Proven Benefits of Digestive Enzymes Supplements?

Digestive enzyme supplements, in the last few years, have gained huge popularity.

Why you ask?

Well, it’s because they have proven to be so excellent for treating gut irritation, heartburn, and bloating.

Today, unfortunately, the modern Western diet might have permanently caused damage to many of our digestive systems [1], along with other health issues.

We have to admit that our diets are not the same as what our ancestors used to eat – that’s thanks to agriculture coming along [2].

You can imagine with the influx of refined foods, white sugars, white bread, white flour, the introduction of chemicals and hormones, etc. as well as a much more sedentary lifestyle, our bodies have had to undergo significant changes.

Major microbes are possibly missing in our bodies

Experts from the American Gastroenterological Association Center for Gut Microbiome Research and Education say that people are eating high fat and high refined sugar diets.

They eat a few veggies and fruits.

Key microbes are now absent in our bodies.

These are essential for health [3].

Research has shown that there is evidence that the world has seen a rise in chronic illnesses within the Western populations.

It is the microbiota that is playing a key role in a lot of these diseases [3].

The microbiota that the Western world possesses now is a result of eating processed, highly refined sugars, etc.

They no longer can provide the protective properties against disease like they did when our ancestors followed a different diet.

Our guts can no longer deal with all the diseases our lifestyles have caused

Abnormal gut microbiome, for millions of people, is starting to impact people’s overall health.

Developmental problems, metabolism problems, immune disorders, liver diseases, obesity, and more have developed [4].

In the past, before the agriculture age, hunters had to live on what was available – and that would be seasonal foods.

Seasonal foods offered variety to the diet.

But today, we are no longer dependent on finding our food.

We just pop over to the closest takeaway on the corner to choose from a bevy of fatty foods, sweets, salty delicacies, and more.

It is all mostly processed foods with heaps of additives added. And they are available to you any time you want them.

Changing the Western world’s diet and lifestyle is no longer practical because nobody really wants to change anymore.

Fortunately, that’s where digestive enzymes come into play

It is possible that there is a way of replenishing the missing components of the gut microbiome today.

Yes, it’s possible, with sufficient amounts of fiber supplements called digestive enzyme supplements.

Let’s understand how digestive enzymes work and who needs to add them to their diet

What digestive enzymes do

They naturally occur in our bodies. Our bodies make them so that they can break down the food we eat and aid in digestion. Digestion is required because it provides our bodies with the energy needed to ensure healthy growth and function of our bodies. As you are eating, digesting is already starting. The saliva breaks down the food making it easier to be absorbed into the body. The small intestine, stomach, and pancreas all make these digestive enzymes. They break down the fats, proteins, and carbs that we eat.
Even though you get many digestive enzymes, there are a couple of main ones. These are:
- Amylase: Amylase is made in the pancreas and mouth and breaks down complex carbohydrates.
- Lipase: Lipase is made in the pancreas and breaks down fats.
- Protease: Protease is also made in the pancreas and breaks down proteins.

How do you know when you are digestive enzyme deficient?

Many people’s digestive enzymes don’t work as they should anymore. Perhaps they don’t even have enough digestive enzymes.

This means their bodies can’t break down some foods and absorb the nutrients.

If you are deficient in digestive enzymes, you could easily be malnourished. You might notice these symptoms:

Gastrointestinal irritation
Stomach pain or cramps
Bloating
Gas
Diarrhea
Oily stools (bowel movements)
Unexplained weight loss

All the above are signs of gut irritation, and could even indicate a more serious condition.

What caused me to become digestive enzyme deficient?

It can be caused by genetic reasons:

This type of gene might come from your parents, or a mutation might have occurred.

An inappropriate lifestyle…

…is the biggest factor that will make your digestive enzyme deficient.

Wrong lifestyle habits are:

Smoking
Excessive alcohol consumption
Overeating
Lack of nutrition
Poor exercise
Stress
Negative emotions
Medication
Lack of water

Remember, that pre-prepared foods and processed foods don’t contain enzymes – it’s all unhealthy “dead” food.

Any enzymes have been destroyed by the over and over again cooking and heat.

Often when a person loses their appetite, it is because there are insufficient digestive enzymes in their body.

It is sad to realize that lack of enzymes can lead to bad health problems

A lack of enzymes might even prevent you from recovering from illness and self-healing.

Have you ever heard of dysbacteriosis? [5] This bacteria can be the reason you get plenty of diseases.

Dysbacteriosis favors harmful bacteria in the body [6].

Not dealing with prolonged dysbacteriosis in the body can end up with you experiencing many nasty symptoms.

What are the benefits of digestive enzymes?

There have been many studies that support the claims that digestive enzymes are indeed good for health.

Let’s check out some benefits of taking digestive enzymes.

1) Reduces the symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)

A typical symptom of food not being broken down causing the bacteria to be congested causes gas, loose bowels, and typical IBS symptoms.

Often, illnesses like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s result from inflammation in the gut.

Digestive enzymes can help with food conditions and sensitivities like lactose intolerance.

2) Increases nutrient absorption

Increasing nutrient absorption is the primary function of the digestive enzymes in the body.

Without digestive enzymes, all the nutrients that you eat won’t be able to be broken down in your gut. You will feel gassy.

3) Energy is increased

When the nutrients you eat from the right food are being used properly, you will find you have more energy.

Digestive enzymes will help to convert carbohydrates into glucose.

Glucose is the essential sugar particle that the body uses for energy.

4) Prevents gut leakage

When food isn’t processed properly, big, undigested particles can start to break the cell walls down which will trigger your immune system to start the battle with the “trespassers.”

You will feel aggravation in your intestinal lining – even in other places of your body.

Digestive enzyme supplements help to digest food properly enabling your immune system not to get triggered off because of trespassing of larger food molecules.

5) Healthy inflammatory responses

Because proteases, the above-mentioned digestive enzyme, makes protein increasingly bioavailable, they are connected to several protein interactions, assisting with inflammatory responses, immune function, and circulation.

6) Decreases pain and chronic fatigue

Pain is caused a lot by inflammation – Like headaches and migraines are often a result of inflammation in the gut.

That can often be a result of a lack of nutrients.

If all is running well in your digestion, you will no doubt notice a difference in your entire body.

Supplemental digestive enzymes will help your food to be digested properly.

This will lead to inflammation being reduced in your gut. Pain and fatigue will be reduced.

7) Methylation is supported

Methylation is a biochemical procedure and is responsible for many reactions in the body. It deals with inflammation, detoxification, and energy.

Our bodies need vitamin B for the use of these procedures.

When our digestion is not right, it makes it hard for nutrients to be ingested.

When you take digestive enzyme supplements, the vitamin B gets absorbed and digested properly.

This means methylation is not disrupted.

8) Anxiety is reduced

When the body doesn’t digest food properly, then it can’t absorb or extract the essential nutrients it needs.

Then you just become nutrient deficient over time.

This will cause you to experience more stress-related symptoms like anxiety, pain, and even sleep issues.

It is very useful to take digestive enzymes when under extreme anxiety or stress, to help make up for the reduced enzyme production and provide the body with support.

9) Hypochlorhydria relief

The stomach is where digestion takes place for all nutrients.

If your hydrochloric acid levels are low (hypochlorhydria), things in your gut can become disrupted, causing malabsorption of certain nutrients like B12.

This can lead to low iron levels with fatigue.

When you take a digestive enzyme supplement you help to build up hydrochloric acid if there is a deficiency.

10) Healthy weight control

When your digestive system is streamlined, it will lead to less inflammation and poisonous stagnation.

This will help you to start decreasing the abundance of weight.

Digestive enzymes are present naturally in foods like pineapple, mango, papaya, honey, avocados, bananas, avocados, etc.

Digestive enzymes have even been implicated in aiding cancer treatment, although research is still in its early stages.

How do I know my gut needs healing?

You will know you have problems when you have recurring digestive symptoms like constipation, gas, bloating, diarrhea, reflux, heartburn, and indigestion.

When you have a poor functioning digestive system, nutrient absorption is limited and inflammation is promoted. This can deregulate the entire immune system.

To heal the gut, an anti-inflammatory diet, an increase in beneficial bacteria, strengthening digestion, and getting rest and relaxation with little stress, is possible.

You can always try and work with someone who specializes in gut health and functional medicine, such as certain doctors and health coaches.

Conclusion

Good health is truly dependent on a healthy digestive and immune system.

When you take a digestive enzyme supplement, you start to create an ideal environment for already 70% of your immune system.

But as discussed above, there are other compelling reasons to take digestive enzymes.

Age, for one, has quite a bit to do with it. As you get older, the supply of digestive enzymes dwindles.

By the time you are 50, your body might not be making half the amount of enzymes it did in your earlier days.

It means you might not be absorbing and digesting all the nutrients you need as you get older.

This will all lower your immune-fighting abilities and forward the aging process.

Enzyme deficiencies are the result of genetics, a lot of stress in your life, eating unhealthy foods, environmental toxins, as well as poor lifestyle habits.

Signs that you are deficient in digestive enzymes are skin rashes, bloating, gastric upsets, and poor immune functioning.

It is a good idea to start with enzyme supplements.

They will help to heighten the action of your own digestive enzymes.

If you suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, IBS, low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria), enzyme insufficiency, pancreatic insufficiency, autoimmune diseases, constipation, diarrhea, and bloating…

…you won’t be sorry to investigate fully, perhaps with your doctor, how digestive enzyme supplements might just be the end of all those problems!

What Are The Benefits Of Digestive Enzymes?