What do enzymes do? According to the National Institutes of Health:

Enzymes are needed for all body functions. They are found in every organ and cell in the body, including in the:

Blood

Intestinal fluids

Mouth (saliva)

Stomach (gastric juice) (1)

In this article, we talk specifically about digestive enzymes, which enable food’s incredible journey through the body—giving us strength and energy to recharge and live a healthy life. Digestive enzymes act as catalysts as they break down food and make it possible for the body to absorb nutrients and eliminate waste. Although the digestive system is a powerful one, it’s also very delicate.

Many fruits and vegetables contain digestive enzymes. These enzymes are also beneficial for breaking down proteins and meats. As discussed in Finding Health with Digestive Enzymes, today’s diet lacks many of the food-derived digestive enzymes the body needs. This is because cooking, freezing, processing, canning and other food preparation methods kill or significantly deteriorate the strength of food enzymes.

Once food is broken down, it passes through the small intestine where the body separates the nutrients from the waste. This digestive process infographic gives you a good idea of how things work:

In many cases, the small intestine suffers from toxic build-up, diminishing the effectiveness of nutrient absorption. Finding a natural colon detoxifier can help recharge your digestive system and relieve it from harmful build-up.

When the digestive tract lacks necessary digestive enzymes and harbors toxic build-up, the abdomen feels uncomfortable, stressed and bloated. If you suffer from occasional digestive disturbances, consider your diet.

Resources:

1. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002353.htm