How Protease Help You Digest Protein

Protein is generally hailed as one of the “building blocks” of the human body, being an essential component in many bodily structures as well as bodily processes. However, like every other type of nutrient, our ability to utilise it depends on our ability to extract it from our diet or other sources.

The primary ways that our bodies extract nutrients from our diet is through enzymes, and in protein’s case, the primary enzymes that get the job done are proteases, also known as peptidases and proteinases. Notably, both plants and animals rely on proteases for daily function, and this fact may be highly relevant for your health, as we will explain (1).

The Role of Protease

Compared to lipase and amylase, which break down fats and carbohydrates, respectively, the protease family has more extensive roles. Yes, protease helps break down proteins in foods into amino acids, which the body can then use for energy. This mirrors its counterparts. But where proteases stand apart is the fact that they also play a number of other roles in essential processes, such as:

• Blood clotting
• Cell division
• Recycling of proteins
• Immune support (2)

In some cases, enzymes are directly responsible for activating these processes, and in other cases, they speed them up to the point where they have a notable effect. Studies are also showing that the presence of additional protease may have some potential health benefits. Here are some standout findings:

Digestive support: As mentioned before protease helps the body absorb essential amino acids, however by helping the digestive process, protease enzymes may also further help people who are experiencing indigestion symptoms like loss of appetite, bloating and abdominal discomfort (3).

Muscle soreness: Athletes consider protein to be a major part of their health regimen, and protease may factor in as well. In one study, a protease enzyme blend reduced muscle tenderness and soreness post-workout over a placebo (4).

Wound healing: One small study showed that swelling and discomfort sensations were reduced in post-dental surgery patients after taking the protease enzyme serrapeptase (5).

So now that we know all that proteases can do, where can you get them from? As mentioned earlier, both plants and animals have proteases, and in some cases, incorporating those plant enzymes is a great option. Plant enzymes are found in a number of fruits including papayas, pineapple, ginger, asparagus, kiwifruit and kimchi.

However, incorporating plant enzymes for protein digestion alongside enzymes for the digestion of fats, carbohydrates and lactose can be a simple and easy method to support our digestive capability. Digest Premium, for example, uses protease in a digestive formula that helps with nutrient absorption while also supporting the digestion of the other macronutrients. Overall, increasing the levels of enzymes can support the optimal extraction of nutrients from our diet, leading to greater nutritional bioavailability for our overall health and wellbeing.