Is Your Body Truly Getting All the Nutrients from Your Food?

Have you noticed your food lingering in your gut longer than it should? Does your digestion feel sluggish or leave you struggling to break down proteins—whether from plants or meat? Do fatty foods leave you feeling drained, or do carbohydrates make you feel bloated?

These could be signs that your body lacks sufficient digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid to effectively break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Without these vital tools, your stomach can’t transform macronutrients into their smallest, absorbable forms, making it harder for your body to fuel growth, repair, and energy. Let’s explore how to give your digestive system the support it needs to thrive¹.

The Purpose of Digestive Enzymes and Hydrochloric Acid

Digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid are essential for breaking down the food we eat into nutrients that the body can absorb and use for energy, growth, and repair.

Your digestive system operates in three key stages after the salivary enzymes (amylase and lipase) begin the initial breakdown of carbohydrates and fats in the mouth.²

The Stomach

• In the stomach, food is mixed and churned with hydrochloric acid and pepsin (a protein-digesting enzyme).

• Hydrochloric acid creates an acidic environment to kill pathogens, denature proteins, and activate pepsin.

• This process turns food into a semi-liquid mixture called chyme, making it easier to digest in the next stage.

The Small Intestine

• Chyme moves into the small intestine, where it is further broken down by digestive enzymes from the pancreas.

• These enzymes target proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, breaking them into their smallest, absorbable components.

• The gallbladder releases bile, which emulsifies fats, allowing pancreatic enzymes to work more effectively.

The Large Intestine

• Any undigested material moves to the large intestine, where water is absorbed, and beneficial gut bacteria help process the remaining nutrients.

What Is the Impact of Low Digestive Enzymes and Low Stomach Acid?

The digestive system is a finely tuned process that ensures macronutrients—proteins, fats, and carbohydrates—are broken down effectively to fuel and repair the body.³

When this process is disrupted by low digestive enzymes or low stomach acid, the consequences can be significant. Without proper activation of enzymes, the body struggles to break down food, leading to symptoms such as bloating, gas, indigestion, nausea, and poor nutrient absorption.

Inadequate digestion, especially of fats, can result in:

• Digestive symptoms: Diarrhea, greasy stools, bloating, and abdominal discomfort.

• Nutrient deficiencies: Weight loss, malnutrition, and difficulty absorbing essential nutrients like iron and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K).

  
  

This can trigger broader health issues:

• Anemia: Due to impaired absorption of iron, often found in red meat.

• Poor sleep: Caused by reduced tryptophan availability, an amino acid necessary for producing melatonin.

• Cognitive effects: The brain may suffer due to inadequate nutrient supply for optimal function.

Low stomach acid and enzyme levels can profoundly affect overall health by causing systemic symptoms and I'll health.

Solutions for Low Stomach Acid and Digestive Enzymes: Enhancing Protein Digestion and Absorption

Part I: Pineapple and Papaya Enzymes for Protein Digestion

Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain, which is highly effective at breaking down proteins. Bromelain's protein-digesting abilities were so recognized that it was even used as a meat tenderizer by the U.S. military during World War II.⁴

Similarly, papaya contains the enzyme papain, another powerful protein-digesting enzyme commonly used to tenderize meat.

Both bromelain and papain work by breaking the bonds between peptides (chains of amino acids), making proteins easier to digest and absorb. These natural enzymes can play a significant role in supporting protein digestion, especially when stomach acid or digestive enzymes are low.⁵

You can enhance digestion by adding papaya to your morning smoothie or incorporating fresh pineapple juice into your meat dishes, as demonstrated in the recipe below.

Part II: Supplements

The pancreas and gallbladder play crucial roles in digestion by releasing powerful enzymes and bile salts into the small intestine. These substances break down carbohydrates and fats, enabling their absorption into the bloodstream for energy, repair, and growth.

However, challenges can arise if the gallbladder—responsible for releasing bile salts to emulsify fats—is removed, or if the body lacks essential nutrients needed to produce digestive enzymes and their co-enzymes such as B-vitamins and co-factors like zinc and magnesium. Without these critical components, the digestion and absorption of nutrients can become compromised, potentially leading to malabsorption and nutrient deficiencies.

So, what are your options to support digestion and maintain optimal health?

Talk to Your Doctor About Digestive Enzymes and Hydrochloric Acid

Digestive enzymes can support digestion when natural enzyme production is low, whether due to low stomach acid, a missing gallbladder, or an overburdened pancreas. These enzymes work in the stomach or small intestine to break down nutrients efficiently.

What to Look For in Digestive Enzymes

Choose enzymes that target all macronutrients:

• Fats: Look for bile salts (e.g., Ox Bile Extract) and lipase to aid fat digestion.

• Proteins: Include protease, bromelain, and papain for breaking down proteins into amino acids.

• Carbohydrates: Ensure amylase for starches and cellulase for plant fibers.

Why These Are Important

• Lipase and bile salts replace the gallbladder’s role in fat digestion.

• Protease enzymes support natural protein breakdown.

• Carbohydrate-digesting enzymes improve nutrient absorption and reduce bloating from undigested fibers.

Consult with your doctor to find the right digestive enzymes for your needs. Utilize the table and example below for enzyme examples and their functions when buying supplements. It is usually recommended to take HCL and enzymes 30 minutes before a meal.

Hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes are vital for absorbing nutrients, reducing symptoms like bloating, gas, and nausea, and fueling your body for energy, repair, and growth.

Want to learn more about your digestive symptoms after reading this? Reach out—I can help you uncover the root cause and find solutions tailored to your health needs.