Best Digestive Enzyme Supplements to Cleanse & Detox

For your body to be able to absorb nutrients from your food, it has to break it down into usable parts like amino acids, sugars, vitamins, fatty acids, and minerals. Your body does this using enzymes, which are chemicals produced by your pancreas, small intestine, and stomach, and break down your food as it moves through your digestive system. Small amounts of some of these enzymes are produced by the salivary glands in the mouth as well.

5 Common Digestive Enzymes

• Amylase is produced by the pancreas and breaks down starches and carbohydrates into simple sugars.
• Lactase is produced in the small intestine and breaks down the lactose found in dairy products.
• Protease is produced in the pancreas and breaks down proteins.
• Peptidase also breaks down proteins and is produced in the stomach, pancreas, and small intestine.
• Lipase is produced in the pancreas and breaks down fats.

Your food is further broken down by the bacteria in your gut microbiome, helping you extract even more nutrients. 

How to Improve Digestion Naturally 

Often, digestive problems are not caused by a lack of enzyme but by the composition and timing of your diet. Prioritizing fiber-rich foods like fruits and vegetables and increasing your water intake are two easy ways to improve your digestion. Avoiding excess salt and highly processed food and drinks will go a long way as well. 

When it comes to timing, simply eating slower can help reduce the amount of air you swallow when you eat and help break food up into smaller pieces for easier digestion. You should also try to space out your meals more so you’re eating smaller quantities in a single sitting, allowing you to fully digest your food over time and absorb more nutrients. 

Another thing to pay attention to is what you’re eating when you experience the most bloating or digestive discomfort. Some common intolerances are dairy products, legumes, high insoluble fiber foods (like broccoli, grains, and some nuts), and gluten. So try keeping a food journal for a few days, and you may see a link between what you are eating and how bad your digestive symptoms are. 

Lastly, get moving! Just staying active helps with digestion, even low-impact activities like yoga. One study found that people who often feel bloated report far less bloating when they take a short walk after eating.

When to Take Digestive Enzymes

If your body is not producing enough of those enzymes or you have a digestive condition, it may be helpful to take digestive enzymes. Digestive conditions that affect enzyme production are:

• Conditions affecting the pancreas, like pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis
• Diabetes 
• Cystic fibrosis
• Gastrointestinal surgery 
• Inflammatory digestive conditions like IBD and IBS
• Lactose intolerance 
• Celiac Disease 
• Some types of cancer treatment 

If you don’t have a diagnosed digestive condition, some indicators of digestive insufficiency include bloating, stomach cramping, diarrhea, gas, and unexpected weight loss. 

3 Best Digestive Enzyme Supplements 

Digestive enzyme supplements provide bile salts, enzymes, and botanicals that help with digestion and inflammation. Here are our recommendations:

Digestive Enzymes Ultra by Pure Encapsulations for Occasional Bloating 

Digestive Enzymes Ultra by Pure Encapsulations contains enzymes that assist in digesting all major food types like protein, carbohydrates, fats, and fiber. It is particularly useful for people who experience discomfort when consuming fiber, a common cause of bloating. Since it contains lactase, it’s also helpful for individuals with lactose intolerance. This supplement is vegetarian and supports nutrient absorption. 

Digestxym+ by U.S. Enzymes for Protein Digestion Problems 

Digestxym+ by U.S. Enzymes contains 23 high-potency plant-based enzymes as well as anti-inflammatory compounds. The anti-inflammatory complex contains astragalus root and ginseng root, which support immune function and ease inflammation-related digestive symptoms, like those caused by IBS or IBD. This formulation contains multiple variants of protein-digesting enzymes so it may be particularly useful for people experiencing bloating when consuming protein. 

Fermented Digestive Enzymes by Codeage for Wide-Spectrum Support

Fermented Digestive Enzymes by Codeage helps with digestive problems with an all-encompassing approach. This formulation uses fermented botanicals, probiotics, prebiotics, and digestive enzyme blends to improve not only enzyme activity but also the composition of your gut microbiome. The fermented botanicals also help reduce inflammation, providing yet another route to symptom reduction. This supplement is produced with only non-GMO ingredients and is vegan. 

Taking care of your digestion doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with building good habits like eating a fiber-rich diet, staying hydrated, and getting some movement in. When extra support is needed, digestive enzyme supplements can be a helpful tool, whether you’re dealing with occasional bloating, food intolerances, or a more complex digestive condition. The right supplement can help you feel slimmer, more comfortable, and help you absorb more nutrients, which may, in turn, improve other aspects of your health as well. 

FAQs

Can digestive enzymes help with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Digestive enzymes may help ease some of the symptoms associated with IBS, especially if they contain herbs or botanicals that reduce inflammation. 

Why am I bloated?

It may be your diet, your lifestyle, or a problem with your digestion. Start by eating more fiber-rich foods and regularly exercising to see if it helps your symptoms. If not, consider digestive enzyme supplements or speaking with a doctor. 

Should I take digestive enzymes?

If you’re experiencing bloating, stomach cramping, diarrhea, gas, and unexpected weight loss but are eating a balanced diet and regularly exercising, you may not be fully digesting your food, and enzyme supplements can help with that.