Digestive Enzymes?

[Luvbeingamommy]

Has anyone used these to help heal their stomach?? If so what kind did you use and did they really help??

[Mari]

I have been using a variety of commercial enzyme preparations for years. They need to have pancreatic enzymes and lipase which I usually get but have used several which contain plant enzymes from papaya, pineapple and others. One pill also had bile which if your stools are light colored might help more. One prep. I like has betaine-HCl which acidifies the stomach and probiotics to supplement our good intestinal flora - acidophilus and Bifidobacterium are both good for us.

[Gfresh404]

I'm not sure how digestive enzymes would necessarily help heal your stomach.. they're more meant to provide less stress on the body's organs and to allow it to properly assimilate and utilize the macro and micro nutrients from food.

I believe there are 3 different types of enzymes:

1. Plant work in the stomach, and in the small and large intestine. These are good because they work through out the entire body and have a very good "cleansing" effect on it. However, they can also be very harsh if you take too many - causing food to go through you quicker than usual. Can be very painful if you have a stomach full of fiber.

2. Pancreatic enzymes only work in the small intestine. I recommend and take these myself. My most damaged area was/is the small intestine, so that's really the only area where I need help. These are awesome because the unused enzymes simply cycle through the blood stream and back to the small intestine again when needed. It is very difficult to take too many of these and they are very easy on your system - the food you ate will digest at the rate it should - unless you eat a food that contains natural (vegetable) enzymes, like lettuce or broccoli.

3. I consider Animal enzymes to be things such as ox bile - even though Pancreatic enzymes are technically Animal (porcine) enzymes too. I would stay away from these just because they be harsh on your system and I believe the other two are much much safer.

And YES - Pancreatic enzymes have been a life saver for me - I honestly don't know where I would be without them, probably asleep. However, everyone is different, but I think most people on here would agree that enzymes are a definite must. That, and eating healthy.

p.s. I take Now Pancreatin 4X Strength - it's really cheap and has the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices seal) - 1-2 pills a day an hour before a meal on an empty stomach. Just be careful about taking enzymes with vegetables and fruit, the food will shoot right out of you!

[mushroom]

I agree with the other posters. They have been a lifesaver for me. I have taken a variety of different preparations, and find they all work quite well, some better than others. I would suggest experimenting to see what works best for you. I usually try to buy the kind that you take one per day with your evening meal so that your digestive system can maximally utilize it overnight, and it does not cost a fortune.

[RiceGuy]

I've been considering trying some digestive enzymes, and just ordered some after a bit of research into what might work best. I read that the best kind are derived from microbes, because they can withstand the acidity of the stomach. Otherwise they'd get destroyed before reaching the intestines where they're needed. Also, watch out for maltase, malt diastase, etc, as they can (though not always) be derived from barley, even if the product claims to be gluten-free!

There are a number of different types out there, and the different formulations seem to be targeting different forms of indigestion. So your selection should be based on the sorts of foods which you know aren't being digested well. Some enzymes are for proteins, some for fats, others for carbohydrates, and so forth. And, there are different enzymes in each group. Not all products contain all the types in a given group either.

[deezer]

I've been considering trying some digestive enzymes, and just ordered some after a bit of research into what might work best. I read that the best kind are derived from microbes, because they can withstand the acidity of the stomach. Otherwise they'd get destroyed before reaching the intestines where they're needed. Also, watch out for maltase, malt diastase, etc, as they can (though not always) be derived from barley, even if the product claims to be gluten-free!

There are a number of different types out there, and the different formulations seem to be targeting different forms of indigestion. So your selection should be based on the sorts of foods which you know aren't being digested well. Some enzymes are for proteins, some for fats, others for carbohydrates, and so forth. And, there are different enzymes in each group. Not all products contain all the types in a given group either.

How did those enzymes work out?

[deezer]

I agree with the other posters. They have been a lifesaver for me. I have taken a variety of different preparations, and find they all work quite well, some better than others. I would suggest experimenting to see what works best for you. I usually try to buy the kind that you take one per day with your evening meal so that your digestive system can maximally utilize it overnight, and it does not cost a fortune.

What kind of enzymes do you recommend?

[Juliebove]

I take PDA from Nature's Sunshine. I can't take any with Bromelain. They rip up my stomach.

[cahill]

Thanks guys ,great information

[mushroom]

What kind of enzymes do you recommend?

I have had good results with Ultra-Zyme by Nature's Plua.