What role do enzymes play in digestion?

Enzymes play a crucial role in digestion by helping to break down food substances into smaller, absorbable components. They are biological catalysts that facilitate biochemical reactions, speeding up the process of digestion. During digestion, enzymes such as amylases, proteases, and lipases target specific food macromolecules—carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, respectively—breaking them down into simpler forms like sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids. This breakdown is essential because larger molecules cannot be absorbed directly by the body; they must first be converted into their smaller, digestible forms.

In contrast to this, preservatives are substances that help prevent the spoilage of food but do not play a direct role in the digestion process. Additionally, while nutrients are indeed transported in the body, enzymes do not perform this function; their primary responsibility is to facilitate the breakdown of nutrients. Finally, the elimination of waste is a separate process that involves the body's mechanisms to remove undigested material, rather than the enzymatic processes involved in digestion itself. This highlights the central and unique role that enzymes have in the digestive system.