Digestive Enzymes & Supplements

Digestive Enzymes

Digestive enzymes are crucial for the breakdown of food into nutrients that the body can absorb. Digestive enzymes are produced by the body and also found in raw fruits and veggies like pineapples, papaya, and sprouts.

By breaking down the food we eat into small bits, the enzymes allow nutrients to pass through the intestines and into the blood, where other enzymes take the nutrients and use them to take care of other essential body functions.

Digestive enzymes are useful for a number of digestive complaints, including:

• flatulence
• heartburn
• diarrhea
• spasms
• constipation
• gastroesophageal reflux
• peptic ulcers
• indigestion

Brief Description of Enzymes

• Alpha-galactosidase breaks down carbohydrates, such as raffinose, stachyose and verbascose. It can help prevent gas that occur after eating beans and high-fiber grains.
• Amylase breaks down sugars and starches.
• Cellulase helps to digest cellulose (fiber) in fruits, vegetables, grains, and seeds.
• Glucoamylase helps to digest Maltose, the sugar in grains.
• Invertase (Sucrase) helps to digest sucrose (sugar).
• Lactase helps to digest Lactose (milk sugar) in milk and milk products.
• Lipase helps to digest fats.
• Malt diastase (Maltase) is the catalyst in the hydrolysis of disaccharide maltose to the glucose.
• Pectinase helps to digest pectin, a carbohydrate in fruits.
• Peptidase helps to digest casein (in milk) and gluten (in grains).
• Phytase helps to digest minerals bound to phytic acid in plants.
• Protease (ideally a blend of alkaline, neutral, and acid proteases) helps to digest proteins.
• Xylanase helps to digest plant fibers.
• Hemicellulase helps to digest hemicellulose fibers.
• Beta-glucanase helps to digest Beta-glucan, a special type of fiber in yeast, grains, and medicinal mushrooms.

Carminative Herbs

• peppermint (Mentha spicata)
• ginger (Zingiber officinale)
• fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
• anise (Pimpinella anisum)
• lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)

Carminative herbs help to stimulate peristalsis, which is the wave-like action that pushes food through the digestive tract. These herbs can also help to relax the smooth muscle of the digestive tract, helping to reduce spasms.

Demulcent Herbs

• marsh mallow root (Althaea officinalis)
• Irish moss (Chondrus crispus)
• slippery elm (Ulmus rubra)

Demulcent herbs can help ease heartburn. These herbs are rich in mucilage, soothing irritated or inflamed tissue.

Astringent Herbs

• blackberry leaf
• raspberry leaf
• lotus seed
• ginger (Zingiber officinalis)

Astringent herbs are beneficial for diarrhea. They contain constituents called tannins, which cause the proteins in body tissues to tighten up. When an astringent herb is taken, the proteins in the digestive tract tighten up to form a protective barrier that reduces fluid and electrolyte loss.

Digestive Health Aids Products from Botanic Chioce

Enzymes Products from Botanic Chioce

Probiotics Products from Botanic Chioce

Stomach Helpers Products from Botanic Chioce