Learn Why Digestive Enzymes are Crucial for Optimal Health

Your body produces over 20 separate digestive enzymes that are actually proteins; they break down food so that your body can convert it to energy, relieve certain ailments and discomforts and bolster your immune system. Your digestive enzymes work hard from the moment that food enters your mouth. Yes! Once you take a bite of food, your digestive enzymes set out to break down the meal. The more efficient that your body is at breaking down your meals, the better your body works. Therefore, investing in and using a digestive enzyme supplement is one way to improve your overall well being.

Papain is the name of one digestive enzyme used in the manufacture of a quality digestive enzyme supplement. It is made from an unripened tropical fruit that you are probably familiar with: the papaya. The unripened fruit is crushed and the juice of the green papaya is used to make Papain. This digestive enzyme supplement ingredient helps proteins create oligopeptides and amino acids. Papain is thought to have properties that help reduce swelling and inflammation. Papain is used to assist with digestion and is also used to make meat tenderizers.

Lipase is another digestive enzyme that is produced in your body. Lipase works on the fat that you eat; it breaks it down so that your body can use it. When your body doesn't create enough Lipase to breakdown the fat, your stools will be greasy looking and very pale in color. Your body makes Lipase in the pancreas and as with all digestive enzymes, it also exists in saliva. The pancreas makes pancreatin which is essentially three digestive enzymes: lipase, amylase and proteases.

Lipase as a digestive enzyme supplement has been used to successfully aid in the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis. The benefits have been documented and it is regularly prescribed by medical doctors for this ailment. Lipase is also being used to see if it will provide benefits to patients with indigestion because of pancreas diseases or the inability of the pancreas to work efficiently.

Perhaps the most beneficial use of Lipase and Papain are for their tumor fighting effects. Many oncologists prescribe digestive supplement therapy in addition to standard medical treatment including chemo therapy for cancer patients. Chemo therapy upsets the stomach partly because it is so hard on the body and partly because chemo is a toxin. The body tries to rid itself of the additional toxin, so it expels any food from the stomach as well. However digestive supplement therapy increases the body's ability to breakdown nutrients. Further digestive enzyme supplement therapy is said to have cancer fighting benefits. Whether this is because it boosts the immune system's ability to fight tumors or whether the enzymes breakdown the tumors so that the body can expel them needs to be studied further, but there is documented success in adding digestive supplement therapy to oncology patient's treatment regimes.

As with most things in our industrialized world, food is processed and preserved to the point that many nutrients are lost before the food is consumed. Once prepared, more nutrients are leeched from your food, so you have to consider whether or not you are getting the full benefit of any nutrient. If your meals are lacking in essential nutrients, like digestive enzyme bolsters, you may have a depletion of the essential enzymes that are necessary to your health. That is why you should consider adding a digestive enzyme supplement to your diet.

If you are a frequent flier or have a lot of stress in your life, your body is being robbed of its supply of digestive enzymes. Thus, when you are standing in line at the ticket counter after sleeping through your alarm and getting stuck in traffic, your natural supply of digestive enzymes is suffering. You can add a digestive enzyme supplement to your daily routine and increase the efficiency of your body and your immune system.

If you are pregnant or nursing, you should consult with your family physician before you take any dietary supplement, including digestive enzyme supplements.

Dan Ho is chief editor of Nutritional Supplement Info Spotlight, and an avid enthusiast of alternative and holistic health. Get unconventional and unique solutions for common health issues, and keep abreast of the latest benefits and dangers of nutritional supplements with our free newsletter. Claim your subscription now at: Our Nutritional Supplements and Herbal Supplements Guide

---

Vitamin E to Protect Against Parkinsons Disease

Moderate amounts of vitamin E in the diet can protect... Read More

What is a Supplement?

Supplement ? what is it?Supplement is a term that means... Read More

Side Effects of Fish Oil

Fish oil is oil derived from the tissues of fatty... Read More

New Health Miracle -- Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil

"High-dose pharmaceutical-grade fish oil is as close to a medical... Read More

Vitamin B-2

Riboflavin is a common name for vitamin B-2 and was... Read More

Nutrition Supplementation

Nutrition Supplement ? nutrition.Nutrition supplement is a term familiar to... Read More

Natural Human Growth Hormone: Hope or Hoax?

You may feel 30, but your body keeps reminding you... Read More

Vitamin B6 - What Do We Need It For?

Vitamin B6 plays a facilitating role in the immune system... Read More

Vitamin Smoothies to Beat the Summer Heat

Vitamin smoothies are a great way to enjoy a cold... Read More

B-Vitamins Help Promote Healthy Arteries and Heart

A 2002 study reported, funded by the Swiss National Science... Read More

The Most Important Supplement You Can Take For Better Health

This article will reveal one easy change you can make... Read More

Acne Hormones - Natural Acne Hormone Balancing Treatments for Clear Skin

Can you treat a headache or stomach ache externally, without... Read More

Increasing overall Health with Nutritional Supplements

"But I eat healthy," you might say. That may be... Read More

A Review of Popular Whey Protein Products

Because whey protein products have a wide variety of uses... Read More

Fiber Supplements to Beat Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Fiber supplements can be tremendously beneficial for IBS sufferers. Although... Read More

Grreen Power

It's green, it's valuable, and it can vastly improve your... Read More

Vitamin Euphoria ? A Shot in the Dark

Vitamins seem to be so good for everything. The newly... Read More

Improving Cellular Communication With Glyconutrients

The body is just mind-bogglingly amazing. I mean, when you... Read More

Dietary and Nutritional Supplements: Know More About Supplements

At times, due to your busy and fast life, we... Read More

Ganoderma Lucidum - The Wonder Herb

One of the most apparent influences modern times has brought... Read More

Amino Acid Basics ? Why Do We Need Them?

Finding out a little about amino acid basics enables you... Read More

L-Carnitine For Health & Muscle Growth: What You Need To Know About L-Carnitine

L-carnitine is a nutritional supplement that has been touted by... Read More

9 Vitamins & Supplements to Improve Your Memory

Does this describe you: You walk into the living room... Read More

Natural Supplements - Help Your Body

Vitamins and mineral supplements are a good way to supply... Read More

Ftiness Supplementation

Fitness Supplement ? what is it?The term "fitness supplement" is... Read More

The Benefits of Protein Powders

I know protein is good for me, but do I... Read More

Beyond Vitamins and Minerals - Glyconutrients

It is well known and scientifically proven that vitamins and... Read More

Vitamins and Minerals for Healthy Hair

A lot of people actually pay a good deal of... Read More

An Overview of Hyaluronic Acid Products

Hyaluronic acid is available in a variety of products ranging... Read More

Iron Supplement

Iron supplement - why iron?Why people need to use iron... Read More

The Bodys Own Production of Nitric Oxide Can Help Prevent Heart Attack & Stroke

Nitric Oxide, a gas that occurs naturally in the body,... Read More

Supplements and Vitamins - Can They Enhance Your Weight Loss Goals?

Nutritional supplements can play a key role in the health... Read More

Vitamin E - The Wonder Vitamin

Vitamin E is a family of eight related molecules known... Read More