digestive enzymes? Whats good

GoneForever · Mar 31, 2008

I already take bromelain,ginger root and pro-biotics. Do I need a digestive enzyme as well with meals? If so, whats a good one thats cheap. What are key things to look for in them? Thanks

loganb_football · Mar 31, 2008

Well there are all different enzymes that help digest different nutrients... I can sat that there is a brand at WalMart that is pretty good and it is on $6.00, and it has many different digestive enzymes. It's called multi-enzyme formula. It has bromelain,ox-bile, Betaine HC, pancreatine, amylase, and quite a few more...

BIG-D · Mar 31, 2008

I use Super Digestaway made by solarray. Just started using them again a month ago and think it makes a difference.

2fresh · Mar 31, 2008

The garden of life one is really good. I forget the name at the moment.

saguakid · Mar 31, 2008

fourthgen said:
I already take bromelain,ginger root and pro-biotics. Do I need a digestive enzyme as well with meals? If so, whats a good one thats cheap. What are key things to look for in them? Thanks

Eat em from whole foods,better than supp,i recommend papaya,this fruit has some digestive enzyme that help you a lot,i forgot the name but u can search it.everytime i eat papaya my stomach feels good

finny · Mar 31, 2008

Udo's is one of the better/best. Rather expensive.

Much cheaper alternative is LEF's digestive enzymes. Might be switching to these to see if there is any difference.

Digestive enzymes come from plant sources, at least the better ones. So yes, they are better than eating papaya. Besides, you need a full spectrum blend to break down carbohydrates, fats, proteins, fibre, lactose, and starch.

munsterpd · Apr 1, 2008

I use the Beverly Internation one "multi enzyme complex".

speedbacker · Apr 1, 2008

Have used NOW's Super Enzymes and really felt an improvement. Less gas, bloating, more hunger, better bowels. I like to rotate around and use different brands.

GoneForever · Apr 1, 2008

If im already taking bromelain(500mg), ginger root(1000mg) and acidophillus with each "bigger" meal, would this be a good digestive enzyme to get?
http://www.vitacost.com/Source-Naturals-Daily-Essential-Enzymes

Or do I even need a digestive enzyme if im already taking the 3 things above?

Massive G · Apr 2, 2008

fourthgen said:
If im already taking bromelain(500mg), ginger root(1000mg) and acidophillus with each "bigger" meal, would this be a good digestive enzyme to get?
http://www.vitacost.com/Source-Naturals-Daily-Essential-Enzymes

Or do I even need a digestive enzyme if im already taking the 3 things above?

I got terrible stomach acid from the digestive enzymes when I took them.

I tell everyone to try things out and see if it works well. I personally don't have issues because of the foods I eat and the order I eat them in.

GoneForever · Apr 2, 2008

^^^ hmmm well ive used digestive enzymes before with no probs, but isnt bromelain and ginger root the main enzymes you want for digestion anyway?

Phidias · Apr 2, 2008

fourthgen said:
^^^ hmmm well ive used digestive enzymes before with no probs, but isnt bromelain and ginger root the main enzymes you want for digestion anyway?

Brom is only ONE enzyme amongst many involded in protein digestion.

You need all the specific proteases to properly digest protein... pepsin (naturally secreted by ur stomach), trypsin and chymotrypsin (produced in the duodeum), papain and elastase being the main ones.

All the enzymes classified as "amylases" digest carbs.

And finally there is lipase for lipids.

Massive G · Apr 2, 2008

fourthgen said:
^^^ hmmm well ive used digestive enzymes before with no probs, but isnt bromelain and ginger root the main enzymes you want for digestion anyway?

Never been really sure EXTRA enzymes are needed or are that effective. The body doesn't secrete bromelan or establish it's own flora (acidolphilis) and soothe it's own stomach (ginger) or keep the system working out the other end (fiber) That's why i use the big 4 for keeping the system in tip top shape.

Like I said give the enzymes a shot and see how they work for you a shot and see, bromelain is in most digestive supps and acidolphilis only helps as well as ginger root helps sooth the stomach per say after a large meal and you should also add in 1-2 servings of metamucil a day for fiber.
I have had gastric reflux for years and it is controlled quite well with zantac perhaps the extra HCL in the enzymes was too much for me and gave me the acid.
Most digestive enzymes contain these ingredients:
From the NOW brand label on Super Enzymes
Betaine HCl (from Beets and Molasses) 200 mg *
Pancreatin 4X Supplying: 200 mg *
Amylase 20,000 USP units *
Protease 20,000 USP units *
Lipase 3,400 USP units *
Papain (2M USP units/mg) 50 mg *
Cellulase (1M FCC units/g) 10 mg *
Ox Bile Extract (45% Cholic Acid) 100 mg *
Pepsin Enzymes (NF 1:10M units) 50 mg *
Bromelain (2,400 GU) (from pineapple) 50 mg *
Papaya Powder 45 mg

GoneForever · Apr 2, 2008

^^^ Thats what I thought. I better get one with all the enzymes and do you take them with protien powder or only meals?

Massive G · Apr 2, 2008

I just take them with a meal, most of the time I'll hit the supps before the meal.

Definitely before the brazillian steak house I loaded up me belly with some bromelain and ginger root.

I ate so much meat I dreamed I was a wild african lion dining on a zebra that night.

gassy · Apr 3, 2008

I just started taking a systemic enzyme product called vitalzym and it's made me feel 10x's better.

GoneForever · Apr 3, 2008

Massive G said:
I just take them with a meal, most of the time I'll hit the supps before the meal.

Definitely before the brazillian steak house I loaded up me belly with some bromelain and ginger root.

I ate so much meat I dreamed I was a wild african lion dining on a zebra that night.

Ive been to one of those. They bring out like 15diff types of meats on swords and cut them off on your plate. You can get in like 200g protien no problem. My terds look like volkswagen's afterwards

GoneForever · Apr 3, 2008

Im gonna go with the NOW unless someone knows another brand thats cheaper with the same stuff. I have a ? I see 2 diff versions of their super enzyme. One is in tablets and one is in capsules. Same dosing of each in each cap/tab. Only diff is in the directions it says take 1 tablet with each meal but for the capsules it says take 1-2. Would you guys prefer one over the other?

loganb_football · Apr 3, 2008

Massive G said:
Never been really sure EXTRA enzymes are needed or are that effective. The body doesn't secrete bromelan or establish it's own flora (acidolphilis) and soothe it's own stomach (ginger) or keep the system working out the other end (fiber) That's why i use the big 4 for keeping the system in tip top shape.

Like I said give the enzymes a shot and see how they work for you a shot and see, bromelain is in most digestive supps and acidolphilis only helps as well as ginger root helps sooth the stomach per say after a large meal and you should also add in 1-2 servings of metamucil a day for fiber.
I have had gastric reflux for years and it is controlled quite well with zantac perhaps the extra HCL in the enzymes was too much for me and gave me the acid.
Most digestive enzymes contain these ingredients:
From the NOW brand label on Super Enzymes
Betaine HCl (from Beets and Molasses) 200 mg *
Pancreatin 4X Supplying: 200 mg *
Amylase 20,000 USP units *
Protease 20,000 USP units *
Lipase 3,400 USP units *
Papain (2M USP units/mg) 50 mg *
Cellulase (1M FCC units/g) 10 mg *
Ox Bile Extract (45% Cholic Acid) 100 mg *
Pepsin Enzymes (NF 1:10M units) 50 mg *
Bromelain (2,400 GU) (from pineapple) 50 mg *
Papaya Powder 45 mg

I would also like to question the use of bromelain and/or papaya powder? All of the other stuff in used in the mouth, stomach, and small intestines... I dont see any need to take bromelain as an extra... Like you were saying the body doesnt use it... Any extra protein that needs to be digested can be broken down with the Amylase, and HCl.

Massive G · Apr 3, 2008

loganb_football said:
I would also like to question the use of bromelain and/or papaya powder? All of the other stuff in used in the mouth, stomach, and small intestines... I dont see any need to take bromelain as an extra... Like you were saying the body doesnt use it... Any extra protein that needs to be digested can be broken down with the Amylase, and HCl.

you missed my point entirely.
I said bromelain was important to take because your body doesn't make it and the extra help and benefits of it are remarkable not only in protein digestion but also for reducing inflammation and even as an anti-clotting agent. If you search on the benefits of bromelain the list is long and complex but very beneficial.

I don't have any experience with how adding digestive enzymes would work in the body long term-does your body reduce the natural enzymes it releases when you add supplemental enzymes? That I don't know. If so there would be a surge of too many released when the supps weren't used.
I know with acid blockers like Zantac, when I ran out years ago and it asn't OTC I had a huge case of reflux when the acid turned itself back on with out the drug there and I was miserable.

Somethings will be wasted anyway as amylase and carbohydrate digestion occurs in the mouth and small intestine and not the stomach.