Choosing a Digestive Enzyme Part Two

Do you struggle with low stomach acid? Maybe you read our blog about low stomach acid and suspect that you suffer from it.

If that’s the case, read the blog to learn how to handle low stomach acid properly. You may have come across the portion that suggests taking a digestive enzyme with your food. But how do you choose the right one for you?

We suggest reading part one before this blog if you haven’t already. Let’s jump in!

Specialized Types of Enzymes

Bromelain is an enzyme derived from pineapples. It may improve the enzymatic digestion of proteins. Consider adding bromelain to your enzyme cocktail if you struggle to digest high-protein foods like meat (1).

Bile extract (like ox bile extract) is helpful for those who struggle to digest high-fat foods. If that’s you, consider experimenting with some bile (2).

Cellulase is an enzyme that breaks down plant fiber. Does high-fiber food exacerbate your symptoms? Think of big salads, beans, and other legumes. If that’s you, give cellulase a shot (3).

Lactase breaks down dairy. Some lactose-intolerant people find that the simple addition of lactase to their enzyme cocktail makes dairy digestible (4).

You might be thinking – these sound helpful, but which brand should I purchase?

Whether you’re looking for the basics only (amylase, protease, lipase, pepsin, and betaine HCl) or some extra oomph (like cellulase, lactase, or others), we’ve got you covered.

Recommendations

Supplement quality is of the utmost importance. If you choose to consume a digestive enzyme, make sure it’s from a trusted brand.

Check the expiration date on your supplements. Find out if doctors have verified the brand’s quality. Many trusted companies do so. Trustworthy brands also often have third-party labs verify their quality.

Some great brands include:

Metagenics
Thorne
Now Foods
Jarrow Formulas
IgY Nutrition
Many more!

If you need hardcore stomach acid support, check out the Spectrazyme Metagest by Metagenics. It contains potent pepsin and betaine HCl, which are critical components of stomach acid. You can purchase this on Amazon.

Metagenics’ Spectrazyme Pan 9x is a solid option for the three most important enzymes. It contains protease, amylase, and lipase, the enzymes needed to break down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. It is also sold on Amazon.

Our favorite is Now Foods’ Super Enzymes. It is affordable and contains a broad spectrum of enzymes, including amylase, protease, lipase, bromelain, papain, cellulase, ox bile extract, and betaine HCl.

How to Take Enzymes

Take at least one stomach acid supplement and one enzyme supplement with every meal. After a few days, you should notice your digestion has improved at least slightly.

If you experience adverse effects like heartburn, you’ll want to lower your dose, switch brands, or stop taking them.

Experiment with different ratios of stomach acid and enzymes to fit your personal needs. We recommend working with a healthcare professional to adjust your supplements as needed.

Thanks for joining us today! Tag us in photos of your digestive health journey on Instagram at @igynutrition.

References