What Are Enzymes and What Do They Do? Enzymes are proteins made from amino acids which speed up chemical reactions in the body, allowing them to occur at a rate necessary for life! Enzymes are used for essential body functions such as: digestion + gut health cell growth + repair muscle building nerve function respiratory health toxin breakdown by the liver DIGESTIVE enzymes act on the surface particles of the foods we eat, breaking them down into smaller, more easily digesti