By Stephanie Crumley HillWhile we think of arthritis as a disease which affects only the joints, it is a systemic disease which impacts our entire health. Inflammation is a hallmark of the disease. If you suffer from arthritis and want relief without the side effects of prescription medications, you may be able to find relief, as well as improved overall health, by taking digestive enzymes.
Defining Digestive Enzymes
Digestive enzymes are produced by your body to help you break down the foods you eat so that the nutrition contained in those foods can be absorbed and used by your body. Digestive enzymes are present in your saliva, in your stomach and small intestine, as well as in some of the foods you eat. Different enzymes target different components in food. Amylase in your saliva, for example, begins breaking down carbohydrates. While digestive enzymes are crucial to digestion, they play other important roles in the body as well. One of those roles is in helping the body reduce the duration and severity of inflammation and helping with tissue repair and recovery time. As you age, your body's production of digestive enzymes decreases. Coincidentally, arthritis is more common as you age.
