Aspergillopepsin is a protease that breaks down a broad spectrum of proteins. And, as a bonus, it has been studied for its potential ability to digest gluten.

Beta glucanase helps break down beta glucans, which are polysaccharides found in barley, oats, and mushrooms. Beta glucans are a soluble fiber that can slow digestion and reduce carbohydrate absoprtion. You may also know beta glucanase from its use in beer brewing to create fermentable sugars.

Bromelain is a digestive enzyme that naturally occurs in pineapple. Bromelain specifically helps break down proteins, but research has found wide-reaching benefits of this enzyme, from your gut to your heart. Bromelain may reduce the duration of nasal congestion for children with colds, improve physical function and reduce stiffness in individuals with knee pain, and decrease the amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines in cells from individuals with inflammatory bowel disease.

Cellulase is a digestive enzyme that breaks cellulose down into glucose. Cellulose is found in the cell walls of plants (which we love!), but humans don't naturally make cellulase. Thus, we include cellulase in Break it Down to improve your digestion of fruits and vegetables. Studies have suggested that cellulase may also help break down harmful biofilms created by bacteria.

Amylase is an enzyme that is naturally present in the mouth and the instestines. Amylase begins the breakdown of starch to smaller molecules called oligosaccharides. This is an important first step to faciliating the breakdown and absorption of carbohydrates - your body's main energy source. Amylase has been studied for its potential to alter the texture of starches and improve their digestibility. Interestingly, research also suggests that having a genetic predisposition to generate more amylase enzyme might be associated with lower obesity risk.

Glucoamylase is an important digestive enzyme that works with amylase to break down and convert starch into glucose, before it's absorbed in your intestines. We care about glucose because it's the carbohydrate that your body uses for energy.

Hemicellulase is a digestive enzyme that specifically breaks up hemicellulose, a starch-based molecule that is found in cell walls. Humans don't generate hemicellulase on their own; rather, we rely on microbes in the digestive system to break up these molecules into smaller sugars. But helping to facilitate the process is important. Researchers have found that the enzymatic break down of hemicellulose increases the digestibility of your food and forms prebiotics that feed the bacteria in the microbiome.

Papain is a digestive enzyme derived from unripe papaya. Papain is a peptidase, meaning it helps break down protein. What's more: papain is particularly useful for breaking down the proteins found in meat.

Pectin is a fiber that makes up the cell walls of fruits and vegetables. When pectin is broken down, it acts as a prebiotic, providing food for the bacteria that live in the digestive system. Pectinase is an enzyme that helps break down the pectin, which may make the pectin more bioavailable as a prebiotic.

Peptidase is a broad term for the digestive enzymes that break down proteins to their component amino acids. These amino acids are ultimately what's absorbed in your instestines and used as the building blocks of your hormones and muscles.

Phytic acid is a compound commonly found in plant foods like leafy greens and beans. If it's not properly broken down, phytic acid binds to essential minerals like iron and zinc, making the body unable to absorb those minerals. Phytase is the digestive enzyme that breaks down phytic acid, allowing minerals to be better absorbed by the body.

Pineapple adds a delicious flavor to our digestive enzymes, as well as an abundance of nutrients and benefits. Many of its benefits are due to bromelain, a digestive enzyme that is found in the pineapple juice powder. We love it so much that we added it as its own enzyme in Break It Down. Pineapple also has high levels of vitamin C, manganese, potassium, and magnesium.

Pancreatin is a combination of lipases (enzymes that break down fat) and proteases (enzymes that break down protein). Our pancreatin is vegan-friendly. Vegan/vegetarian pancreatin has been found to be effective both in the high-acidity environment of the stomach and the more basic environment of the intestines, so you get support throughout the digestive system.

Xylanase is a digestive enyzme that breaks down xylan, a polysaccharide found in the cell walls of cereals and grains. Research suggests that when xylans are broken down into smaller xylose molecules, they may have beneficial health effects, acting as a prebiotic and even exhibiting some antibacterial and immune-boosting properties.