Enzymes in Children's Digestive System

As their young bodies grow, children need enough nutrients to fuel their bone development, and enhance muscle, nerve and other body functions. So how and where can they get nutrients?

The body can receive vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and nutrients from food intake. Healthy food contains various types of nutrients that are needed to boost the child's immune system, as well as assist in their body's development. For instance, they need calcium for building strong bones and teeth, protein for healthy muscles and tissues, and carbohydrate as a source of energy. Their bodies also need fat and fibre.  

Digestive Enzymes

But it takes more than just giving your child the right food to make sure that they get enough nutrients. Digestive enzymes, a special kind of protein, are necessary in chemically breaking down food. With the help of digestive enzymes kids receive the nutrients their bodies need after these nutrients have been distributed throughout the cells.

From the time your child starts chewing food, an enzyme called amylase, which is present in the saliva, begins to break down carbohydrates and starches. This is why it is important that children chew their food carefully. Other digestive enzymes include lipase that breaks down fats in dairy products, protease that breaks down proteins in meats, lactase that breaks down milk sugars, and cellulase that breaks down plant fibre.

Insufficient Production of Enzymes

If there is insufficient production of digestive enzymes, or the body lacks support from specific enzymes that are necessary to process certain foods, your child's body may experience digestive stress or imbalance, which may result to:

•         Slower transit of food in the digestive tract
•         Upset stomach
•     Bloating
• Constipation
• Impaired absorption of nutrients

Sources of Digestive Enzymes

Enzymes are formed from strings of amino acids. To ensure that your child's body can produce sufficient digestive enzymes, increase their amino acids intake. Essential amino acids can be found in dairy products, meat and eggs. In addition, you can also give your child supplements that contain vitamin B7, which is necessary in the metabolism of certain amino acids.

Although the body produces its own enzymes, it also makes use of enzymes from food intake. Enzymes can be extracted from living organisms. Thus, adding around 2-3 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables in their daily diet is a great source of digestive enzymes for children. The best way to benefit from fruits and vegetables is to pick freshly harvested produce and consume it right away, or within a few days.