Without enzymes, not too much would happen in the body. Almost all processes in a biological cell require enzymes, so without them, cell activity stops. That would make life pretty boring. To name a few things these little catalysts do for us: “Enzymes are the spark of life; they facilitate many functions within the body, from muscle contractions to blinking of the eyes,” said Guy Devin, Ph.D., national science educator, Source Naturals.
Justin Marsh, director of marketing and CEO, Arthur Andrew Medical, added, “Enzymes convert our food to energy, dissolve arterial plaque buildup, eliminate viruses, dissolve scar tissue and reduce blood clots and intimately purify our blood.”
Thankfully, enzymes give us some action in life. Enzymes are catalysts for biochemical reactions, meaning they speed up reactions using lower activation energy than would be necessary for the process to go on without the enzyme. Food can sit out at room temperature and biodegrade over a few days; but, enzymes in the digestive track speed up that process, so humans can get all of the nutrients during the course of a day or so. Enzymes also have a unique shape, which allows a lock-and-key method with the molecules involved in their reactions. This means enzymes are highly selective, only causing specific reactions.
Digestion is a major function of enzymes in all living creatures. Food processing starts in the mouth where salivary glands secrete carbohydrate digestive enzymes. In the gastrointestinal (GI) track, digestion continues with the secretion of hydrochloric (HCl) acid, the enzyme pepsin, and additional starch and protein hydrolases (another type of enzyme). Then, the small intestine secretes alkaline bicarbonate buffers and pancreatic enzymes to further the process. Specific enzymes target specific types of foods for digestion; for example, amylase digests carbohydrates, lipase tackle fats, protease target proteins and cellulase handlesfiber.
When these enzymes aren’t present or don’t work correctly, GI abnormalities can result, including constipation, diarrhea, malnutrition, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dyspepsia, Crohn’s disease, maldigestion, malaria, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis and cancer, to name a few.