The process of digestion begins in your mouth. Lipase and amylase that are present in saliva begin the breakdown of the fats and carbohydrates whereas the chewing of food helps in the production of the digestive enzymes in the stomach. Your body prepares for food absorption by having your stomach start the production of hydrochloric acid as well as a number of other enzymes that help the breakdown of fats, proteins and carbohydrates.

Your small intestine does most of the digestion and food absorption. The additional digestive enzymes such as papain, chymotrypsin, trypsin, and pancreatin that are produced either by your intestinal lining or by your pancreas help in the break down of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Bile, which is produced by your liver, aids in digestion and absorption of fats. This process results in your food being reduced to fatty acids, amino acids, and molecules of sugar, which is then absorbed through the wall of your small intestine.

Gastric enzymes are very important for digestion of food in your body. The types of food you consume contribute to the fact that you usually do not have enough enzyme reserves in your body. Enzymes are present in large quantities in raw fruits and vegetables but you tend to eat cooked foods that destroy the enzymes. Thus most of the foods that you consume are deficient in the enzymes you need to digest your food. Also, it is a medical fact that the older you get the less your stomach, pancreas, and the small intestine produce digestive enzymes.

You will see problems crop up when your body gets overburdened in making enzymes thanks to bad dietary choices including eating highly processed, cooked, and preservative-laden foods. When you consume foods that do not contain enzymes, your body wastes a lot of energy producing enzymes that help breakdown the carbohydrates, fat, protein and many other nutrients you just consumed. If you have been eating unhealthy diet your body’s line of defense may have been halted in the fight against diseases that are associated with diets that are high in trans and saturated fat, sodium, sugar, additives, and carcinogenic substances.

When your body has a depletion of enzymes it leads to poor absorption, poor digestion, as well as accumulation of waste material, putrefied fecal matter and metabolic waste in the intestinal tract. This in turn can cause an increase of parasites, allergies, yeast, unfriendly bacteria, constipation, stomach indigestion, gas and bloating, belching, and a host of other health problems that you clearly do not want to have in your body.