Digestive Enzymes Benefits: What You Need to Know
By Nutritional Weight and Wellness Staff
January 20, 2025
If you’ve ever felt bloated, heavy, or uncomfortable after meals, digestive enzymes might be the key to getting your digestion back on track. These naturally occurring proteins help break down food into absorbable nutrients, ensuring your body gets what it needs from every bite.
But what exactly are the benefits of digestive enzymes? And what happens if you take them after eating? Let’s break it down.
In a recent episode of “Ask a Nutritionist,” Britni Vincent LD, RD, dives into all things digestive enzymes—how they work, the signs your body might need more support, and the best way to incorporate them into your routine. Read on for the highlights, and be sure to tune in for even more insights and practical tips!
What Are Digestive Enzymes?
Digestive enzymes are specialized proteins that your body produces in the saliva, stomach, pancreas, and small intestine. Each of the different enzymes has a specific job:
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Amylase: Breaks down carbohydrates into simple sugars.
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Protease: Breaks down proteins into amino acids. Pepsin, made by the body and commonly found in digestive enzyme supplements, is a specific type of protease.
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Lipase: Breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol.
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Lactase: Breaks down lactose, the sugar found in dairy products.
These enzymes work together to ensure that your food is properly digested so your body can absorb nutrients efficiently. However, factors like age, stress, and certain medications can reduce your body’s enzyme production, leading to digestive discomfort and nutrient deficiencies.
What Are the Benefits of Digestive Enzymes?
When your body doesn’t naturally produce enough enzymes, digestive enzyme supplementation can provide a range of health benefits:
Reduce Bloating and Gas: Digestive enzymes help break down food more efficiently, reducing fermentation in the digestive tract—a common cause of gas and bloating.
Ease Heartburn and Reflux: Many digestive enzyme products also contain betaine HCL (stomach acid). Believe it or not most people with heartburn and reflux actually have low stomach acid. Supplementing with HCL can support stomach acid levels, addressing the root cause of heartburn for many people.
Improve Nutrient Absorption: By breaking food down into smaller molecules, enzymes and HCL ensure that your body can absorb essential nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, and calcium.
Support Fat Digestion: If you’ve had your gallbladder removed or struggle with greasy stools, enzymes containing ox bile can help your body break down fats.
Relieve “Heavy” After-Meal Feelings: If you feel like there’s a brick in your stomach after eating, this is generally a sign that you have low stomach acid. The enzyme pepsin and HCL can help your body digest protein-heavy meals more comfortably.
Digestive Enzyme Supplements vs. Probiotics
While both digestive enzyme supplements and probiotics can aid in digestion, they serve different purposes.
Digestive enzyme supplements contain specific enzymes that help break down food into smaller, absorbable molecules. These supplements can be particularly beneficial for individuals who have difficulty digesting certain foods or who suffer from conditions like lactose intolerance.
On the other hand, probiotics are live microorganisms that help maintain a healthy balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria in the gut. They support overall gut health, can reduce digestive symptoms and are beneficial for conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other gastrointestinal diseases.
Understanding the distinct roles of these supplements can help you choose the right one for your digestive needs.
When Should You Consider Digestive Enzyme Supplements?
Digestive enzymes can be helpful if you experience any of these uncomfortable symptoms:
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Regularly feel bloated, heavy, or gassy after meals.
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Struggle with reflux or heartburn.
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Notice undigested food or greasy stools.
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Have nutrient deficiencies like low B12 or iron.
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Have had your gallbladder removed.
How to Get the Most Out of Digestive Enzymes
To maximize the benefits of digestive enzymes:
Take Them with Meals: Ideally, take 1–2 capsules of a digestive enzyme supplement just before your first bite of food.
Choose the Right Blend: If dietary changes aren’t enough to ease your symptoms, a supplement might be the next step. Here’s what to look for:
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Betaine HCL: For reflux or low stomach acid.
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Ox Bile: For fat digestion, especially after gallbladder removal.
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Comprehensive Enzyme Blends: To cover proteins, fats, and carbs all at once. Supplements like NutriKey’s Key Digestive Enzymes combine these ingredients with herbs like gentian root to encourage natural enzyme production.
Pair with Gut-Friendly Foods: Include fermented foods like sauerkraut or yogurt and enzyme-rich fruits like pineapple and papaya in your diet for additional natural support.
What Happens if You Take Digestive Enzymes After Eating?
While an enzyme supplement is most effective when taken just before a meal, it can still offer benefits if taken after eating. Here’s what happens:
Partial Food Breakdown: Even after food has started moving through your digestive system, enzymes can help break down remaining nutrients to ease digestion.
Reduced Discomfort: If you’re already feeling bloated or heavy, taking enzymes mid- or post-meal may help your body process the food more efficiently, providing some relief.
Enhanced Nutrient Uptake: Enzymes taken after eating can still support nutrient absorption by breaking down partially digested food in the stomach and small intestine.
However, the earlier you take them, the more fully they can assist your digestion from the start of the process and help eliminate uncomfortable symptoms.
Proper digestion isn’t just about finding relief from discomfort—it’s about giving your body the tools it needs to thrive. Digestive enzymes play a critical role in breaking down food so your body can absorb and use essential nutrients.
If you’re curious about whether digestive enzymes are right for you, or if you’ve been wondering how they work with your body, tune into the episode of “Ask a Nutritionist” for more information about digestive enzymes.
