Why You Need Enzymes for Good Digestion & Health (+ 8 Signs You May Have an Enzyme Deficiency)
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One of the critical functions of the human body is to convert the foods we eat into smaller substances that serve as metabolic building blocks to regenerate blood, repair cells, build muscle tissue, and eliminate waste, among other duties.
Every time we put even a small morsel of food into our mouths, our bodies initiate a complex series of chemical reactions that facilitates its breakdown and assimilation. The absence of this process which would result in our sure and rapid demise − our bodies would essentially starve due to malnourishment.
Often when we talk about how the process works from a digestive standpoint, stomach acid and probiotic bacteria get most of the spotlight. But there’s another, perhaps even more important, piece of the puzzle that deserves at least equal attention: enzymes.
Enzymes are the catalysts that set the entire life cycle into motion, not only in the digestive tract but throughout the body. Enzymes are responsible for regulating every system of the body, and without them life simply couldn’t exist. As a result, an enzyme deficiency can have serious consequences for your health and well-being.
What Are Enzymes?
By definition, enzymes are biological molecules − mostly proteins and amino acids − that actively stimulate all of the various chemical reactions necessary for life. Everything from the function of our senses and vital organs to the state of our minds, hormones, and even emotions are a function of healthy enzymatic expression.
There isn’t a single system of the body, in fact, that doesn’t require enzymes in order to do its job − that’s how critically important enzymes are for life.
There are believed to be as many as 70,000 different types of enzymes produced by the body, each one uniquely equipped to perform its own special role in the metabolic process. It might come as a surprise, but only a very small percentage of these enzymes (probably less than one percent) have anything to do with digestion, though many of them can still offer benefits in this regard when taken as a dietary supplement.
Enzymes basically make it easier for the body to perform jobs that 
would otherwise take far too long without them. They provision alternate pathways for chemical reactions to occur that require far less energy.
Enzymes also facilitate certain critical life processes that might not ever occur at all, were it not for their ability to overcome otherwise constraining internal variables like oxygen levels, pH balance, and temperature.
Your Immune System Needs Enzymes
A critical component of the immune system, enzymes are also uniquely equipped to handle harmful bacteria, viruses, and even cancer cells due to their generalized ability to target and unravel protein molecules all the way down to the amino acid level.
Proteins, in case you weren’t aware, are at the root of nearly every major health condition. They’re either the offender itself, as in the case of food allergies, or they protect the offender.
DNA damage, chronic inflammation, cancer tumors, and pathogenic infections are all examples of diseases that flourish due to rogue proteins.
So on the one hand, enzymes work to improve the efficiency of cellular metabolism, utilizing energy in such a way as to facilitate a high-level life cycle than would otherwise be impossible without them. They also root out and disengage the rogue proteins that contribute to and cause disease, making them a systemic force both for healing and regeneration.
Digestive Enzymes vs. Systemic Proteolytic Enzymes
You might already be familiar with digestive enzymes like amylase, lipase, and trypsin that help to pre-digest food before it passes into the stomach and small intestine, mimicking the enzymes naturally produced by the pancreas.
Processed Food Is Dead Food
Digestive enzymes are inherent to raw and living foods, helping to alleviate the immense digestive burden placed on our vital organs every time we eat.
This is one of the main reasons why consuming highly-processed foods is so problematic for digestion and overall health for both people and animals. Processed foods are enzymatically “dead” and very difficult to digest and assimilate.
Proteolytic Enzymes Are Systemic Healers
Beyond digestion, our bodies also rely upon enzymes that work at the systemic level to adaptively cleanse and rejuvenate the blood supply and heal soft tissue throughout the body.
This unique class of proteolytic enzymes, which includes names like serrapeptase, nattokinase, and Seaprose S (also known as Protease S), has been scientifically shown to function more in an antioxidant capacity, helping to:
- Keep inflammation in check by destroying inflammatory factors
- Improve circulatory function by preventing and dissolving blood clots
- Dissolve arterial and oral plaque
- Fortify immunity
- Improve exercise ability and recovery time
How they perform all of this and more can be explained by their highly-adaptable nature. Proteolytic enzymes are systemic healers that govern the totality of metabolic function, including gene expression.
And again, while the body makes these enzymes naturally, it often doesn’t 
do so efficiently enough to keep every system of the body in check, hence the reason why many people develop chronic health problems: they’re enzyme deficient.
Signs You May Have an Enzyme Deficiency
It’s a bit of a circular issue that highlights why enzymes are perhaps the most underrated nutrient class for health and well-being. Your body requires plenty of them, both of the digestive and proteolytic varieties, in order to function as it should.
Some of these enzymes are manufactured directly by the body, while others come from enzymatically active foods − the end result of having optimal levels of both being a well-functioning metabolic system.
A Healthy Diet Is Rich in Enzymes
The only way your body will ever have the capacity to produce enough of its own enzymes to complement those that come from food is through strict adherence to a healthy diet.
And yet, a healthy diet is only as beneficial as its enzyme content, since digestive enzymes are what ultimately facilitate the extraction and delivery of the food nutrients your body needs to activate its enzyme-production systems.
In other words, it all starts with healthy digestion, which in and of itself is contingent upon healthy intake of enzymes. One sign that you’re probably not getting enough enzymes is poor digestion. Digestive issues are rampant these days. According to a 2020 study published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, digestive issues affect more than 60% of elderly people.
Symptoms such as indigestion and acid reflux are almost sure signs that something is amiss in the enzymatic breakdown and movement of your food. Other signs of possible and likely enzyme deficiency include:
- lack of energy and motivation
- persistent brain “fog”
- hormonal imbalance
- adrenal fatigue
- chronic inflammation
- weak immune system
- yeast overgrowth (i.e. candida)
- bowel irregularities (i.e. irritable bowel syndrome)
- weight gain or trouble losing weight
Essentially, if you feel persistently sluggish, chronically ill in some way, or your body just isn’t operating up to par, chances are you’re not getting enough enzymes.
They’re often the missing link behind “mysterious” health conditions that don’t seem to have a cause, at least by conventional standards, but that persist and persist no matter what their sufferers do to try to overcome them.
If this sounds like you, perhaps it’s time to look into supplementing your diet with more enzymes − they might just be the remedy your body is begging to find.
Organixx Enzyme 17 contains a whopping FIVE kinds of powerful protease enzymes in combination with one of the most advanced enzyme blends on the planet. It’s scientifically designed to help your body break down and process nutrients for better absorption, digestion, and overall health.
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Article Summary
Enzymes are responsible for regulating every system of the body. Without them, life couldn’t exist.
Enzymes are a critical component of the immune system due to their ability to target and unravel protein molecules all the way down to the amino acid level. Proteins are at the root of nearly every major health condition.
Digestive enzymes are found in raw and living foods. Processed foods are enzymatically “dead” and very difficult to digest and assimilate.
Our bodies also rely on proteolytic enzymes that work at the systemic level to cleanse and rejuvenate the blood supply and heal soft tissue throughout the body.
Your body requires plenty of both digestive and proteolytic enzymes in order to function properly. If you feel persistently sluggish, chronically ill in some way, or your body just isn’t operating up to par, chances are you’re not getting enough enzymes.
The only way your body has the capacity to produce enough of its own enzymes is through a healthy diet and digestion.
Digestive issues are a common sign of an enzyme deficiency. Supplementing with a high-quality enzyme formula can be beneficial.
This is great information! I suspected having an enzyme deficiency and this article is right on the mark. As a senior person, I also suspect that older people produce less enzymes.Which is probably why body systems start to break down.
I love that all of your products are organic! And I trust Organixx. :) I currently use your iodine drops and essential oils. Unfortunately, a great many of your products, including this one, contain maize (often the first ingredient). I have been tested for food intolerance/sensitivity and tested positive for corn. Also Crohn's disease has been in remission for over 4 years without pharmaceuticals. Just by eating all Organic, not eating any grains, and eating fermented foods for probiotics. Wish I could take your product, but can't take the chance of getting an inflammatory reaction. Thank you for the great article!
Thanks for your feedback on this article, Janis. We are glad to hear from you and it is good to know that this post was able to give you the information you needed in order to understand your condition better. Thank you as well for choosing Nascent Iodine and Pure Essential Oils as a part of your health routine. We truly appreciate your trust and support in Organixx!
You are correct, OrganiZymes supplement does contain Sprouted Purple Maize (Zea mays), which is Purple Corn because we use certain enzymes from it (Amylase and Glucoamylase, Phytase) in our formulation. Thus, those with corn allergy/intolerance are not advised to take it. We recommend that you check out our other supplements that do not contain corn, for your reference: http://bit.ly/supplement-review-comm-fb.
To add, we are sorry to hear about your enzyme deficiency and Crohn's disease. We wish you the best in your remission and in your overall journey towards wellness!
Hello,
How do the enzymes work together with the probiotics as in the 2 products you offer?
Taking both together or rather one or the other or ...
Best,
Susanne
Hi Susanne,
Thank you for your question. We'll be more than happy to address this for you.
OrganiZymes is an enzyme supplement. Enzymes play a critical role in the repair of damaged tissue, the digestion of food, and are needed for every chemical reaction that occurs in our body. Vitamins, minerals, hormones.. none of these can do any work without enzymes.
When you eat, enzymes assist in breaking down the food while it's still in your stomach. Your pancreas plays a big role in manufacturing enzymes, and as a supplement, OrganiZymes can reduce the load on your pancreas.
Meanwhile, ProBiotixx can improve your digestive health. By improving the health of your gut, you improve your immune system. As a majority of your immune system resides in your digestive system, the best way to boost your immune system is to provide your digestive system with probiotics.
ProBiotixx and OrganiZymes are designed to work together, synergistically. They are actually more potent when taken together as a system than they are individually. You can find more information on this topic via our Organixx Youtube video linked below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02N53viukK8
Hope you found this helpful! Wishing you all the best on your wellness journey!!
What sort of treatment or diet would I need to relieve Gastric Reflux (GERD). I have diabetes (which is under control - take insulin and tablets Janovia)
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Do not have diabetes but have acid reflux. Been on Prilosec for 40 years.
Hi Av, thanks for your question.
We highly recommend that this question be relayed to a trusted medical specialist who can help you determine what kind of diet or treatment should be given to you regarding your current medical conditions and medications.
If you are interested to refer to your physician the Organixx OrganiZymes, a revolutionary and ultra-powerful enzyme supplement, kindly use the following links for more information:
https://organixx.com › organizymes
https://shop.organixx.com/collections/all-products/products/organizymes
We hope this helped and we wish you the best in your wellness journey!
I have used and benefitted greatly from OganiZymes for years. I have run out of them and now cannot find them on your website. Am I overlooking them?
Hi Charlotte, We appreciate your support. As you may know we try our best to stay up to date on the most relevant information regarding supplements. With that said we decided to do away with the OrganiZymes a while back. We now offer Enzyme 17. It is designed to enhance digestion for ALL types of foods and diets from plant-based to carnivore. Helps repair damaged intestinal walls and increases absorption of certain vitamins and minerals. Improves digestive balance and reduces acid reflux, constipation, gas, and bloating.
Boosts energy by increasing metabolism of carbs, fat, and protein for fuel. You can read more here: https://shop.organixx.com/products/enzyme-17 Have a wonderful day!
I have a meninguoma brain tumor. It is not cancerous. I had radiation treatments in 2018. However , it is still growing. I had researched possible ways to have tumor shrink. I had found that a large amount of protease enzymes , etc will take the outer coating of tumor away so my immunity can attack the abnormal cells. What amount do you recommend I take daily of your enzyme product , etc. My phone number is ###-###-####. Thank you I believe trypsin enzymes , as well. I do not have that information in front of me.
Hi Robert, Thank you for sharing a portion of your health journey with us. Sending prayers your way. This is very interesting information. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide specific health advice. We ask that you direct these type of questions to your trusted healthcare provider. We want you to be safe and healthy. However, we can provide detailed information including a label so you may discuss this with your doctor. Please find the product information here https://shop.organixx.com/products/enzyme-17 Wishing you a happy and healthy day!
Wow, this just woke me up I haven't been taking them regularly, mostly depending on betaine hcl to break down my food, because I have low stomach acid. I am taking the betaine with higher protien meals and just beem skipping the enzymes.
oranges and apples here, I still need both, enzymes just before my meal and the betaine when eating or almost finished. You put this article together with all the reasons why I began taking enzymes. Thanks