FODMAP

What Do Digestive Enzyme Supplements Do?

Digestive enzyme supplements are designed to bridge the gap between the enzymes your body doesn’t produce enough of and the complex nutrients in your food. They provide the tools your body is missing or underproducing to break down specific triggers effectively.

What Are the Best Digestive Enzyme Supplements?

The best digestive enzyme supplement isn’t the one with the longest ingredient list or the one that has every possible enzyme. The best one will be the one that targets the specific food or foods that you are having difficulty digesting. “Best” can only be picked when you know your trigger foods and symptoms. Let me illustrate with a recent case.Donna had been living with IBS for over 10 years.

What to Look For on the Bottle or Packaging?

Supplement Facts. These are regulated by Health Canada and the FDA. Look for the enzyme that matches your triggered foods. (ex. Lactase for lactose, Lipase for fats)Review the serving size and the ingredient amounts. Many products will list the ingredients in milligrams but what is more important is the enzyme activity.

How Do Digestive Enzymes Work?

When it comes to understanding how digestive enzymes work in the body, it can be helpful to think of them as a lock-and-key system. Enzymes (the key) break down large, complex food molecules (the lock) into smaller units that your body can absorb and use for energy.Humans do not produce the specific enzymes to break down GOS and fructans, which are considered prebiotic carbohydrates.

How to Use Digestive Enzymes for IBS?

Using digestive enzymes for IBS management is a strategic process of fine-tuning your approach based on your specific triggers.Trial and experience: Finding the right dose of digestive enzymes can take a bit of experimentation.