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Digestive difficulties are increasingly common today. Conditions like IBS, SIBO, diverticulitis, and gut-related autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis are on the rise, and more people than ever are suffering with digestive ailments.
Beyond these diagnosable conditions, many people face daily gut discomfort. It’s estimated that over 40% of the population experiences disruptive digestive symptoms on a regular basis.
Common digestive discomforts, whether or not tied to a specific diagnosis, include stomach pain, gas, diarrhea, heart burn, indigestion and constipation—with bloating often being a major underlying issue across these various gastrointestinal symptoms.
Bloating is an uncomfortable symptom of digestive dysfunction that can take away from the joy of eating and can impact self-esteem. It is common, and often mistaken for a normal. Bloating is simply a sign that the gut needs a little TLC, and with some tools, it doesn’t need to happen.
One often-overlooked solution is adding supplemental digestive enzymes, which can provide significant relief from bloating and support overall digestive health—for anyone who experiences bloating whether it's tied to a diagnosis or seemingly random.
In this week's blog, we are chatting about digestive enzymes and how a lack of them may be contributing to the sensation of bloating. We’ll explore this connection and show how we can reduce the chances and severity of bloating through specially crafted digestive enzymes taken daily!
What are Digestive Enzymes
Digestive enzymes are a class of enzymes made by the body. They are required for breaking down food and ensuring optimal nutrient absorption.
There are several enzymes utilized throughout the digestive process including: amylase, lipase, protease, pectinase and lactase. The body produces the entire spectrum of enzymes that are required to break down carbohydrates, fat and protein and other components like lactose and pectin found in food.
The proper breakdown of the macronutrients (fat, protein and carbohydrates) and more specific compounds like pectin, lactose and plant materials is needed for the body to create energy and free the micronutrients from the food matrix for absorption and utilization.
The Science of Enzymes
A decrease in production in any of the digestive enzymes decreases the functional capacity of the entire digestive tract and can lead to feelings of discomfort.
Digestive enzymes are made through a complex interaction of organs, tissues and nutrients.
Essential nutrients like zinc and protein are needed to make enzymes and many organs such as the stomach, pancreas and gallbladder are involved in the process of enzyme synthesis.
Stress, low stomach acid, the standard American diet and poor sleep can all reduce the number of enzymes made. Additionally, if any of the organs involved in the synthesis of enzymes, such as the pancreas are under functioning- we tend to see poor digestive function, often accompanied by symptoms like bloating.
Bloating is rarely a solitary symptom. It is the primary indicator that the body isn’t able to make enough digestive enzymes, but there are other key indicators that enzyme production has been downregulated. Some of these are: constipation (less than 1 bowel movement a day), diarrhea or loose stools, heartburn, gas, stomach pains, indigestion and general feeling of being uncomfortable or extremely fatigued after eating.
Can a Digestion Enzyme Help With Bloating?
Yes! Let’s look at the science.
Without sufficient enzyme production, the time it takes food to make its way through the digestive tract increases. This slowing down of digestion results in undigested food sitting in the intestine longer than normal, where it then begins to ferment. This process can lead to bloating and general gut discomfort.
How? Beyond fermenting, undigested food in the GI tract causes the body to send water to the intestines in an effort to eliminate the large particles of food and prompt a bowel movement. But when digestive function is low, peristalsis, the muscle contractions needed for a bowel movement are halted, and the water and food are then left to sit and cause further discomfort.
Lastly, a long-term enzyme deficiency disrupts the gut microbiome. When the microbiome composition is altered in a negative manner, bloating increases due to the by-products the new, undesirable bacteria produce.
A digestive enzyme prevents undigested food from sitting in the digestive tract and it supports the gut microbiome by removing one the food sources for ‘bad’ bacteria (fermented food), and supports a healthy transit time.
Sometimes, a digestive enzyme is the only intervention needed to resolve digestive issues such as bloating. It can also be more complicated than a digestive enzyme, but from a holistic lens, enzyme therapy is almost always indicated when working to alleviate digestive discomfort.
How to Take A Digestive Enzyme to Reduce Bloating
The production of digestive enzymes naturally occurs about 15 minutes before food is eaten.
To stop bloating from occurring, taking an enzyme before food, mimicking the body’s natural rhythm will have the greatest benefit.
A process called cephalic digestion begins when we think about or smell food and it triggers a cascade of digestive events that are upregulated when food hits the mouth.
For this reason, taking the enzyme 15 minutes before you sit down to eat is the best course of action, as they work in conjunction with the cascade of events prompted in cephalic digestion.
If you forget to take the enzyme before food, taking it with food or within half an hour of a big meal will still be helpful.
Taking enzymes away from meal times can have systemic benefits, but it won’t help in terms of reducing bloating.
The Bottom Line
Sufficient enzymes are needed for optimal digestive function. If you experience bloating- incorporating a digestive enzyme can not only help you find relief from bloating, but other digestive issues may begin to dissipate as well.
Our recommended product line are the leaders in supplemental enzymes, enzymedia. The Digest basic is the choice for minor discomforts, and if you need extra supper, Digest Gold has you covered!
Author: Lisa Kowalyk, CNP, B.Kin
