What would our digestion look like under a microscope? Imagine eating a delicious plate of spaghetti with cheese sauce. The great taste is just the beginning… the real magic only begins in your digestive tract. That’s where the specialists spring into action: digestive enzymes . These ‘mini-machines’ are responsible for ensuring your body can extract everything it needs from food: energy, building blocks and nutrients. Without them, you’d get almost nothing from your food, smoothies or meat. There are several digestive enzymes, and each has a specific role: Amylase begins to work as early as in the mouth, where it breaks down starches (e.g. from pasta) into simple sugars. Protease in the stomach and small intestine breaks down proteins (e.g. from cheese) into amino acids, which build muscles. Lipase breaks down fats into fatty acids, which the body uses as fuel. Lactase helps digest lactose from dairy products; if you lack it, you’ll experience the familiar ‘stomach upset’. Cellulase , although not naturally produced by the body, helps break down fibre from plants. Maltase and sucrase break down sugars (maltose,