Where are enzymes made: Digestive enzyme supplements have gained popularity for their claims of treating common forms of gut irritation, heartburn and other ailments.
What is the importance of enzymes
Naturally occurring digestive enzymes are proteins that your body makes to break down food and aid digestion. Digestion is the process of using the nutrients found in food to give your body energy, help it grow and perform vital functions.
What do Enzyme do
When you eat a meal digestion begins in the mouth, our saliva starts breaking down food right away into a form that can be absorbed by the body. There are a lot of different points in the digestive process where enzymes are released and activated.
Stomach, small intestine and pancreas all make digestive enzymes. The pancreas is really the enzyme “powerhouse” of digestion. It produces the most important digestive enzymes, which are those that break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
How are enzymes named
There are many digestive enzymes. The main digestive enzymes made in the pancreas include:
- Amylase (made in the mouth and pancreas; breaks down complex carbohydrates)
- Lipase (made in the pancreas; breaks down fats)
- Protease (made in the pancreas; breaks down proteins)
Some other common enzymes are made in the small intestine, including:
- Lactase (breaks down lactose)
- Sucrase (breaks down sucrose)