Enzymes

Salivary glands in the mouth produce Amylase that converts starch/amylose to glucose. Gastric juice glands produce Peptase, which converts proteins (substrate) into amino acids (product). The pancreas produces Lipase, which converts fats into mono-glycerides, glycerol and fatty acids.

This depiction is simplified though, realize that burning 1 glucose molecule in the mitochondria requires about 25 different types of enzymes.

Enzyme activity depends on temperature and acidity. Good gut flora is important for optimal enzyme activity.

The function of different enzymes

Protein-splitting enzymes

These enzymes (proteases) such as bromelain and papain break down food particles. Because the breakdown into elemental nutrients already occurs largely in the stomach, the intestines are spared and food intolerances have less of a chance to manifest themselves.

These enzymes are used to break down food particles.

The pineapple plant contains the protein-splitting enzyme bromelain. The action of bromelain is the same as pepsin and trypsin.

Pepsin is often combined in supplements with betaine HCl and pancreatin.

Fiber-splitting enzymes

Fiber-splitting enzymes, such as cellulase in Thorne's Plantizyme, are important to enable the digestion of fiber in our food.

Carbohydrate-splitting enzymes

Processing carbohydrates requires certain enzymes, including amylase (in the Life Extension Extraordinary Enzymes). An important carbohydrate-splitting enzyme that is mixed with food in the oral cavity, and is also formed in the pancreas.

Fat-splitting enzymes

Carbohydrates are broken down in several stages into simple sugars, such as dextrose. Proteins are broken down into amino acids. When converting fats into fatty acids, the bile turns the fats into tiny fat droplets so that the fat-splitting enzymes (Plantizyme) have a larger surface area to act on the fat.

Lactose-digesting enzymes

Lactase is an enzyme and acts as an "adjuvant" to digest lactose.

Special enzymes

Bromelain

Pineapple contains a protein-digesting enzyme, bromelain. It is a popular and powerful enzyme that can be used for many purposes.

Nattokinase

Natto is self-produced in many households. We can compare this to making kefir from milk with the kefir plant. A number of interesting products can be extracted from natto, including vitamin K2 and nattokinase. The first reports of the fibrinolytic (splitting of the protein-rich fibrin) action of nattokinase appeared in the 1980s.

Serrapeptase

Serrapeptase is a proteolytic (protein splitting) enzyme. It was originally produced by Serratia E15 bacteria in the silkworm to dissolve the hard cocoon in which it transforms into a butterfly. Because there are not yet sufficient safety data on the use of serrapeptase as a supplement, it is not allowed to be sold in the EU.