Enzymes

We all know that eating healthy is important for maintaining a healthy body. But that is not enough. If your body is not receiving nutrition from the food you are eating because of the lack of proper enzymes in your stomach, then all your effort is going down the drain. Taking enzyme supplements can help you in such cases.

Digestive enzymes are what help you digest your food and help the intestines to absorb the nutrients from it. If you are using terms from chemistry, they fall under the category of catalysts. They break down carbohydrates, fats, and protein into smaller particles so the body can use them. In most people, the body produces enough enzymes to enable efficient digestion. But for some people, that’s not the case. Digestive enzyme supplements can help their stomachs do the job in those cases. But before you shop for these supplements, it is important to know more about them. This article will give you a basic idea of different types of enzymes and how to use them.

A guide to digestive enzymes supplements

In some people, their bodies are naturally disposed towards producing less enzyme than that is enough. This, in turn, will affect the whole digestion process. But how this manifest is different across people. While some people develop intolerance towards certain types of food items, others tend to have digestion problems regardless of what they eat. The latter is more severe. One type of deficiency that most people in the world suffer from is lactose intolerance, which is the inability to digest dairy-based food items. In such cases, making up for the lack of enzyme by taking it orally is the solution.

What do enzymes supplements do

There are two types: over the counter and prescription enzymes. You can buy over the counter type from any pharmacy. But they are not as well regulated by the government as prescription drugs. That means the manufacturer of these supplements do not have to prove that their product is effective before selling them. Prescription drugs, on the other hand, contain a mixture of different digestive enzymes that the body otherwise produces by itself. These include lipase, amylase, protease, etc. You won’t be able to buy these medications without a prescription.

Natural sources of digestive enzymes

Before trying supplements, you can add food items that naturally contain the enzymes that your body needs. Fruits like papaya, pineapple, mango, honey, etc. are a great source. But not all fruits have the same. Pineapples are a source of bromelain, a type of protease that helps to digest proteins into amino acids. Papaya contains another type of protease called papain. Some studies suggest that including papaya into the diet can improve the symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome.

When should you use enzymes supplements

For those who cannot produce enough enzymes for proper bowel functions, supplements are a great relief. People affected by health conditions like chronic pancreatitis or cystic fibrosis have difficulty producing enough enzymes to meet their bodily requirements. In people with lactose intolerance, supplements like alpha-galactosidase seem to produce positive results. This will help with bloating of the stomach and intestinal gas. But there is no evidence to suggest that supplements can treat heartburn or irritable bowel syndrome. There are many more foods that contain enzymes beside these.

Side effects of taking digestive enzymes

Contrary to popular belief, taking them do not make your body dependent on it. But if you do not have deficiency in the first place, you are simply wasting money on them. But there is a chance that these supplements might interfere with the other medications you are using. This potential exists even if you are using an enzyme derived from natural sources. So, you should always inform your doctor about the supplements you are using before taking any other medications with it.