Digestive Enzymes

• Enzymes play a crucial role in digestion by breaking down the large molecules we eat into smaller soluble molecules that can be absorbed through our intestinal lining.
• The three main groups of nutrients that need to be broken down are carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
• Carbohydrates are found mainly in foods like pasta, potatoes, and rice, and our body uses them mainly as an energy source.
• The main type of carbohydrate is starch, which is broken down by an enzyme called amylase into smaller sugars such as maltose.
• Amylase is made in three different places: the salivary glands of the mouth, the pancreas, and the small intestine.
• Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starches, which are found in foods like nuts, meats, and beans.
• Protease enzymes break down proteins into amino acids.
• Protease enzymes are also made in the stomach, where they're called peptin.
• Proteases are also made in the pancreas and the small intestine.
• Fats, also known as lipids, are found in foods like cheese, oils, and chocolate.
• Fats are broken down by lipases into both glitteral and fatty acids.
• Lipase enzymes are only produced in the pancreas and small intestine.