Digestive enzyme supplements are becoming rather popular with the promise to fix everything from bloating and flatulence to heartburn and gut health.
WHAT ARE DIGESTIVE ENZYMES?
Naturally occurring digestive enzymes play a key role in breaking down the food we eat so that our body can soak up the nutrients. These proteins speed up the chemical reactions that turn nutrients into substances our digestive tract can better absorb.
Our saliva has its own digestive enzymes as well as the pancreas, gallbladder and liver. Cells on the surface of our intestines store them too. However, the majority of the digestive enzymes come from the pancreas. Once the food arrives, the pancreas floods the small intestine with enzymes.
There are three main types of digestive enzymes and each enzyme targets different nutrients:
· Lipase breaks down fats
· Amylase breaks down carbs and starches
· Protease and Peptidases breaks down proteins.
Once the nutrients are broken down into small enough molecules, they are then absorbed into the walls of the small intestine into the blood and delivered throughout the body.
NATURAL SOURCES OF DIGESTIVE ENZYMES
Fruits, vegetables and other foods have natural digestive enzymes. Eating them can improve your digestive health.
· Raw Honey has amylase and protease.
· Mangoes and Bananas have amylase, which also helps the fruit to ripen.
· Papaya has a type of protease called papain.
· Avocados have the digestive enzyme lipase.
· Sauerkraut or fermented cabbage picks up digestive enzymes during the fermentation process.
HOW TO KNOW WHEN OUR ENZYMES ARE IN TROUBLE
When our body does not make enough enzymes it can’t digest food well and this can slow down the digestion process and lead to uncomfortable symptoms. The common symptoms of digestive disorders can include bleeding, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, pain, nausea and vomiting.
These symptoms derive from some of the most common disorders which include lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), cancer, hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
For example, if our body does not make enough of the lactase enzyme, then we will have a difficult time digesting lactose, which is the natural sugar in milk and milk-based products. If you don’t have lactase, the undigested lactose goes directly to the colon instead of absorbing into our body. After that it then combines with our gut bacteria and causes uncomfortable stomach symptoms.
Various health conditions can lead to low levels of digestive enzymes. Examples include cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), and pancreatic cancer.
REPLINISHING OUR ENZYME LEVELS
Digestive enzyme replacement comes from two sources: prescription enzyme medications and over-the-counter supplements.
Prescription enzymes can contain pancrelipase. This is a mixture of the digestive enzymes amylase, lipase, and protease, and has a special coating on the pill so it will survive stomach acid and make it to the small intestine. These enzymes are typically made from the pancreases of pigs, and are regulated and approved by the FDA.
Our doctor has recommended that we include a digestive enzyme supplement in our daily regime to increase our gut health over the next 60-days. This plant base product is formulated with bromelain which derives from pineapples and includes a special blend of 7 enzymes along with fennel seed and ginger to help soothe the digestive tract.
SHOULD WE TAKE DIGESTIVE ENZYMES WITH A PROBIOTIC?
The answer to this question is yes, you can!
Digestive enzymes and probiotics are two different things and also do two different things inside our body. In fact it is a good idea to take them together…they work awesome as a team!
These two supplements actually complement each other. Probiotics are live microorganisms which is the good bacteria in our gut that helps to balance out the bad bacteria. Probiotics are a part of our body’s entire network, known as the microbiome. The microbiome is connected to our digestion, immune system, mood balance and essential nutrition creation.
Digestive enzymes on the other hand are considered long-chain proteins, which has multiple amino acids linked together. As we know digestive enzymes break down food so that we can absorb the nutrients in what we eat.
Digestive enzymes produce a chemical reaction within our body that helps us digest things properly. This is crucial to breaking down the food our body couldn’t normally break down.
Digestive enzymes and Probiotics have different jobs, but both of them are very important. I recently saw a recommendation where it suggested that we take a probiotic before a meal and the digestive enzymes with or after a meal. It’s always best to follow the products usage directions or if unsure, ask your doctor or healthcare professional.
However you take them, your body will thank you.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE DIGESTIVE ENZYMES TO WORK?
The great thing about digestive enzymes is that they start to work immediately. All they need in order to start working is food.
They will start to break down food molecules as soon as they come in contact with them. Because of the fast action, we should notice the benefits within a few days!
But, it also important to remember that digestive enzymes are only as good as what we feed them. Remember you are what you eat! In order to get the most out of them, our diets need to be filled with nutrient-rich foods to help them do their thing.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU TAKE DIGESTIVE ENZYMES?
Every day! Especially if you are experiencing chronic digestive issues like cramping, bloating or gas on a regular basis. This usually means that our body is out of sorts and isn’t working the way it is supposed to be.
Oftentimes, problems in our guts can manifest in unexpected ways such as headaches, acne or memory problems. When in doubt, look to your gut.
Once your body heals itself, it will naturally start producing enzymes. So taking a supplement is actually helping things out a bit. It can take up to 6 months for your gut to regulate itself, so taking a supplement daily is recommended.
Even though digestive enzymes can be a smart addition to your meals, they aren’t meant to be a permanent part of your routine for life. Once your body has recovered and your gut is able to produce a healthier number of enzymes naturally, you can reduce your intake.
Listen to your body (and talk to your doctor or holistic healthcare professional) to figure out what is right for you.
And remember to always pay attention to your gut reaction.
Thanks For Reading,
Be Healthy…Be Happy…Be Natural
Sources:
