HEALTH REPORT
Decoding Your Digestion
Did you know that your body undergoes three quite distinct stages in order to digest food? Read on to discover how to improve your gut health .
The digestion of food involves a complex series of steps, and ultimately hinges on the action of digestive enzymes which break food down into smaller, absorbable components. Each of the four primary digestive enzymes – amylase, protease, lactase and lipase – plays a distinct role in the digestive process. Understanding how they function, and recognising when you might need supplements to support them, can have a significant impact on your digestive health. How digestion works To better understand how digestive enzymes function, let us first grasp the three main stages of digestion. 1. Cephalic phase: Digestion starts before you eat: when you see, smell or think about food, your brain sends signals to your digestive system to get ready. The production of saliva – which contains amylase – starts the breakdown of carbohydrates (eg. bread and pasta) in your mouth, right from the first bite. 2. Gastric phase: Once food enters the stomach, gastric juices are released, including pepsin, an enzyme that breaks down proteins (eg. meat and beans) into smaller fragments. The stomach’s acidic environment enhance this process. 3. Intestinal phase: As the food passes into the small intestine, bile from
Understanding how digestive enzymes work, identifying symptoms of deficiencies and eating a diet that supports digestion can greatly boost your overall health. the liver and enzymes from the pancreas become crucial. Pancreatic amylase continues to break down carbohydrates, while lipase focuses on fats (eg. oil and butter). Protease works on proteins, converting them into amino acids that the body can utilise. The key digestive enzymes • Amylase: Production of this enzyme starts in the mouth and continues
working in the small intestine, to convert carbohydrates into sugars. If you often experience bloating or wind after eating starchy foods, like bread or pasta, you might have insufficient amylase. Supplementing with amylase can aid in better carbohydrate digestion. • Protease: This enzyme helps break down proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids. If you experience discomfort or bloating after eating protein-rich foods, such as meat or dairy, low protease levels might be the cause. A protease supplement can enhance protein digestion and reduce discomfort. • Lactase: This is essential for digesting lactose, the sugar found in milk and dairy products. If you are lactose intolerant and experience wind, bloating or diarrhoea after eating dairy, a lactase supplement can help you to enjoy dairy without adverse effects. • Lipase: This enzyme breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol. Experiencing greasy stools or having trouble digesting fatty foods, like cheese or butter, might indicate a need for lipase. A lipase supplement can improve fat digestion and alleviate related symptoms.
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ISSUE 72 • 2024
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