Digestive supplements may aid your weight loss efforts by better enabling you to digest and absorb the nutrients from a balanced diet. According to Life Extension Magazine, the body's production of the crucial digestive enzymes declines with age. This can cause digestive blockage, inflammation, bloating and even malnutrition. By enhancing digestion, enzymes may also support immune function, antioxidant uptake and fat burning. In fact, when taken with protein, digestive enzymes help the body better absorb the critical branched-chain amino acids, according to "Combat the Fat" author Jeff Anderson. Consult with your doctor before taking digestive enzymes.
Nature's Plus Digestive Enzyme
Nature's Plus Digestive Enzyme product contains pancreatin, papain, glutamic acid, ox bile extract and malt diastase. In addition, this product contains a potent 30mg of pepsin that represents a 1:15,000 extract ratio and is comparable to 150mg of its non-standardized counterparts. Nature's Plus recommends one tablet with meals or after meals for symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort. This product contains no artificial colors or preservatives, yeast, wheat, corn, soy or milk. Additional ingredients include microcrystalline cellulose, di-calcium phosphate, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, silica and pharmaceutical glaze.
Gary Null Digestive Enzymes
Gary Null's Digestive Enzymes provide acidophilus, bromelain, pepsin and an herbal digestion support formula. Herbs like chamomile, peppermint, angelica, ginger, majoram, coriander, papaya, red pepper and clover flowers provide digestive support. The primary digestive enzyme formula contains malt diastase, cellulase, lactase, amylase, protease and lipase. This product contains no sugar, starch, salt, honey, lactose, egg, milk, fish, colors, corn, yeast, fructose, wheat, soy or preservatives. They recommend one capsule daily with a meal.
Udo's Choice Digestive Enzyme Blend
Flora's product is endorsed by author and nutritionist Udo Erasmus Ph.D. Udo's Choice Enzyme Blend claims to enhance digestion and nutrient absorption with plant enzymes. They claim their product contains two times the protease as their competitors, as well as the enzymes bromelain, pectinase, lactase, malt diastase, glucoamylase and cellulase. These nutrients are purported to help breakdown and metabolize fats, carbohydrates, soluble fibers, starches and milk sugars. Flora recommends one capsule at the beginning of a meal, with an additional capsule before a heavy meal.
Source Naturals Essential Enzymes
Source Naturals Essential Enzymes contains vegetal pancreatin and acid-stable protease to aid in protein digestion. Supporting enzymes include lipase, alpha-amylase, amyloglucosidase, cellulase, hemicellulase and lactase. Each 500mg capsule contains an all-vegetarian, broad-spectrum multi-enzyme. Source Naturals recommends one capsule with water at the beginning of a meal, followed by a second capsule during or after to support digestion of dishes containing large amounts of proteins and/or fats. This product contains no yeast, dairy, egg, gluten, corn, soy, wheat, sugar, salt, preservatives or colors. The only additional ingredients are gelatine, magnesium stearate and colloidal silicon dioxide.
References
- "Life Extension Magazine"; Promoting Optimal Nutrition with Digestive Enzymes; Dale Kiefer; January 2008
- "Combat the Fat;" Jeff Anderson; 2008
- "The Complete Book of Enzyme Therapy"; Anthony J. Cichoke; 1999
- "The Healing Power of Enzymes"; Dicqui Fuller; 1998
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