Best Digestive Enzymes: Food Intolerances & Gut Health Repair
Enzymes are responsible for all the chemical reactions in your body – from digesting food to repairing cells. And that shows just how important they are for good health.
But sometimes, our bodies don’t produce enough enzymes, which can be caused by various factors, including a poor diet, stress, and illness. When this happens, we may experience bloating, gas, indigestion, heartburn, and even fatigue.
Fortunately, digestive enzyme supplements can help and are a lifesaver for those with enzyme deficiency. These commercially produced enzymes essentially play the role of the absent enzymes in your digestive system, helping to break down food and improve gut health.
In this article, we’ll review the best digestive enzymes you can use if you have food intolerances or want to repair your gut health. But first, let’s start with the basics.
Table of Contents
Do You Need Digestive Enzymes?
Before opting for a digestive enzyme, you must be sure you need one. Here are some common signs that you may benefit from taking a digestive enzyme supplement:
You Have Difficulty Digesting Certain Foods
If you find that you can’t digest certain foods, it may be because you lack the enzymes needed to break them down. For example, lactose intolerant people lack the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose, a sugar found in milk.
As a result, they experience symptoms like bloating, gas, and diarrhea when they consume dairy products. A lactase supplement can help prevent these symptoms by providing the enzyme needed to digest lactose.
You Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS is a common disorder that affects the digestive system. Its symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation.
While the exact cause of IBS is unknown, it’s thought to be related to a dysfunction in the digestive system. And research has shown that IBS sufferers tend to have lower levels of enzymes like amylase and lipase.
Taking a digestive enzyme supplement may help to relieve symptoms of IBS by improving digestive function.
You Are Following a Restrictive Diet and Having Digestive Issues
If you’ve tried to improve your gut health by following a restrictive diet but still experience digestive issues, it may be due to enzyme deficiency. This is often the case with those who follow a gluten-free or low-FODMAP diet.
While these diets can be helpful for some, they can also lead to nutrient deficiencies and digestive problems if not done correctly. The reason is that these diets eliminate many healthy, nutrient-rich foods that are also good sources of enzymes.
A digestive enzyme supplement can help improve gut health and relieve digestive symptoms while following a restrictive diet.
You Have Histamine Intolerance
Histamine intolerance is a condition that occurs when the body can’t break down histamine properly. Histamine is a natural compound in many foods, including fermented foods, aged cheeses, alcohol, and certain fruits and vegetables. The body also produces it as part of the immune response.
Typically, the enzyme DAO (diamine oxidase) breaks down histamine in the gut so it can be safely excreted from the body. But people with histamine intolerance have low levels of DAO, leading to a build-up of histamine in the body.
This condition can cause various symptoms, including headaches, hives, difficulty breathing, and digestive problems. A DAO supplement can help relieve these symptoms by providing the enzyme needed to break down histamine.
How to Determine the Enzyme You Need
There are numerous enzymes, and if you’re having trouble digesting certain foods, it may be due to a lack of a particular one. And you can only benefit from digestive enzyme supplements that target your specific condition.
The best way to determine the enzyme you need is to work with a healthcare practitioner (a gastroenterologist) who will order specific tests. These tests can help to identify which enzymes you’re deficient in and inform the best way to supplement.
Additionally, many digestive enzyme supplements contain a blend of enzymes that can help digest various food types. If you’re not sure which enzyme to take, a blend may be an excellent place to start. However, it is best to get sound advice from a doctor before taking any supplements.
The Best Digestive Enzymes for Food Intolerances & Gut Health
Here are the best digestive enzymes to supplement your diet. Our selection is based on safety, quality, and efficacy.
Enzymedica Digest Spectrum
This potent enzyme supplement contains a blend of enzymes that target different problem foods. It’s designed to help those with multiple food intolerances and gut issues so that you can eat more meals without digestive discomfort.
The enzymes in this supplement can break down gluten, lactose, casein, and phenols. And this makes it an ideal choice for those with IBS or other digestive issues. It’s also vegan and certified gluten-free. Thanks to its potency, you will experience fewer digestive issues and better gut health.
Enzymedica contains no fillers or artificial ingredients, only pure and potent enzymes. So, you can consume it with confidence, knowing you’re getting the best digestive support possible. Take 1-2 capsules with meals or as directed by your doctor.
- Food intolerance defense system: Powerful, targeted support for healthy digestion of foods containing gluten, lactose, casein and phenols
- Fast digestive relief: Helps reduce occasional symptoms associated with food intolerances including bloating, gas, indigestion and irregularity
Key Benefits
- Potent enzymes that target different problem foods
- Ideal for those with multiple food intolerances and gut issues
- It helps to break down gluten, lactose, casein, and phenols
- Vegan and certified gluten-free
- Pure and potent enzymes with no fillers or artificial ingredients
Enzymedica GlutenEase
This supplement is for you if you need a digestive enzyme supplement explicitly targeting gluten and casein. GlutenEase helps people with gluten sensitivities eat gluten-containing foods without digestive discomfort.
The enzymes in this supplement can break down the proteins in gluten, making it easier for your body to digest. As a result, it will prevent digestive symptoms like bloating, gas, and diarrhea.
GlutenEase is also vegan and certified gluten-free. This supplement doesn’t contain milk, casein, GMOs, artificial colors, or flavors. So, you can be sure you’re getting a pure and potent product.
The manufacturers advise taking one capsule per meal or as much as you need but always check with your doctor first.
- Reduce occasional bloating and gas with help from the protease enzyme, DPP-IV; Amylase enzymes target gluten-rich carbohydrates in grains
- Experience faster relief and better digestion thanks to Thera-blend enzymes, formulated to stay active through acidic and neutral environments in the digestive system
Key Benefits
- It helps people with gluten sensitivities eat gluten-containing foods
- The enzymes in this supplement break down the proteins in gluten
- Vegan and certified gluten-free
- It doesn’t contain milk, casein, GMOs, artificial colors, or flavors
Probulin Daily Digestive Enzymes Supplement
Probulin’s Daily Digestive Enzyme Supplement is a plant-based and probiotic-based digestive aid that helps your body to break down food and absorb nutrients more effectively. This improved digestion will lead to less gas, bloating, and more regular bowel movements.
The probiotics in this supplement also help to support a healthy gut microbiome, which leads to better gut health and a stronger immune system.
This supplement is vegan, gluten-free, and GMO-free and contains no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners. It’s also free from soy, dairy, and wheat.
The beneficial ingredients include prebiotic fiber, probiotics, and electrolytes for optimal digestive support.
- Digestive enzymes work to break down hard-to-digest foods into smaller molecules for faster, easier digestion; Helps relieve the occasional gas, bloating and indigestion caused by poor digestion
- Our proprietary MAKTrek Bypass Delivery System features prebiotic fiber and electrolytes; Lab tested by a third party to ensure potency and stability.
- These enzymes don't break down sugar but they break down important vitamins and minerals that you need to absorb.
Key Benefits
- Plant-based and probiotic-based digestive aid
- It helps your body to break down food and absorb nutrients more effectively
- The enzymes help to predigest food
- The probiotics help to support a healthy gut microbiome
- Gluten-free, GMO-free, and contains no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners.
Enzymedica Candidase
Candidase is a digestive enzyme supplement that breaks down yeast and candida in the gut. It helps reduce candida overgrowth symptoms, such as fatigue, brain fog, and digestive discomfort.
This supplement contains two therapeutic enzyme blends that work together to break down yeast and candida. The first blend contains cellulase that breaks down yeast cell walls, and the second blend contains protease to help digest it.
Consider getting this digestive enzyme if you have candida; it will help balance your yeast levels and improve digestion. This supplement is also vegan.
- A therapeutic blend of enzymes to support healthy microflora
- Cultivates healthy gut flora to help cleanse the body; Combines cellulase and protease enzymes for gentle, cleansing support
Key Benefits
- It helps to break down yeast and candida in the gut
- It can help to reduce symptoms of candida overgrowth
- It contains two therapeutic enzyme blends
- This supplement is also vegan
Please note that all these supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always check with your doctor before taking any supplements.
Who Should Avoid Digestive Enzyme Supplements?
You should avoid taking digestive enzyme supplements if you have chronic digestive conditions, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Enzyme supplements can also interact with certain medications, so do your due diligence before taking them.
Pregnant and nursing women should also avoid taking digestive enzyme supplements. While these supplements may not pose any danger, it’s best to get the doctor’s okay before taking them.
People with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities should be careful when taking digestive enzyme supplements, as some may contain gluten. If you are sensitive to gluten, check the label of the supplement to ensure it is gluten-free.
Conclusion
The best digestive enzymes help break down food and absorb nutrients, and if you have any digestive issues, you may benefit from taking a supplement. However, check with your doctor before taking any supplements, as they could interact with your medications or aggravate existing conditions.
Also, determine which enzyme you’re lacking before taking a supplement because taking the wrong enzyme can do more harm than good. Again, this is not something you should determine on your own but rather with the help of a medical professional.
With the right supplement and dosage, you can improve your digestion and nutrient absorption and reduce any digestive discomfort you may be experiencing.
Originally posted 2022-09-15 04:31:04.
Megan Santiago
Latest posts by Megan Santiago (see all)
- How to break a Fever - March 10, 2024
- Pantothenic Acid for Adrenal Fatigue: The Best Hidden Secret - January 3, 2024
- How to Tell if You Need Niacin for Depression - January 3, 2024
