Question

What foods help digest protein?

Answer 1

Protein is one of the most important substances in the body. It is a very large nutrient which is made up of smaller substances called amino acids. There are 20 amino acids, but our body makes only 11 out of them. The remaining nine are called essential amino acids, to which we can only get through our diet. Besides that, there are some foods (such as papaya, ginger, pineapple etc.) which contain the digestive enzyme and help in protein digestion.

Complete answer:
Digestive enzymes are necessary for this process, as they break down the molecules like proteins into smaller molecules that can be easily absorbed. Following these are some foods which digest the protein;
Pineapple- In particular, pineapples contain a group of digestive enzymes called bromelain. These enzymes are proteases, which break down protein into its building blocks, including amino acids. It aids the digestion and absorption of proteins. Bromelain is also available as a supplement.
Papaya- Like pineapples, papayas also contain proteases that help digest proteins. However, they contain a different group of proteases known as papain which breaks down proteins into building blocks, including amino acids. Make sure to eat papayas ripe and uncooked, as high heat can destroy their digestive enzymes.
Ginger- Ginger contains the digestive enzyme, called zingibain, which is a protease. It digests proteins into their building blocks. Zingibain is used commercially to make ginger milk curd, a popular Chinese dessert.
Kiwifruit- It is an edible berry that is often recommended to ease digestion. It is a great source of digestive enzymes, particularly a protease called actinidain. This enzyme helps digest proteins and is commercially used to tenderize tough meats.

Note:
Besides the above foods, honey, Kefir and kimich also help to digest the protein. Kefir is a fermented milk beverage that contains many digestive enzymes, including lipases, proteases and lactases. These enzymes break down fat, protein and lactose molecules, respectively. While kimchi is a spicy Korean side dish made from fermented vegetables. Kimchi contains bacteria of the Bacillus species, which produce proteases, lipases and amylases. These enzymes digest proteins, fats and carbs, respectively.