Following up on my recent article about the importance of enzymes for good digestion, I am sharing a list of foods loaded with plant and pancreatic enzymes.
You can always add an extra enzyme/digestive enzyme supplement after your meal, but eating foods rich in these enzymes is very smart when securing healthy digestion and disease prevention.
Pancreatic Enzymes
Did you know that your pancreas makes its own enzymes? These enzymes pass into your gut to help digest your food.
This is awesome, but if you’re diabetic, your pancreas may not be healthy or functioning properly because the hormones insulin and glucagon are also made in your pancreas to help regulate your blood sugar.
Who knows which comes first – a failing pancreas or the diabetes.
What we do know is how you can keep your pancreas healthy.
The enzymes made by your pancreas are:
- protease (typain and chymotrypain), which helps digest protein;
- amylase, which helps digest sugars and carbohydrates;
- lipase, which helps digest fat.
Plant Enzymes
Plant enzymes mirror the pancreatic enzymes, but your body does not produce these – they are found in the foods that you eat. Their purpose in raw food is for the food to digest itself.
This is actually what ripening is.
The four plant enzyme groups are:
- protease, which help digest protein;
- amylase, which helps digest sugars and carbohydrates;
- lipase, which breaks triglycerides into fatty acids;
- cellulase, which digests the carbohydrates found in fiber.
Pretty cool, huh?
Foods With Pancreatic Enzymes
Focus on foods that are high in protein and low in animal fat, especially if you have a form of diabetes.
- lean meats (no red meat or fried meats)
- beans and lentils
- clear soups
- flax milk and almond milk (no full-fat dairy)
- spinach
- blueberries
- cherries
- whole grains
- cherry tomatoes
- cucumbers
- hummus (chick peas)
- coconut oil (MCTs)
Foods With Plant Enzymes
Your body won’t have to work as hard to digest when you eat foods rich in enzymes.
Plant enzymes break down your food for energy, which can decrease inflammation and ease arthritic pain, among so many other benefits.
- pineapple
- mango
- papaya
- banana
- miso
- honey
- avocado
- kefir
- sauerkraut
- kiwi
- ginger
Adding these foods to your daily diet can promote better digestion and gut health.
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If you want to learn more about healthy eating, contact me at janethull.com. Remember that you are never alone when you are looking for good health!
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only, and is educational in nature. The FDA may not have evaluated some of the statements. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please discuss with your own, qualified health care provider before adding supplements or making any changes to your dietary program.
Before taking vitamins, consult your doctor; pre-existing medical conditions or medications you are taking can affect how your body responds to multivitamins.
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