You may not think about digestive enzymes often, but they are essential to your health. Our body naturally makes enzymes in our salivary glands, stomach, pancreas, and small intestine. These little proteins help break down your foods into smaller molecules so your body can properly absorb nutrients. Your pancreas makes these enzymes. They include amylase, lipase, and protease. When your body doesn’t break down food completely, it can cause several unpleasant digestive symptoms. These include bloating, gas, and diarrhea. But if you suffer from an underlying health condition that limits your production of these enzymes, taking a supplement can help.
Weight Loss
Digestive enzyme supplements help the body break down foods into their nutrients. This allows the body to absorb more vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients needed to stay healthy from head to toe. However, many factors can deplete digestive enzyme levels. These include age, diet, and lifestyle. You should talk with your doctor before taking supplements if you have a deficiency. They may prescribe a prescription-strength enzyme to treat this condition. The best digestive enzymes contain blends of multiple types of enzymes to help you digest various food sources. These can include amylase, lipase, lactase, bromelain, and protease. Some also contain bile salts, which are essential for digesting fats.
Better Sleep
Getting enough sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your health. It improves memory, brain performance, and mood, reduces your risk of developing diseases and disorders like heart disease, stroke, and obesity, and helps you feel better and more energized. In addition, good sleep can help you fight off germs and stay healthy. Studies show that even a little sleep deprivation can negatively impact your immune system, making you more likely to contract colds or other illnesses. Digestive enzyme supplements are dietary supplement that helps your body digest food better and absorb nutrients. They are available over the counter and in prescription form. Prescription enzymes are known as pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). They contain amylase, lipase, and protease to break down carbs, proteins, and fats.
Better Digestion
Digestive enzymes are a natural way to help you digest food. They can also help alleviate digestive problems, including gas, bloating, and cramping. While these supplements are not recommended for everyone, they can be a helpful addition to your health routine. However, it’s essential to take them under the guidance of a healthcare professional. They should be taken before each meal to ensure they reach your stomach and mix with the gastric juices necessary for digestion. It’s essential to bring them within a few minutes before your food to ensure that they have time to break down the food. A multi-enzyme supplement can be especially beneficial for people who have trouble digesting different foods, such as beans. This can include alpha-galactosidase for bean-containing meals or a combination of several enzymes that address various food components, such as a-amylase, lipase, and protease. While these supplements are not a replacement for a healthy diet and plenty of exercises, they can be helpful with other healthy habits such as good sleep, stress management, and regularity. Ultimately, they should be a part of a long-term plan to improve your health and happiness.
Better Gut Health
Digestive enzyme supplements are a great way to support gut health. They can be especially beneficial for mild symptoms like occasional constipation, gas, or bloating. The best digestive enzymes will have low to moderate acidity and help relieve stress on the small intestine. They should also use plant-based enzymes rather than animal-derived products. Maintaining a healthy microbiome can lead to better immune functioning, reducing your risk of many diseases and conditions. You can boost your gut health and immunity by avoiding antibiotics, lowering stress, eating various foods, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly. A balanced diet is the foundation of a healthy microbiome and should comprise around 30 types of foods each week.
Increased Energy
Digestive enzymes help your body break down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, allowing them to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Without the enzymes, these nutrients would go to waste. Fortunately, some supplements can boost your digestive enzyme levels. They can also be helpful for specific medical conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), pancreatitis, and low stomach acid. Unlike many other supplements that require days or weeks of consistent use to see results, digestive enzymes are effective right away. They begin working within 10 minutes of taking them.
Improves Immune System Function
80% of your immune cells live in your gut, so it is no surprise that digestive enzyme supplements have been shown to improve the health and function of your immune system. Digestive enzymes work together to break down food and help your body absorb nutrients. Without them, your food would sit in your intestines and eventually rot. However, when you do not have the proper enzymes to break down your food correctly, larger, undigested food particles can enter the lining of your intestine and trigger your immune system to fight them. This can lead to inflammation and aggravation in your intestines and other body parts. The good news is that you can take a high-quality, natural digestive enzyme supplement to boost your immune system function and ensure that all the good bacteria in your gut are happy!