The active ingredient in Pro-Gest is papain, which is derived from the papaya fruit. Papain is a natural proteolytic enzyme that breaks down proteins and supports a healthy digestive process. Other ingredients include papaya seed meal, Russian black radish, and betaine hydrochloride in a base of dried juice from organically grown beets - the same powder used for our #18 Whole Beet Plant Juice Tablets. The betaine hydrochloride acts to supplement the natural hydrochloric acid in the stomach.* Today´s refined, processed, preserved, and fragmented foods have created deficiencies and chronic conditions that have significantly compromised our digestive systems. Many Americans over the age of 30 are unable to produce sufficient quantities of gastric acid and digestive enzymes to properly digest their foods – resulting in symptoms of indigestion. When foods are improperly digested, important nutrients are unavailable and can result in nutritional deficiencies. Furthermore, undigested food putrefies (proteins rot) and ferments (sugars and starches spoil) creating significant autointoxication (self-poisoning).