We all know that there are nutrients in the foods we eat, but we might forget that they can only benefit our health if we are able to absorb them. The stomach secretes digestive enzymes, but as we age, they typically diminish. Fortunately, naturally-occurring enzymes found in some foods facilitate nutrient absorption and improve digestion, helping us to get the bone-healthy vitamins and minerals we need.
Today you’ll learn about the most important digestive enzymes and which foods contain them. Having enough of these enzymes is especially important if you have gastrointestinal problems– which can lead to accelerated bone loss. However, they are critical for every Saver to maximize the bone-building power of their diet.
Gastrointestinal Health Is Critical For Bone Health
Studies show that many gastrointestinal disorders can cause bone loss that leads to fractures. A report published in the journal Gastroenterology & Hepatology explains why:
“The unique aspects of gastrointestinal diseases associated with osteoporosis include early onset of disease (and, therefore, prolonged exposure to risk factors for developing osteoporosis, particularly with inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease), malabsorption, and maldigestion of nutrients necessary for bone health and maintenance (eg, calcium, vitamin D), as well as the impact of glucocorticoids. These factors, when added to smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, hypogonadism, and a family history of osteoporosis, accumulate into an imposing package of predictors for osteoporotic fracture.”
The key phrase in that passage is “malabsorption and maldigestion of nutrients necessary for bone health.” Those outcomes of gastrointestinal diseases make them drivers of bone loss.
Addressing gastrointestinal disorders is critical for Savers. But even for Savers without digestive problems, supporting and improving digestion is an important way to prevent and reverse osteoporosis. One way you can do that is by ensuring your diet contains digestive enzymes.
There are digestive enzyme supplements for those who have pancreatic insufficiency or other gastrointestinal ailments. But if you don't have a special condition, you can rely on foods that are a naturally rich source of digestive enzymes.
Synopsis
Gastrointestinal diseases cause poor absorption of nutrients, which can lead to bone loss and reduction of bone health. This underscores the importance of healthy digestion for healthy bones.
All About Digestive Enzymes
Digestive enzymes offer an effective and natural way to support your bone health. They ensure the nutrients in your diet get absorbed and can then be utilized by your body to build stronger bones.
Enzymes are compounds, often proteins, that increase the rate of chemical reactions. Digestive enzymes help your body break down the food you eat into nutrients you can absorb. There are many varieties of digestive enzymes.
- Protease enzymes break down proteins in food to their component amino acids.
- Lipase enzymes break down fats into fatty acids and glycerol, which the body can absorb and use.
- Amylase enzymes break down starches and sugars, turning complex carbohydrates into simple sugars.
You need all three to ensure your body gets the combination of nutrients it needs to build and maintain your bones. Fortunately, there are foods that provide these powerful enzymes.
Synopsis
Common foods contain enzymes that aid the breakdown and absorption of nutrients. The major enzymes break down proteins (proteases), fats (lipases), and carbohydrates (amylases) into smaller compounds your body can absorb and use.
Foods Containing Digestive Enzymes
Make sure you're incorporating these foods into your diet regularly. They contain a variety of essential digestive enzymes.
- Ginger – Ginger contains a protease digestive enzyme called zingibain. You may have heard that ginger helps reduce gas, bloating, and indigestion. This enzyme is the reason why. It helps move food through the digestive tract more efficiently. Ginger is an especially appealing ingredient for winter weather. It offers a warm and gentle spice to baked goods, beverages, and more.
- Mango – Mangos contain amylase. This enzyme makes it easier for your body to break down starches into absorbable carbohydrate molecules. The riper a mango is, the more active these powerful enzymes will be.
- Avocado* – Avocados contain lipase, the enzyme that helps metabolise and digest fats. That makes perfect sense, since avocados are a great source of healthy fats. They also provide Foundation Supplements like Vitamins K and C.
- Pineapple* – Pineapple contains a special compound called bromelain that consists of a mixture of enzymes that help to digest protein. These protease enzymes are critical for helping you get the protein you need to build muscle mass. Strong muscles are essential for preventing falls and for stimulating bone growth. Like many digestive enzymes, bromelain is sensitive to heat. So eat raw pineapple to get its full digestive benefits.
- Bananas* – Bananas are a great source of amylase and maltase enzymes. Maltase breaks down the malt sugar in starchy grains and veggies. Amylase breaks down complex carbohydrates. Bananas are also a great source of fiber, biotin, and potassium.
- Papaya* – Papaya contains a special protease called papain. Like bromelain in pineapples, papain is heat sensitive. So eat your papaya raw. This sweet fruit's beautiful yellow-orange color comes from its high concentration of bone-building antioxidants called carotenoids.
- Raw Honey* – Honey is rich in digestive enzymes. They include proteases that break down proteins, diastases that break down starches, and invertases that break down sugars. Processed honey is often heated during treatment, destroying those enzymes. Choose raw honey to ensure you get its digestive benefits.
*Denotes a Foundation Food
Synopsis
Enzyme-rich foods include ginger, mango, avocado, pineapple, bananas, papaya, and raw honey. Make sure they're part of your diet.
What This Means To You
It is truly remarkable that our diet can provide both the nutrients we need and the enzymes that help us to absorb them.
Nature is filled with resources to keep us healthy. When we understand how these systems work, we can harness them to ensure that our bones stay strong and resilient. That's why the Osteoporosis Reversal Program looks to science and nature for a holistic path to bone health, instead of relying on the tunnel-vision of Big Pharma and the Medical Establishment.
Keep eating a colorful, delicious, and varied diet, full of the foods you love. With a little intentionality, you can benefit from the joy of eating to ensure a life of action, independence, and satisfaction.
References
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2950667/#__ffn_sectitle
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Curb Your Sugar Cravings With Strategies From Scientific StudiesComments on this article are closed.
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Is making my own ginger tea ( using real ginger)
better for me than using ginger tea bags? -
So I assume raw pineapple is what you buy in cans at the grocery store ( I assume that is uncooked) or should you buy an entire pineapple
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Great information in this email. I wanted to ask,
Can you take digestive enzymes even without any health problems?
But for a high protein diet ( heavy weight lifting etc)
Regards
Rob-
Rob, digestive enzymes supplements are recommended for those who have difficulty with digestion and experience digestive trouble after eating. The good news is that there is a test to determine if there’s an enzyme deficiency: pancreatic elastase.
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Could you please compare Naturelo Bone Strength supplement with True Osteo as it is also derived from algea. Some of the amounts vary a bit but I would like to try this product.
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Mary, please check your email inbox within the next 24 to 48 hours for an answer to your question. We are excited to help you!
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Do you approve Pro Bono by Ortho Molecular Products?
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Connie, Pro Bono contains strontium, so we do not recommend taking it. You can read our views on strontium here:
https://saveourbones.com/strontium-science-based-facts-vs-fiction/
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Vivian. Great info. I am taking a calcium product that contains 7 MG of strontium that is sourced from Aquamin Icelandic red algae and a multi vitamin supplement that contains only 297 MCG (micrograms) of strontium from Citrate and a bone builder product that contains 420 MG calcium as MCHC (microcrystaline hydroxyapatite Concentrate) and additional 1.9 Grams of MCHC. Is this OK or in general too much? Thanks! John
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Wonderfully helpful information. Thank you so much.
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I’m glad to share practical health information with Savers, Lynda! You’re so welcome!
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How is it possible to eat raw pineapple, papaya? Can anyone do it?
On a different note, what exactly is raw honey? Does it mean organic?-
Raw means the fruits should be consumed uncooked.
And to answer your question about raw honey, it is unprocessed and simply filtered using a mesh to eliminate the impurities it might contain, such as beeswax or dead bees. It is not pasteurized, and for that reason, it is considered the closest version of the natural honey found in the beehives.
Organic honey is labeled when the bees, flowers, and honey are not sprayed with pesticides, chemicals, and other compounds that would not meet the organic criteria.
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Isn’t all the pineapple available in the stores raw, I’ve bought pineapple in little cups or jars, isn’t the pineapple in them raw? Can I also contact consumer support for help with the digestive enzymes, I have IBS and have had a couple diverticulitis episodes which I think might have affected my digestion.
Thanks,
Diane-
If by raw u mean the unripened fruit, which is what I understand by raw, then what u get in the stores is not raw. On the other hand, if raw means uncooked and ripe fruit, I plead guilty of misunderstanding. What exactly was meant in Vivian’s article?
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By raw we simply mean uncooked (i.e. not exposed to heat that could alter/destroy the enzymes). And by all means, you can contact Customer Support for guidance on selecting digestive enzymes.
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Do you recommend 1MD osteo for bone support?
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I took a quick look at their supplement and saw that it contains calcium hydroxyapatite, Camille. At the Save Institute, we recommend organic calcium derived from marine algae. You can read more about it here:
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Thank you, Ita.
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It’s my pleasure, Ita!
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Do you have a suggestion for non food sources of enzymes. I have chronic microscopic colitis and think I might benefit from them.
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Sandra, a digestive enzyme supplement is an alternative to food enzymes. If you would like help with this, please contact Customer Support.
I hope you’re not taking antacids, since researchers have found links between microscopic colitis and certain medications, which include commonly prescribed acid reducers such as lansoprazole (Prevacid) and ranitidine (Tritec, Zantac).
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Extremely important info. Thanks dear Vivian.
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You’re welcome, Ghassan! Digestion and nutrient absorption are often ignored by the Medical Establishment. In fact, commonly prescribed antacids such as proton-pump inhibitors impair proper digestion! You can read more about this topic here:
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Many thanks for all the valuable information. It is a great support to me and my family.
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You’re welcome, Mary!
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Vivien, thanks for all your great information.
Where do we get the enzyme test : pancreatic elastase?
Thanks in advance.
Ann