How Digestive Enzymes Can Help With Food Intolerance and More

Digestive Enzymes Can Help

In an ideal world, we would eat enough raw, unprocessed food to supply ample enzymes in addition to those that naturally occur in our bodies. Digestive Enzymes are required to break down all types of foods into small enough particles that our bodies can use. The reality is, our bodies only produce so many enzymes, which also need time to replenish in between meals.

When enzyme production is reduced, or other factors prevent the ability to produce sufficient enzymes, our bodies suffer. Not only can temporary discomfort such as gas, indigestion, or bloating occur, but the lack of enzymes prevents our bodies from absorbing the necessary nutrients for overall health and wellness.

If enzyme deficiency isn’t offset with the help of digestive enzyme supplements, a variety of food intolerance symptoms can occur.

Food intolerance is simply the inability to fully digest, or break down, certain types of foods due to not having enough of a certain type of enzyme.  Otherwise known as a “digestive enzyme deficiency”, it means the body doesn’t have the normal levels of enzymes for digesting certain types of foods.

Why We Need Digestive Enzymes

• Enzymes are destroyed in cooking and processing foods
• Natural enzymes in our bodies begin to decrease in the late 20s
• Stress, medications, eating on the run, not fully chewing food can all affect our ability to digest properly
• Some lack enzymes due to genetics, ethnicity, lifestyle, or trauma which leads to food intolerance
• To support overall digestive health regardless of natural enzyme levels

Digestive Enzymes and Food Intolerance

Having lactose intolerance or another type of enzyme deficiency doesn’t mean the body can’t digest smaller portions. This may present a challenge in that the amount of available enzymes can vary even in the same person depending on other factors. While someone with a lactose intolerance may find they can tolerate foods with traces of lactose, such as certain types of cheese, another person may not.

Even in the same body, enzyme levels can fluctuate, making the ability to tolerate different foods (or knowing which foods to avoid and in what quantities) extremely challenging and frustrating.

If your symptoms are severe or chronic, there are certain tests your doctor can perform to pinpoint the exact enzyme deficiency.

Here is a breakdown of some common and not-so-common enzyme deficiencies that can result in food intolerance.

Lactose Intolerance. One of the more common types of enzyme deficiency is lactose intolerance, a lack of the digestive enzyme lactase.

Gluten Intolerance. (Not to be confused with Celiac Disease which is a gluten allergy). This one is a little tricky, as gluten is a protein, thus should technically be broken down by proteases we all have.

The supplemental plant enzyme Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (DPP IV) is believed to help break down the specific gluten protein, along with casein, a protein found in dairy products.

Disaccharide Intolerance. Also known as CSID (Congenital Sucrase Isomaltase Deficiencey) it affects the ability to digest various levels of sugars or starches, which may also include lactose. Considered as rare as Celiac Disease, recent studies indicate as many as 1 million Americans live with this and don’t know it.

Very little literature is available online so it is best to discuss your symptoms with a licensed health practitioner. We’ve provided links in the Further Reading section below for more information.

Phenol Intolerance. When eating a variety of raw, whole foods, seems to cause digestive upset, the reason may lie in a reduced ability to digest phenols. Phenols are found in high-antioxidant foods, fruit, nuts, vegetables, grains, food coloring, food flavorings.

It’s believed the enzyme Xylanase helps to enhance the digestion of phenolic compounds in these and other foods.

Fat Intolerance. May result from low levels of lipase, or for those who have had their gallbladder removed. The ability to properly digest and utilize fats and essential fatty acids is important to overall health and energy production.

Combined Intolerance. Normal reduction of enzymes that occur with age, or other factors affecting digestion, may result in combined intolerance, especially when eating large servings of one kind of food. This may vary from minor stomach upset after a meal containing the offensive foods, or ongoing symptoms due to the inability to pinpoint which foods are causing the problem.

Occasional indigestion after eating complex carbohydrates such as beans, dense fruits or vegetables, whole grains, or food with seeds may simply mean you ate more than normal enzyme levels can handle at once.

Try smaller meals, eating in a relaxed (versus rushed) environment, and chewing more thoroughly. If you still don’t find relief, then digestive enzyme support may help.

Of course, minimizing or eliminating the types of foods you know you cannot tolerate will further support your overall digestive health. Even digestive enzyme supplements can only break down so much. Regardless of food intolerance, a basic digestive enzyme supplement with every meal can benefit most people, and allow the occasional indulgence without major consequences.

Digestive Enzymes Options

Depending on individual needs, the following digestive enzyme supplements may offer help for food intolerance or as general support for overall digestion.

Digest Basic

Digest Basic from Enzymedica contains essential digestive enzymes. Perfect as an introductory enzyme supplement with a gentle enzyme formula and small capsules which are easy to swallow and great for the whole family.

Digest Gold

Digest Gold with ATPro is an advanced enzyme formula with potent levels of amylase, lipase, cellulase and protease Thera-blend enzymes which assist in breaking down carbohydrates, fats, fiber, and protein.*

Digest

Digest contains a high-potency enzyme Thera-blend of amylase, lipase, cellulase and protease to support complete digestion of carbohydrates, fats, fiber, and protein.

Vitalzym Digest

Vitalzym Digest from World Nutrition  with 18 powerful enzymes to support total digestion and nutrient absorption for proteins, carbohydrates (including sugar***, starch, and lactose), phenols and hemicelluloses, and fat digestion.

Digest Spectrum

Digest Spectrum for multiple food intolerance has amylase, lipase, cellulase, and protease Thera-blend formulas, DPP-IV for gluten and casein protein digestion, and invertase and maltase for sugar and starch digestion.***

GlutenEase

GlutenEase provides enzyme support for gluten-free** and casein-free diets and includes DPP-IV which focuses on breaking down gluten and casein proteins.

Lacto

Lacto with advanced diary digestion formula includes Lactase, Amylase Thera-blend, Protease Thera-blend, and additional enzymes to help with the break down of carbohydrates, starch, sugars, proteins, and fats.

BeanAssist

BeanAssist for occasional gas, bloating and discomfort*, contains Alpha Galactosidase, an enzyme that breaks down the carbs in raw vegetables and legumes such as beans, peas, and lentils.

Digest Gold + Probiotics

Digest Gold + Probiotics  formula contains advanced enzymes with probiotics for the convenient combination of a high-potency digestive enzyme plus guaranteed delivery of active probiotic cultures.

VeggieGest

VeggiGest with high-potency Alpha galactosidase a key enzyme for breaking down the sugars from beans, grains, raw vegetables and other foods that may create digestive discomfort in the complex-carbohydrate diet typical of vegans and vegetarians.

Lypo Gold

LypoGold with Lipase Thera-blend is formulated to support gallbladder function and cardiovascular activity, with a proper blend of enzymes which focus on essential fats and fat-soluble vitamin absorption within a range of pH levels.*

Kids Digest

Kids Digest provides digestive enzymes that help the body break down the components of a meal, like fats, fibers, protein and carbohydrates.* Naturally sweetened with xylitol.

**Not intended to replace a gluten-free diet for those with Celiac Disease.

***Not to replace a modified diet of reducing or eliminating sugars and starches as recommended by a licensed health care practitioner or dietitian for those with CSID, a disease indicated by permanent disaccharide deficiency.

Additional Support for Digestive Health

It’s wise not to trick yourself into thinking you can eat whatever and however you want just because you are taking enzymes. Reducing the amount of processed foods, harmful fats, caffeine, alcohol and over the counter medications can also help support digestion and ease stress so that your body can function properly.

Taking digestive supplements or enzymes should be one part of your efforts to achieve complete digestive health. In addition, probiotic support, eating well, reducing stress, getting ample sleep and rest, and increasing intake of water will also promote proper detoxification, which supports overall immune function and the body’s ability to repair and restore.

Further Reading

Are Gluten and Casein Wreaking Havoc on Your Digestive System?

Disaccharidase Deficiency: An Overlooked Digestive Disorder

Disaccharidase deficiencies

What is Celiac Disease?

Benefits of Enzymes

Essential Carbohydrate Living (A Mother’s CSID Journey)