If you’re someone that often deals with gastrointestinal symptoms such as irregular or painful bowel movements, gas, and bloating, you might look to digestive enzymes and probiotics to support you.
There’s a wide range of digestive and probiotic supplements out there, and they’re often pushed towards those with gut problems.
However, you don’t always need to take both digestive enzymes and probiotics, sometimes, one works better than the other for your specific symptoms, and sometimes you shouldn’t be taking either of them!
But don’t panic if you don’t know much about this topic because this article will be a complete digestive enzyme and probiotic 101!
I will be telling you all about the differences between digestive enzymes and probiotics, how to take each of them, their pros and cons, and give you some insight into the best digestive enzyme and probiotic supplements out there.
Digestive Enzymes I Recommend
Now Foods Super Enzymes
Super Enzymes, created by Now Foods, is an enzyme capsule supplement that contains Amylase, Lipase, Protease, Bromelain, Pancreatin, And Papain. The capsules also contain Ox Bile which contains Cholic Acids, and Cellulase.
Zenwise Digestive Enzymes
Zenwise Digestive Enzymes is a capsule supplement that contains Amylase, Lipase, Protease, Bromelain, Maltase, Invertase, and Lactase. The capsules also contain probiotics and prebiotics.
Green Vibrance
Green Vibrance, produced by Vibrant Health, is a gut health blend that contains super greens, probiotics, prebiotics, and more importantly, digestive enzymes. The formula contains powerful digestive enzymes, Phytase and Hemicellulase.
Check out my best superfood powders to discover other brands that contain digestive and probiotic ingredients in their formula.
Probiotic Supplements I Recommend
Digestive Vibrance by Vibrant Health
Digestive Vibrance by Vibrant Health is a powdered formula that contains herbal extracts, prebiotics, and 100 billion probiotics from eight strains specifically chosen for their digestive health benefits.
Klean Probiotic
Klean Probiotic is a probiotic capsule supplement that contains 15 Billion CFU probiotics, as well as digestive enzymes and fiber, all of which have been chosen to balance the gut and help nutrients be properly absorbed.
Check out my Klean Probiotic review to see if this brand is for you.
Physicians Choice Probiotic Capsules
Physicians Choice Probiotic Capsules contain 60 Billion CFUs and 10 different strains of probiotic strains that are supposed to support the health of the entire digestive system. The capsules also contain a prebiotic blend.
What Are Digestive Enzymes?
Digestive enzymes are proteins that break macromolecules into smaller blocks! They are created in the body, in the mouth, stomach, small intestine, and pancreas.
These enzymes help to break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates that you consume and allow for the absorption of nutrients through the small intestine and into the bloodstream.
Digestive enzymes, therefore, play a large role in maintaining an optimal state of health, since, without them, nutrients go to waste.
There are three main types of digestive enzymes – amylase, lipase, and protease.
Amylase breaks down carbohydrates into sugar molecules, lipase works alongside bile in the liver to break down fats. Protease breaks down proteins into amino acids that help to keep bacteria and yeast out of the intestines.
How To Take Digestive Enzymes
If you’re looking to support your gut with more digestive enzymes, you can take a digestive enzyme supplement. Although digestive enzymes can be found in powders, most digestive enzyme-specific supplements are sold in capsules.
I’ll be suggesting some digestive enzyme supplements at the end of this review, so read on to take a look at those! However, first, let’s talk about how you can take digestive enzymes!
Digestive enzymes are designed to break down macromolecules and therefore the best time to take a digestive enzyme supplement is just before you have a meal or with a meal.
If you’re taking individual digestive enzymes, such as protease, you can take these specific enzymes with a meal that contains the intended food, for example, a protein.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are supposed to provide the gut with good bacteria that improve the microflora within the digestive system.
Probiotics also fight off bad bacteria within the gut, helping maintain a balance of bacteria and supporting an optimum state of overall health.
There’s a wide range of probiotic strains out there, but there are two main species: Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus.
Bifidobacteria reduces the likelihood of harmful bacteria growing in the intestine, helps with the breakdown of lactose, and boosts the immune system.
Lactobacillus produces lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose) and lactic acid (acid that helps control bad bacteria and increases the body’s absorption of micronutrients).
How To Take Probiotics
If you’re looking to support the microflora of your gut, you might want to supplement with a probiotic supplement. Probiotics can be found in fermented foods, such as kefir and yogurt. Still, there are also probiotic capsules and powdered supplements out there – I’ll be sharing information about the best probiotic supplements later in this review!
If you are taking a probiotic supplement, you should try to take it on an empty stomach when you first wake up in the morning or at least 30 minutes before you eat. Probiotic supplements can also be taken at night if you prefer.
Taking a superfood powder that contains probiotics is a popular way to consume these nutrients easily. However, this may not be the best solution as I highlight in my should you take a greens powder with probiotics article.
The Benefits of Digestive Enzymes Vs The Benefits of Probiotics
Benefits of Digestive Enzymes
Digestive enzymes help those who don’t naturally produce enough digestive enzymes; therefore, they help break down macromolecules from food for those who otherwise cannot naturally obtain nutrients from their food.
Digestive enzymes also provide anti-inflammatory benefits and support for those dealing with inflammatory conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and osteoarthritis.
However, the benefits of digestive enzymes don’t just stop there!
They also reduce stress in the intestinal tract and can help to treat conditions such as celiac disease.
Benefits of Probiotics
Probiotics can benefit those with digestive system infections and upset, such as those with IBS.
Probiotics fight bad bacteria within the gut and help to balance the microflora, reducing symptoms of gut conditions and preventing diarrhea and constipation. Research has shown that probiotics work best to stop and prevent diarrhea!
For women, probiotics also support urogenital health by improving and supporting the delicate ecosystem of bacteria – Lactobacilli probiotic strains help support urogenital health since it makes the environment too acidic for harmful bacteria to survive.
The Problem With Digestive Enzymes Vs The Problem With Probiotics
The Problem With Digestive Enzymes
There isn’t a lot of sufficient evidence or research that taking digestive enzymes can help support gut health, at least not for those that don’t have digestive issues. Therefore, they might not provide benefits for everyone.
In addition, not everyone should take digestive enzymes. Digestive enzymes can interact with diabetes medications and antacids. So, if you’re taking either of these medications, you should consult a doctor before consuming any digestive enzyme supplements.
Side effects are also associated with taking digestive enzymes, the most common being constipation. Other side effects may include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and gas.
The Problem With Probiotics
Just like digestive enzymes, there hasn’t been sufficient scientific research to support the benefits associated with probiotics. Therefore, not everyone may benefit from consuming probiotics.
However, the main issue with probiotics is that they are fragile. It’s hard for probiotics, especially in powdered formulas, to survive the manufacturing, storage, and digestion process. This is because heat can destroy probiotics.
Therefore, when it comes to many probiotic supplements, the probiotics may not reach the digestive system and provide benefits.
Probiotics can also cause side effects. They can cause allergic reactions, abdominal cramps, gas, and diarrhea, especially during the first few days you take them.
In addition, probiotics are not safe for everyone. They should not be consumed by those with issues with their immune system, those who have recently had surgery, or those with chronic conditions.
Who Should Use Digestive Enzymes?
Digestive enzymes will be most useful for those with stomach issues and naturally don’t produce a substantial amount of digestive enzymes, such as people with IBS and chronic pancreatitis.
Who Should Use Probiotics?
People can take probiotics for three main reasons – after taking antibiotics to restore the gut microbiome, reduce symptoms of digestive illnesses, and prevent symptoms of digestive illnesses.
Can You Use Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics At The Same Time?
Yes. If you need to supplement with both digestive enzymes and probiotics at the same time, you can. Because digestive enzymes and probiotics do different jobs to support overall health, you can take them together.
If you want to take the supplements simultaneously every day, you should take them on an empty stomach before breakfast in the morning since each supplement can be taken at this time.
Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes May Work, But You Need To Be Careful When Taking Them Both
Both probiotics and digestive enzymes can potentially provide benefits. Still, the benefits associated with these supplements may not apply to all – both of these supplements have potential side effects and are not suitable for all people.
So, although probiotics and digestive enzymes may work and benefit the gut, you need to be careful when taking them.
Make sure that you are suitable for taking these supplements, take them as the supplement you are consuming suggests, and monitor yourself for side effects while taking them.
In addition, most people with healthy guts don’t need to take digestive enzymes or probiotics. You should only really take probiotics and digestive enzymes if you truly need them.
If you’re unsure whether or not you need to take either of these supplements, you may want to have your gut health tested or head to a medical professional for advice and guidance.
The Bottom Line
Digestive enzymes and probiotics can support certain people, especially those with digestive health issues. Still, most people’s guts should be able to provide them with a substantial amount of digestive enzymes and probiotics that can be consumed via whole foods!
So, although you can take each or both of them if you feel like you need to, you may not need to.
Suppose you don’t have any digestive issues. In that case, you can otherwise ensure that you have a balanced diet that supports your gut, and supplement with superfoods that will provide you with essential micronutrients that can also boost your gut health and overall health.
If you need to support yourself with digestive enzymes and probiotics, take the supplements as suggested and look for any side effects or reactions.
Also, make sure you choose a fully disclosed formula that contains a wide range of either probiotics or enzymes to ensure that you’re consuming the best possible supplements.
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