In today’s world, obesity is more than a health problem. It has become a social issue as well. Obesity can lead to various other problems like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
A recent National Library of Medicine study revealed that certain digestive enzymes could help manage obesity.
Let us know more about digestive enzymes, what they are, and how they can help fight obesity.
Digestive Enzymes: What Are They?
Enzymes are proteins that are produced by the cells within the digestive system. These enzymes break down large molecules into smaller ones so that your body can absorb them.
They are present in most foods, but they also come from our own bodies.
There are three types of digestive enzymes:
- Amylase converts starch into maltose and dextrin
- Lipase is responsible for breaking down fats into fatty acids and glycerol
- Proteases break down proteins into amino acids
These enzymes are produced by the pancreas, salivary glands, and small intestine. So if you’re not getting enough of these enzymes, you can experience indigestion, gas, and bloating.
A few things can interfere with your body’s production of enzymes. One is stress. When stressed out, your body produces more cortisol and adrenaline, which depletes the levels of other hormones like progesterone, testosterone, estrogen, DHEA, and melatonin.
These hormones help regulate your digestive system, so if they’re not at normal levels, neither are the enzymes breaking down food into smaller molecules.
Digestive Enzymes: How Are They Beneficial?
Digestive enzymes can also be bought in supplement form. These supplements contain concentrated amounts of digestive enzymes that help break down food more efficiently and effectively.
Digestive enzymes are beneficial for many reasons, including:
1. Improved Nutrient Absorption
Digestive enzymes break down food to absorb its nutrients. If you lack digestive enzymes, then your body may not be able to absorb the nutrients from your food, which leads to malnutrition or other health problems.
2. Better Digestion
Digestive enzymes increase the amount of saliva produced in your mouth, which helps break down food particles before they reach your stomach so that they can be digested easier. This reduces heartburn, indigestion symptoms, and bloating after meals due to gas production from incompletely broken-down foods.
Much like vitamins and minerals, digestive enzymes are an important part of a healthy diet. They help ensure that your body gets the proper amount of nutrients from the foods you eat. But, if you’re not getting enough enzymes or don’t have the right balance of digestive enzymes in your system, this can lead to digestion problems such as lactose intolerance, weight gain, and other digestive issues.
3. Better Immune System
Digestive enzymes are a crucial part of the body’s digestive process and help us absorb nutrients from our food. The more nutrients you get from food, the stronger your immune system will be able to fight off infections and diseases.
4. Helps with Weight Management
Digestive enzymes can help increase weight management. Breaking down your food, improving digestion, and slowing the absorption of sugars and fats will help you feel fuller faster while also helping reduce your body weight by increasing the amount of nutrients your body absorbs from food. The more nutrients you get from food, the less likely you are to overeat due to hunger pangs or cravings.
Conclusion
One of the main things to understand is that these enzymes were discovered by scientists looking for a solution to an ongoing problem. Overweight and obesity have become widespread in the last century. The problem with obesity is that it can cause a host of health problems. The first step to overcoming these health problems is to lose weight, but it’s not easy. This is where enzymes come in handy.
Luckily, an MD for weight loss in San Diego can help with weight management consulting and personalized weight loss programs. Visit Melinda Silva, MD, today to learn how you can start losing weight safely and effectively.
