7 Tips for Supplementing with Enzymes ...

Not everyone benefits from supplementing with enzymes. Sure, people who have poor pancreatic function or suffer from conditions like colitis, crohn’s disease, or celiac disease might benefit. But ultimately, this is something to talk to your doctor about first. He or she can help you weigh the pros and cons of supplementation and figure out if this is right for you.

Don’t immediately grab the cheapest enzyme available. Not all supplements are created equal! Do your research and work with a dietician if needed to figure out the brand that works best for your body and is in your price range. Sometimes spending as little as five extra dollars can make all the difference.

Read the ingredients labels to enzymes carefully. Like most supplements, they aren’t regulated by the FDA, so you’ll have to do your own research on these products. In general, avoid supplements or enzymes that include any soy or corn additives. This likely means the product contains GMOs. If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, many enzymes that contain gelatin and other animal products.

Enteric coating is a feature many enzymes carry to make them more effective when taken with meals. Some experts argue that if there’s no coating, the gastric acid will simply destroy the enzymes as soon as they hit your stomach. Enteric coatings are still up for debate, but definitely factor this into your decision about which brand of enzyme to purchase.

Consuming enzymes before meals is the best way to maximize their efficacy. Enzymes are naturally released by the pancreas when you eat, so adding them right before a meal enhances your body’s ability to digest. I personally like to keep my enzymes on the kitchen counter. That way, there’s no way I can forget to take them before my meals.

If you suffer from extreme digestive discomfort, you could benefit from taking enzymes between meals to promote digestion. Taking one enzyme with lunch, another in between lunch and dinner, and another at dinner can definitely help you feel less bloated or uncomfortable when eating.

If you forget to take your enzymes with a raw meal like fruits or salad, honestly it’s not the end of the world. Raw foods like fruits and vegetables already contain enzymes, so even when you eat them without your supplement you’re still getting enzymes from a dietary source. That’s why fruits and veggies are often so easy to digest and easy on your stomach. If, however, you’re consuming cooked foods that have been zapped of their enzyme content (heat destroys enzymes), it’s essential to consume your digesting enzymes with food.

Supplementing with digestive enzymes can be a natural alternative for alleviating digestive disorders, pain, and other stomach ailments. Consult your doctor, however, before embarking on any supplementation program. Have you jumped on the enzyme bandwagon yet?