Digestive Enzyme Supplements: What Are They?

Gas and bloating are often an indicator of poor digestion, and everyone knows how uncomfortable that can be! Some may experience this all the time, while others only experience it when consuming specific foods, like dairy products. One product that almost every lifter has trouble digesting (lactose intolerance or not) is whey protein or any dairy-based protein. This can turn off lifters from taking one of the best protein supplements there is!

The point is, poor digestion is uncomfortable. However, there is a solution that not many know of... digestive enzymes. Consuming foods rich in digestive enzymes or taking a digestive enzyme supplement can greatly help your digestion and help you get the most out of every meal!

In this article, we'll be discussing what digestive enzymes are, their benefits, and how can get enough of them to improve your digestion.

What are digestive enzymes?

Our bodies make enzymes in the digestive system and their primary responsibility is to break down the food we eat so that it can be absorbed by our bodies. These naturally occurring digestive enzymes can be found in the mouth, stomach, and small intestine, but most of them are made by our pancreas.

There are different types of digestive enzymes, but here are the three main ones and how they work:

• Amylase: Breaks down carbohydrates (or starches) into sugar molecules. Not having enough of this enzyme can lead to diarrhea.
• Lipase: Works with liver bile to break down fat. Not having enough of this enzyme can lead to lacking fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K.
• Protease: Breaks down proteins into amino acids, and also helps keep bacteria, yeast, and protozoa out of the intestines. Not having enough of this enzyme can lead to allergies or toxicity in the intestines.

As you can see, having digestive enzymes is very important for helping break down and absorb the nutrients you need from foods. Although your body produces them, you can lack some or all enzymes which can not lead to malnutrition, bloating, cramping, gas, and diarrhea.

Having digestive issues is a huge indicator that your body is not making enough digestive enzymes, so what can you do about this? To fix your digestion and absorption issues, consider incorporating foods rich in digestive enzymes or taking a supplement!

Signs you're not digesting your food properly

If you're not sure whether you're digestion is working properly, here are a few signs that can indicate it's not...

• Loose stools: If your stools are extremely loose, as in they're soft, then that can be a sign that your body is not breaking down fat.
• Slow absorption: Most foods are absorbed and passed through within 24 hours, so if it's taking longer than a day to come out then chances are you're not digesting your food well.
• Rarely feeling hungry: If you're feeling extremely full after a meal, even after a few hours, that can be a sign that you're not digesting your food normally.

Gas and bloating are other signs of improper digestion, but they can also be a sign of eating high-fiber foods.

How to consume more digestive enzymes

If you're feeling any of the signs above, consider trying to get more digestive enzymes through your diet! This can be done in two ways – eating foods that contain them or taking digestive enzyme supplements.

Foods to eat

Foods rich in probiotics are great at promoting good gut health, and some of that has to do with the fact that they contain digestive enzymes. Aside from adding good bacteria in your gut to positively impact your immune system, they can add more digestive enzymes needed to promote better digestion. The two probiotic foods that contain digestive enzymes are kefir and sauerkraut, but others are also good to incorporate into your diet (like kimchi and kombucha).

Other foods that contain digestive enzymes include:

• avocados
• bananas
• ginger
• honey
• kiwi
• mangos
• papayas
• pineapples

Digestive enzyme supplements

Aside from incorporating the foods above, there are various supplements that can help improve your digestion in case you need something more convenient. The main way to get more enzymes in is by taking a digestive enzyme, these usually come in a capsule form. Super greens powder is another great one because it can contain a full daily serving of fruits and veggies, probiotics, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes all to promote good gut health and proper digestion while also improving immune health. However, not all super greens contain digestive enzymes so make sure it's listed in the one you choose – like 373 Lab Super Greens! Aside from our Super Greens, our Whey Protein Isolate also has added digestive enzymes so you can still reap the muscle-building benefits of whey protein. We've added a digestive enzyme blend of amylase, protease, cellulase, lactase, lipase, and amyloglucosidase to promote optimal digestion and absorption of amino acids!

Other supplements you can take are probiotics and prebiotics (must be both because they work together) and Betaine HCL.

Improve your digestion with digestive enzymes

If you feel that your digestion is off or slow or you just constantly feel gassy and bloated after you eat then consider adding digestive enzymes to your diet! Incorporate more gut-friendly foods that are rich in enzymes while also including supplements that promote better digestion, like super greens. This will ensure that your digestion is in good shape, and that you no longer feel uncomfortable every time you sit down and eat a meal.

Who are we?

We're 373 Lab Supplements – nice to meet you! Founded by Iulia Danilova (Fit With Iulia), and with a team filled with fitness enthusiasts, we've worked hard to bring a trustworthy supplement to the market! Supplements that are designed to help you achieve your fitness goals by giving you only the nutrients you need – no unnecessary fillers or additives!

Find what your pantry is missing at 373 Lab Supplements.