What is Amylase? - Amylase is the name of the enzyme used in carbohydrate digestion. This enzyme comes from our body and from plants and works to break down starches (corn, rice, potatoes) into simple sugars so they can be absorbed into the blood stream and turned into energy. This is the primary function of the amylase enzyme.

How does an amylase enzyme break molecules down? – Amylase plays a big role in the digestion of complex carbohydrates (starches) by splitting chains of sugar molecules or polymers into units the body can use for energy.

What are carbohydrates? – Carbohydrates or starches are compounds consisting of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen atoms which are broken down into two groups:
1. Simple carbohydrates – also known as a monosaccharide are simple sugars such as glucose and fructose. Glucose is the type of sugar most used by the body. Diabetics commonly refer to it as blood sugar (measurement of sugar found in the blood).
2. Complex carbohydrates - also known as polysaccharides are made up of long chains of simple carbohydrates. Glycogen is an example of a polysaccharide in the form of chains of glucose the human body uses to store energy.

How do I digest carbohydrates? - The body breaks down these polymers using amylase secreted from the salivary glands and the pancreas in the form of Alpha-amylase which breaks the chains of starch molecules and releases the sugars to be used by the body.
Production of amylase in the mouth - The enzymes in saliva begin to break down starches into sugars immediately. This is why starches have a slightly sweet taste to them when you first begin to chew them.

Digestion of carbohydrates – The speed of the digestion of complex carbohydrates is determined by the size of the carbohydrate ingested. Refined carbohydrates such as processed flour found in breads are broken down very quickly and turned into sugars producing a high glycemic index while whole grains and other non-refined starches such as whole grains are digested much slower and produce a lower glycemic index.