Ease Your Digestion with Digestive Enzyme Supplements

Overview

Digestive enzymes are the substances that help break down food into smaller digestible particles. These smaller particles are more easily absorbed by our body than the bigger, undigested food. Although digestion occurs at various levels throughout the digestive tract, the pancreas is a key organ involved in this process. The pancreatic juice bathes the pancreas and consists of enzymes that help the body digest and absorb macronutrients like carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

A majority of people feel bloated, have tummy growls, or pass stools less frequently due to the deficiency of one or more digestive enzymes. Some people have more severe lack of pancreatic enzymes as part of a pancreatic disease or due to surgical removal, making enzyme replacement therapy mandatory.

Moreover, we need fiber to boost digestion and eliminate waste from our body. That said, not every tummy is used to ingesting too many beans (rich in fiber) that otherwise provoke stomach discomfort. Taking a digestive enzyme supplement, in this case, helps you take the fiber-rich food without experiencing much discomfort.

Supplements that work

With all the internet hype, people are lost in the thought of what to buy and what not. But some supplements like the Super Digest Enzymes and the Premium Digestive Enzymes formulated by Microbiome Plus+ are a solution to all the hard sell. The Super Digestive formula works four times effectively. These supplements are mindfully sourced and plant-based, making them ideal for vegans and people with food allergies.

Premium Digestive Enzymes

With over 18 enzymes in this supplement, your body can get the energy obtained from the breakdown of the nutrients. The Premium Digestive Enzymes supplement splits all the macronutrients into small molecules that can be easily transported to the bloodstream, helping you acquire most of the energy required to maintain body functions and perform routine activities.

The presence of an enzyme, aspergillopepsin in the Premium Formula aids in the digestion of one of the toughest proteins called gluten. This enzyme isolated from a fungus named Aspergillus niger may be beneficial for people experiencing gluten insensitivities. [1]

This supplement is also a better option if post-meal gas bothers you a lot.

Super Digest Enzymes

This supplement enriched with the enzyme pancreatin is a blend of 3 super pancreatic enzymes, namely amylase, lipase, and protease.

• The amylase splits carbohydrates into simple sugars
• Lipase aids in the digestion of fats
• Protease breaks down the hard-to-digest proteins into amino acids to be used by the body for various functions

Who needs Digestive Enzymes?

The lighter formula, Premium Digestive Enzymes can be used by people who suffer from day-to-day digestive issues like abdominal gas, bloating, discomfort, acid reflux, IBS etc. [2]

The heavier Super Digest Enzymes supplement is reserved for individuals with blockage of the pancreas such as due to chronic inflammation or cancer, or removal of part of the pancreas. [2] [3] Pancreatic diseases cause you to pass pale, bulky, greasy, and foul-smelling poop that is difficult to flush away in the toilet. This occurs due to the lack of fat absorption that and passage of fat in stools, which can be reversed by regular enzyme supplementation. [3]

Furthermore, diabetes and inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease may damage the pancreas, which calls for enzyme supplementation. [3]

Nutritional deficiencies and progressive weight loss secondary to impaired absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, D, E, and K in pancreatic disease is another indication for taking pancreatin enzyme supplements. [3]

Summary

Regular digestive enzyme supplementation provides significant relief in a variety of digestive tract ailments. By maximizing nutrition absorption, these digestive enzymes help you obtain the energy content of a food and preclude nutritional deficiency and weight loss.

References

1. Ehren J, Morón B, Martin E, Bethune MT, Gray GM, Khosla C. A Food-Grade Enzyme Preparation with Modest Gluten Detoxification Properties. El-Shemy HA, ed. PLoS ONE. 2009;4(7):e6313. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006313.
2. Roxas M. The role of enzyme supplementation in digestive disorders. Altern Med Rev. 2008 Dec;13(4):307-14.
3. Fieker A, Philpott J, Armand M. Enzyme replacement therapy for pancreatic insufficiency: present and future. Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology. 2011;4:55-73. doi:10.2147/CEG.S17634.