Improve Nutrient Absorption by Eating These Foods

What are Digestive Enzymes?

Digestive enzymes are substances that take food and drink that we consume and break it down into a simpler form. This allows nutrients to be transported across the small intestine into the bloodstream which provides for our energy, growth and repair needs.

The three main digestive enzymes are:

Proteases – responsible for breaking down proteins into peptides and amino acids

Lipases – responsible for breaking down fats into fatty acids glycerol

Amylases – responsible for breaking down carbs into simple sugars

Some digestive enzymes are actually made in the small intestine. These include:

Lactase

Maltase

Sucrase

Which Foods Contain Digestive Enzymes?

There are certain foods that contain digestive enzymes naturally. These include:

Pineapple – contains bromelain which helps break down proteins

Papaya – contains papain which helps break down proteins

Mango – contains amylases that break down carbs

Raw Honey – contains diastases that turn starch into maltose, amylases to break down carbs, invertases to break down sucrose into glucose and fructose as well as proteases to break down proteins

Bananas – contain amylases and glucosidases to break down starch into sugars

Avocadoes – contain lipases to break down fats

Kefir – contains lipases, proteases and even lactase

Sauerkraut and Kimchi

Miso

What Action Should You Take?

In order to improve your overall digestion and absorption it is recommended that you try to include these foods in your daily diet.