Q: “I have been taking digestive enzymes and found that they have been helpful in reducing heartburn and indigestion. I wondered whether I can stay on them long term?”

A: Digestive enzymes are substances that enable the food you eat to be broken down efficiently. As we get older, we can end up producing less digestive enzymes.

Your body is dependent on the food you eat in order to function correctly but in turn that food must be digested and absorbed efficiently in order to get the full benefit. It has been said that ‘you are what you eat’ but it is even truer to say ‘you are what you absorb’ because if you try to eat well and take vitamins and minerals but you can’t absorb them then they are being wasted. If you felt better taking the digestive enzymes then I would suggest you continue on them as they are helping your body absorb more of what it needs.