BENEFITS OF TAKING DIGESTIVE ENZYME SUPPLEMENTS

Ever sit down for a heavy meal and leave the table feeling bloated, tired and sick? I’ve been there. And if I’m being completely honest, I haven’t always had the healthiest diet. If you’re like me, your digestive issues may be caused by a lack of enzymes.

Digestive enzymes help the body break down proteins, carbohydrates and fats, so you can use these nutrients. The easier it is for your body to break down and absorb these nutrients, healthier and more energetic you’ll be.

And you may be surprised to learn that after the age of 27, it becomes even more difficult for your body to produce its own enzymes.

The good news is that you can take digestive enzyme supplements to improve digestion and better absorb the nutrients in your foods.

What are Digestive Enzymes?

Digestive enzymes are like having little additional workers to help your body break down complex foods, like carbohydrates, protein and fat. The more enzymes you have, the easier it will be to break down nutrients. An ample supply of enzymes will ensure that your gut remains healthy.

There are four primary digestive enzymes:

1. Protease – These breakdown proteins.
2. Lipase – These help digest and assimilate fats.
3. Cellulase – These break down cellulose into sugars.
4. Amylase – These break down starches, or carbohydrates.

Each enzyme type has its own function and benefit, and a good quality digestive enzyme supplement will contain all of these enzymes.

Now that you understand what digestive enzymes are, you may be wondering what the benefits are when taking them.

The Top 5 Benefits of Taking Digestive Enzymes

1.      Improved Nutrient Absorption

One of the main benefits of taking digestive enzymes is that it can help your body absorb more nutrients.

If your body is not producing enough enzymes, you’ll have difficulty breaking down carbohydrates, proteins and fats. This means that your body will have a harder time getting the fuel it needs. And because fats are required to digest certain vitamins and minerals, you may wind up suffering from vitamin and/or mineral deficiencies.

A digestive enzyme supplement will make it easier for your body to break down and absorb these key macronutrients.

2.      Reduce or Eliminate Digestive Issues

If you’re suffering from gas, indigestion, bloating and/or acid reflux, digestive enzymes can help minimize or eliminate these uncomfortable symptoms by helping the body break down and assimilate the nutrients in your food. If the body is unable to properly breakdown carbohydrates, fats and proteins, digestive issues are sure to follow.

I personally had a difficult time digesting carbohydrate-rich foods, like potatoes, pasta and certain grains. After a few weeks of taking digestive enzymes, I had no issues at all eating these foods. The gas, bloating and uncomfortable “heavy” feeling simply disappeared.

3.      Enzyme Levels Drop With Age

If you’re over the age of 27, your body naturally produces fewer enzymes. As we age, normal digestion slows down simply because we have fewer enzymes to rely on. As a result, we are unable to absorb nutrients as efficiently as we once were.

Taking a digestive enzyme supplement can help prevent this from happening.

4.      We Use Up Our Supply of Enzymes Faster

There are certain factors that cause us to use up our enzymes faster than normal. Once you use up this supply, it will take your body some time to produce more. Extreme weather conditions, illness and strenuous exercise can cause us to use up more enzymes.

5.      Some Foods Contain Enzyme Inhibitors

Certain foods – healthy foods – contain enzyme inhibitors that actually neutralize some of the enzymes your body naturally produces. These foods include egg whites, beans, seeds, raw wheatgerm, nuts, raw peanuts, peas, lentils and potatoes.

Enzyme supplements can help replenish your supply, making it easier for you to digest these foods without any uncomfortable side effects.

Enzymes play a critical role in the health of your body, and ensuring that you have an ample enzymes is crucial. Supplements can help bridge the gap, so your body is better able to digest food and absorb nutrients. Take it from someone who has personal experience with digestive enzymes – these supplements really do improve digestion. There’s no reason to struggle with uncomfortable digestive issues any longer when you can take a simple, natural supplement to remedy the problem.