Can Digestive Enzymes Help Gas and Bloating?

Did you know that efficient digestion is one of the most important components to achieving whole body health and wellness? Yes, your digestion can influence the health of your entire body (for better or worse)! That’s why Incorporating digestive enzymes in your daily routine can help boost the power of your digestive system and also support your own top-tier gut health.   

Digestive enzymes are critically needed to break down the food you eat into nutritional components. But various problems can disrupt this process. If so, you may experience annoying concerns such as: gas after eating, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and stomach or abdominal pain.  

These gastrointestinal concerns are a key reason that digestive enzymes as supplements have become so popular. Ideally, your body would be able to take advantage of enzymes made by your body as well as enzymes naturally occurring in food. Did you know that your food may contain few or no active enzymes if it has been highly heated?  At high temperatures, food enzymes degrade and become no longer active.  

Was the pizza you just ate cooked in an oven at 350 deg. F.?  Then the active enzyme levels = nada. Do you like sourdough bread (heated at 450 deg. F.)? Then the available enzymes = nada, zero, zilch. You get the picture. Even if you ate all raw food, it is often difficult to get enough active enzymes in food. Without active food enzymes to use, then your body may have to produce even more of its own enzymes.     

The good news is that it’s easy to supply enzymes as a digestive enzyme supplement. Research shows they can boost enzyme support during a meal and help relieve indigestion stress. It’s easy to take them right after meals, especially those with cooked food.   

Take a look at the three main digestive enzymes you need in sufficient amounts:  

• Amylase: is mainly produced in the saliva and pancreas. Its job is to break down carbohydrates (such as starches and sugars).  
• Lipase: is produced in your mouth (saliva), stomach and pancreas. Its job is to break down fats.  
• Protease: is produced in the stomach, pancreas, and small intestines. Its job is to break down protein.  

In addition to these major three enzymes, other lesser-known but powerful enzymes include peptidase, hemicellulase, beta-glucanase, and glucoamylase enzymes. They can contribute to a healthy digestive system and superior gut health. These enzymes support the breakdown of fiber, promoting the nutrient bioavailability of foods that naturally contain fiber. Look for a good digestive supplement that contains the three main digestive enzymes, but also these lesser known enzymes for full digestive support.  

Bottom Line 

Increasing your enzyme intake can help promote the breakdown of a broad range of dietary nutrients, help relieve intestinal gas and banish bloating. An enzyme-rich diet along with a daily routine that includes an enzyme supplement, can help support your best digestion.  

Let’s get you on your journey to your most radiant digestive health!   

Jenny Perez is an herbal educator, researcher, and writer who has been immersed in the field of nutrition and botanical medicine for more than 20 years. Jenny has created curriculum, content, and educational materials for Quantum Nutrition Labs, Premier Research Labs, the American Botanical Council, and Bastyr University’s Botanical Medicine Department where she was Adjunct Faculty, Herb Garden Manager, and Director of the Holistic Landscape Design certificate program.