The stomach has two distinct divisions: Fundus (upper part) and Pylorus (lower part). The eaten food remains in the upper part for approximately one hour. This is where predigestion takes place. The fundus is where digestive food enzymes begin to break down the food into carbohydrates, fats and protein. Raw foods supply their own digestive enzymes, thus saving the stomach from supplying all the enzymes.

The presence of food in the stomach will always trigger production of enzymes, whether supplemental enzymes are used or not. Supplemental enzymes make it easier for the body to function but do not affect the body's ability to function naturally.

Your body cannot digest or absorb nutrients from food without enzymes. (2). Cooking destroys the natural enzymes in foods. (3). You lose approximately 13% of your enzyme potential for every 10 years of life. (4) Up to 50% of all adults do not produce sufficient amounts of digestive enzymes.

None of the ingredients in BioVitale's Digestive Enzyme Complex have been shown to interact with medication. The ingredients used are all-natural and contain no chemicals.

Yes, absolutely. You can give digestive enzymes to infants, toddlers, and young children. For toddlers and young children, Enzyme Essentials recommends the basic protocol of Digestzyme, Purezyme, and Plantadophilus. Many children like to chew the capsules and/or are able to swallow them. But if you prefer, the capsules can be pulled apart easily and mixed with water or juice.

Digestive enzymes break down food so that it can be absorbed and utilized by the body. Raw food has enzymatic activity, and the body has a limited supply also. When our pets eat the raw food that their physiology is designed to thrive on, they receive plenty of food enzymes, which aid digestion and nutrient utilization. When they eat cooked food, which is devoid of enzymes, they can deplete the body's supply, and the enzyme-producing organs must work overtime to compensate.

The body can make digestive enzymes; however, the more digestive enzymes it is required to produce for digestion, the fewer enzymes it can create to maintain optimal health. It is very important that we preserve the body’s ability to make enzymes. If supplemental plant digestive enzymes are taken with a meal, these digestive enzymes begin their work immediately.

Most people feel better in terms of energy, digestion, and elimination. Occasionally persons may experience a period of increased detoxification when beginning enzyme therapy. This is actually a good sign as the body is now able to eliminate excess toxins, although you may feel tired or achy for a few days. Increasing enzyme dosages and water intake is often the best recommendation to help you through this natural process. [back to top]

Enzyme Essentials' plant-based digestive enzymes have either a wide range of pH and/or are stable and active in the acid range. Our enzymes have been carefully selected to withstand the conditions of the GI tract. The theory that enzymes are destroyed in the stomach is outdated and has been disproven by various studies. National Enzyme Company, a large enzyme manufacturer, conducted a study proving quantitative evidence of the efficacy of supplemental digestive enzymes.

No. It is the presence of hormones, not enzymes, that signals for secretion of more or less enzymes. Whether from internal or external (supplemental) enzymes, complete hydrolysis of food macromolecules is the indicator for the hormones secretin and cholecystekinin to signal the pancreas to stop secreting pancreatic juices. Taking supplemental digestive enzymes supports and assists the digestive function; it does not inhibit it. [back to top]

Most of our digestive enzyme formulas are vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free and they come in vegetarian (cellulose) capsules. In fact, the digestive formulas are very effective in breaking down gluten, lactose and casein the food molecules that often cause problems for those with gluten or dairy intolerance. See individual products specifications for more information. [back to top]

A normal digestive system breaks down food into smaller pieces called nutrients. The body needs nutrients to stay healthy. Food moves from the esophagus down to the small intestine, where the nutrients are absorbed into the blood. Leftover water and solid waste then move down into the large intestine (colon). Most of the water is absorbed back into the bloodstream there. Solid waste leaves the body through the rectum and out the anus as a bowel movement.

Digestive enzymes play a critical part in the digestion of the food we eat. Today, most of the food we consume is either processed or overcooked; therefore, important enzymes are destroyed in the process, resulting in various gastrointestinal symptoms such as reflux, colic, indigestion, heartburn, and other problems.

Enzymes work by virtue of their shape. An enzyme molecule can be compared, in shape at least, to many short strings of pearls (amino acids) strung together. This long string folds in on itself as certain sequences of amino acids (pearls) are more attracted to each other than to other sequences, thus giving the enzymes a specific shape. At one point on the surface of this string of pearls there exists something, which looks like a keyhole. This is called the "active site" on the enzyme.