What are the benefits of taking a digestive enzyme supplement?

Digestive enzymes are vital to the digestion process; though we make them naturally and can get them from food, a supplement is often helpful. Robynne Chutkan, MD, explains why digestive enzymes are so important.

Transcript

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Well, as we age, our body makes less digestive enzymes. But we may still be eating a robust diet, so we still need to help break down all that food.

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There are three ways we can get digestive enzymes. Our body makes them naturally. Our digestive organs, like our pancreas and small intestine,

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can synthesize digestive enzymes. A second way is from food, particularly raw fruits and vegetables.

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Pineapple contains a digestive enzyme called bromelain and papaya contains one called papain that's actually

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the basis for meat tenderizer. It helps to break down protein. The third way is through supplements. You might wonder, why do you need a digestive enzyme

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if your body can make them naturally and if you get them through food? Well, as we age, our body makes less digestive enzymes.

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But we may still be eating a robust diet, so we still need to help break down all that food. The other thing is that people take lots of drugs every day

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that they don't realize can affect digestive enzymes, things like antacids, steroids, hormones, antibiotics.

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Those all affect our digestive enzymes and can make them less efficient. And finally, many people are eating a processed diet that's not rich in natural digestive enzymes.

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If you're not eating lots of fruits and vegetables, you might have low levels of digestive enzymes. Digestive enzymes work synergistically

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with our gut bacteria. The enzymes break down the food and then the gut bacteria help to digest the food so that we can absorb the maximal number of nutrients.