You are what you digest, and digestive enzymes can help to both improve digestion and nutrient absorption. Digestive enzymes help the body absorb more nutrients and improve gut health.
According to Enzymedica, digestive enzymes can be found along the gastrointestinal tract since this is where digestion happens in the body. These enzymes are responsible for breaking down the food we eat so that their nutrients can be absorbed into the body. When food is properly digested, you avoid nutritional deficiencies and gastrointestinal discomfort.
Proper digestion also supports the building of new muscle and nerve cells as well as protecting your blood from toxins. Your body will also have more energy and life force according to Body Ecology.
Benefits of Digestive Enzymes
Apart from facilitating the chemical breakdown of food into smaller, absorbable components, digestive enzymes benefits also includes better health as well as longevity. According to Tree of Life Center US, Dr. Howell is considered the father of food enzyme research, and he points out that enzymes are not simple chemical catalysts, but have this vital life force that initiates biochemical reactions. These processes include digestion, detoxification, nerve impulses, thinking, and mending and healing our body. One of the key concepts that he taught was that our capacity to produce enzymes can be exhausted, particularly after the age of 27.
Digestive Enzyme Supplements
According to Dr. Mercola, our body’s capacity to produce digestive enzymes can be depleted and that’s why one may need to take supplements. These supplements can also help to combat digestive problems such as a bloated stomach. They can also help to boost immunity, fight inflammation or even ease health problems such as arthritis and even cancer. Taking these supplements will also improve your general wellness. Taking these supplements with meals helps to ensure proper digestion.
Non-Digestive Health Benefits
However, when you take the supplement between meals, the focus is no longer on digestion, and Body Ecology says that the enzymes begin to work systemically-through the blood, which feeds every organ in the entire body. According to Enzyme Stuff, non-digestive health benefits include detoxification, blood cleansing, bruise healing and reducing pain from arthritis, migraines or fibromyalgia.
How to Eat Cheat Meals
If you’re a bodybuilder, you can take a digestive enzyme supplement before a cheat meal. Bodybuilding.com says that when you have a cheat meal, start eating the protein portion first as this will get you to start getting full. You can then finish your meal with carbohydrates. In addition, instead of stuffing yourself in one sitting, you can have three smaller meals at intervals of 90 minutes. And after the cheat period, you now go back to your usual diet and this will enable you to maintain your weight and fitness, particularly during the festive period when we tend to overindulge.
Precautions When Taking Supplements
Prolazyme Research says that the basic precaution when using enzyme supplements for digestion is to consult a doctor before you start taking them. The doctor will ensure that there’s no medication likely to clash with your supplement. In addition, you should take digestive enzyme supplements in small doses so that the result can be monitored over time. If you have a pre-existing condition, you should be careful before you start taking these supplements. Last but not least, always buy these supplements from reputable sellers.
Possible Side Effects
WebMD informs us that there may be possible side effects of taking digestive enzyme supplements, which include diarrhea, abdominal pain or cramps and nausea. One can also experience headaches, gas, constipation, sore throat, heartburn, chest tightness and difficulty breathing. Itching, swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat are other possible side effects. Serious side effects can include extreme abdominal discomfort, joint pain and frequent or painful urination. To avoid any possible side effects, you should always find out where the supplement was derived from. For instance, most digestive enzyme supplements are extracted from pork and so you should avoid such if you have pork allergy.
Why You Need Digestive Enzyme Supplements
According to Enzyme Essentials, raw food contains the enzymes needed to digest it, but for most of us, our diet doesn’t consist of raw foods. So when you cook your food, the digestive enzymes are destroyed and so your body needs to produce them to be able to digest your food, and this places stress on your system. You also need these supplements because of digestive enzymes benefits such as helping to reduce bloating, gas, and the occasional heartburn or acid reflex. According to Bodybuilding.com, digestive enzyme supplements also make the nutrients from the food you eat more accessible to the body. Your body will also find it easier to naturally produce vitamins B and K. Remember to buy these supplements from a reputable seller and enjoy all the benefits mentioned above.
