What are enzymes? Why are they so important to our bodies?

Hello! How are you? Today we are going to talk about a group of things that silently, but very important work inside our bodies. They are called enzymes. You may have heard of this name. If not, it doesn't matter, today we will talk about it simply.

So what are these enzymes? Why do we need them?

Simply put, enzymes are a type of protein . They are like little robots that work in our bodies. Their main job is to speed up chemical reactions in our bodies, which is our metabolism . Think about it, these enzymes help to make some things and break down some things. In fact, all living things have enzymes. Our bodies produce enzymes naturally. We also get enzymes from some of the foods we eat and drink, and from some manufactured products.

What is the biggest help that enzymes provide to our bodies?

One of the most important things enzymes do is help with digestion . This is the process by which the food we eat is converted into energy. Think about it, there are enzymes in our saliva, pancreas, intestines, and stomach. These are the ones that break down and digest the fats, proteins, and carbohydrates that we eat. These nutrients are then used by our bodies for growth and cell repair. Not only that, enzymes help with many other things. Take a look:

• To breathe together
• For building muscle
• Nerve function
• Ridding our bodies of toxins is impossible without these enzymes.

Are there many types of enzymes?

Yes, there are thousands of different types of enzymes in our bodies. But the special thing is that each type of enzyme has only one job to do . Just like one key can only open one lock. For example, the enzyme Sucrase breaks down the sugar sucrose. The enzyme Lactase breaks down the sugar lactose found in dairy products. Let's look at some of the main types of enzymes that usually help us digest food:

What are the parts of an enzyme? How do they work?

Every enzyme has a place called the 'active site' . This place has a special shape. We call the substance that an enzyme works on a 'substrate' . This substrate also has a special shape. Like a lock and key. The enzyme and the substrate have to fit together exactly to work. Only when they fit together can the chemical reaction occur.

How do temperature and pH affect enzymes?

Enzymes need the right environmental conditions to work properly. If these conditions aren't right, the enzymes can change shape. Then they won't be compatible with the substrates we talked about earlier. So, they won't work properly. Every enzyme has a specific temperature and pH that it's best suited for:

• pH: Enzymes are very sensitive to acidity and alkalinity. They don't work properly if the environment is too acidic or too alkaline. For example, the enzyme pepsin in our stomach breaks down proteins. If you don't have enough acid in your stomach, pepsin can't work properly.
• Temperature: Enzymes work best when your body temperature is around 37 degrees Celsius (98.8 degrees Fahrenheit). As your temperature increases, enzyme reactions increase. However, if your temperature gets too high, the enzymes stop working. That's why a high fever can slow down our body's functions.

What diseases are caused by enzyme problems?

Metabolic disorders often occur when there is not enough of a certain enzyme. These can be passed down through genes (inherited) from parents to children. Let's look at some of the common metabolic disorders that are inherited:

• Fabry disease : This is a condition in which the body is unable to produce the enzyme alpha-galactosidase A, which is needed to break down lipids.
• Krabbe disease (globoid cell leukodystrophy): This affects the enzymes needed for the protective covering of nerve cells , i.e. myelin (Central Nervous System).
• Maple syrup urine disease: This affects the enzymes needed to break down certain branched chain amino acids .

In addition to this, there are other health conditions that can be caused by enzyme imbalances:

• Crohn's disease: An imbalance in the bacteria in your gut (gut microbiome ) can cause an autoimmune response in the gut. This may affect the symptoms and severity of Crohn's disease.
• Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI): This is when your pancreas doesn't produce enough digestive enzymes, meaning you can't properly break down food or absorb nutrients.
• Lactose intolerance : This is caused by a lack of the enzyme needed to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products.

When should you see a doctor about an enzyme problem?

It's really impossible to know for sure if you have an enzyme problem without a blood test. However, it's a good idea to see a doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain
• Bloating or gas
• Diarrhea
• Feeling very tired (Fatigue)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Unexplained weight loss
• Anemia
• Gastrointestinal bleeding