Digestive Enzymes Explained: Why Your Body Might Need Help

Digestive enzymes are one of those things that most people have heard of but very few actually understand. You know they exist. You know they’re something to do with digestion. Beyond that, it gets hazy.

And that’s a problem, because for a huge number of women, insufficient enzyme production is the reason they’re bloated, uncomfortable, and not getting the nutrition they need from their food and they don’t know it.

So let me explain what’s actually going on. Simply.

What digestive enzymes do

When you eat, your body needs to break food down from what’s on your plate into molecules small enough to absorb through your gut lining (your small intestine). That’s the entire job of digestion, taking a piece of chicken or a slice of bread and reducing it to amino acids, fatty acids, and simple sugars that your cells can actually use.

Enzymes are the tools that do this work. Each enzyme specialises in a specific type of food:

Lipase breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol. Without adequate lipase, fats pass through your system undigested causing discomfort and meaning you’re not absorbing fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K.

Protease breaks down proteins into amino acids. These are essential for muscle repair, hormone production, immune function, and cellular maintenance. Poor protein digestion can contribute to muscle wasting, weakened immunity, and slow recovery.

Amylase breaks down starches and complex carbohydrates into simple sugars. This process starts in your mouth (which is why chewing matters) and continues in your small intestine.

Lactase breaks down lactose, the sugar in dairy products. Many adults produce less lactase than they did as children, which is why dairy intolerance often develops in adulthood.

Cellulase breaks down cellulose, the structural fibre in plant cell walls. Humans don’t produce cellulase naturally, which is one reason raw vegetables can cause bloating and gas. Supplemental cellulase helps your body access the nutrients locked inside plant cells.

Bromelain (an added extra in the fromel digestive enzymes) is a natural enzyme from pineapple that supports protein digestion and has anti-inflammatory properties. It’s been used therapeutically for decades.

Your body produces most of these enzymes in the pancreas, stomach lining, and small intestine. When production is adequate, digestion happens smoothly and you barely notice it. When it’s not, that’s when problems start.

Why enzyme production decreases

This is the bit that catches most women off guard. Your enzyme production isn’t fixed. It changes throughout your life, and several factors reduce it:

Age. This is the biggest factor. Enzyme production begins declining in your 30s and continues dropping through your 40s, 50s, and beyond. A 45-year-old woman could produce significantly fewer digestive enzymes than she did at 25 even if her diet hasn’t changed.

Stress. When you’re stressed, your body activates the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight) and diverts resources away from digestion. Chronic stress means chronically suppressed enzyme production. This is why stressful life periods often coincide with digestive problems.

Low stomach acid. Your stomach needs hydrochloric acid to activate pepsin (a key protein-digesting enzyme) and to signal your pancreas to release its enzymes. When stomach acid is low from ageing, stress, medication, or diet the entire enzyme cascade is compromised.

Hormonal changes. Oestrogen influences digestive enzyme production. During perimenopause and menopause, as oestrogen declines, many women experience a noticeable drop in digestive capacity. Foods they’ve eaten comfortably for decades suddenly cause bloating and discomfort.

Illness and medication. Conditions affecting the pancreas, liver, or small intestine can reduce enzyme production. Certain medications, particularly proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and antacids reduce stomach acid, which impairs enzyme activation.

Signs you might need enzyme support

In clinic, these were the patterns I saw most consistently in women with insufficient enzyme production:

• Bloating within 30–60 minutes of eating (as opposed to bloating that builds throughout the day, which is more likely microbiome-related)
• A heavy, full feeling after meals that lasts for hours
• Visible undigested food in stools
• The 3pm energy crash after lunch
• Increasingly avoiding foods because of how they make you feel
• Feeling like you’re developing new food intolerances in your 30s and 40s
• Reflux or heartburn (often mistaken for excess acid when it’s actually low acid)

If several of these resonate, your enzyme levels are probably part of the picture.

What to look for in an enzyme supplement

Not all enzyme supplements are created equal. Here’s what matters:

Broad spectrum. You want enzymes that cover all major food groups, fats, proteins, carbohydrates, dairy, and plant fibres. A supplement with only one or two enzymes won’t address the full picture.

Betaine HCl. This supports your stomach’s natural acid production, which is critical for enzyme activation. Most enzyme supplements don’t include it, which always puzzled me because low stomach acid is often the underlying issue.

Herbal support. Ginger, fennel, and peppermint have centuries of traditional use and modern research supporting their role in digestive comfort. They’re not gimmicks, they genuinely help reduce gas, bloating, and cramping.

Clean formulation. No artificial colours, no unnecessary fillers, vegetable capsules. If you’re taking something to improve your digestion, it shouldn’t contain ingredients that work against it.

How to take them

This is simpler than most people think:

Take 1–2 capsules at the start of your meal. Not after - at the start or just before. The enzymes need to be present when food arrives in your stomach.

Start with your biggest or most problematic meal of the day. Many women find lunch is the worst (it’s often eaten quickly, at a desk, while stressed, the perfect storm for poor digestion).

You don’t necessarily need them with every meal. Some women take them three times a day, others only use them when they know they’re eating something that usually causes problems. Listen to your body.

Most women notice a difference within the first meal or two. Enzymes work immediately on the food you’re eating, this isn’t something you need to wait weeks for.

The bigger picture

Enzymes address the mechanical breakdown of food. But digestion is only one part of gut health. If you’re also dealing with persistent microbiome imbalance (bloating that’s not meal-related, irregular bowel movements, skin issues) or poor hydration (afternoon fatigue, headaches, constipation), enzymes alone won’t solve everything.

That’s why I built fromel as three products rather than one. The enzymes handle digestion. The synbiotic probiotic handles your microbiome. The electrolytes handle hydration. Together, they cover the full picture. Separately, each one addresses a specific piece.