Functional Food

Digestive enzymes: which ones exist and what do they do?

In short: digestive enzymes are proteins that break down food: protease (proteins), lipase (fats), amylase (carbohydrates), lactase (lactose) and cellulase (fibre). They are available on their own or as a broad complex and are usually taken around mealtimes. Your body naturally makes enzymes to break food down into smaller building blocks. Digestive enzymes as a supplement have become popular in recent years among people who pay close attention to their diet. In this article we set out the main enzymes factually, explain the difference between a single enzyme and a broad complex, and discuss what to look for when comparing an enzyme complex.