the salivary glands, pancreas, and small intestine. One
type of amylase, called ptyalin, is made in the salivary glands and starts to act on
starches while food is still in your mouth. It remains active even after you swallow.

Pancreatic amylase is made in the pancreas and delivered to the small intestine.
Here it continues to break down starch molecules to sugars, which are ultimately
digested into glucose by other enzymes. This is then absorbed into the body’s
blood circulation through the wall of the small intestine.

Protease is produced in the stomach, pancreas, and small intestine. Most of the
chemical reactions occur in the stomach and small intestine. In the stomach, pepsin
is the main digestive enzyme attacking proteins. Several other pancreatic enzymes
go to work when protein molecules reach the small intestine.

Lipase is produced in the pancreas and small intestine. A type of lipase is also
found in breast milk to help a baby more easily digest fat molecules when nursing.
Lipids play many roles, including long-term energy storage and supporting cellular
health.
What affects enzymes?
Enzymes work best at your normal body temperature. The average body
temperature is 98.6°F (37°C), but normal body temperatures can rage from 97°F to
99°F (36.1°C to 37.2°C).

If you run a fever and your temperature increases too much, the structure of
enzymes breaks down. They no longer function properly. Restoring your body
temperature to its optimal range will help restore enzyme health.

Certain health conditions, which is inflammation of the pancreas, hurts your

pancreas and can also reduce the number and effectiveness of certain digestive
enzymes.

The pH level of your stomach or intestines can also affect enzyme activity.

A low pH means something is very acidic. A high pH means it’s basic, also known
as alkaline. Enzymes work best in a fairly narrow pH range. If the environment
surrounding an enzyme becomes too acidic or too basic, the enzyme’s shape and
function will suffer.

Chemicals called inhibitors can also interfere with an enzyme’s ability to cause a
chemical reaction.

Inhibitors can occur naturally. They can also be manufactured and produced as
medications. Antibiotics are a good example. They inhibit or prevent certain
enzymes from helping bacterial infections spread.

Your diet can also influence your body’s enzyme activity. That’s because many
foods contain digestive enzymes that help share the burden of the naturally
occurring enzymes in your body.

For example, bananas contain amylase. So even though a banana is packed with
carbs, it also comes with amylase to help you digest it so you can use those carbs
for energy later.
Eating enzyme-rich foods can boost enzyme activity in your body. Just keep in
mind the calories and other nutritional information about the foods in your diet.

In addition to your diet habits, your body’s overall state of health will also affect
how well it produces, stores, and releases enzymes and how efficiently its enzymes
function. This will vary from one person to the next.

Eating a nutritious diet in moderation on a regular basis and staying in good health
will help your body’s enzyme activity to stay more regular. Otherwise, for
example, if you intermittently binge on a large meal here or there, you may have
untoward effects like indigestion, nausea, or even diarrhea if you don’t have
enough enzymes readily available to aid in digestion.