Digestive enzymes have long been used by followers of raw food diets to aid digestion. However, nutrition-oriented doctors will sometimes recommend taking digestive enzymes even if you're on a regular diet. They can help to treat digestive disorders and food allergies --- and may even aid weight loss. If you've never taken them before, it's a good idea to consult your doctor first.
What Are Digestive Enzymes?
Your body naturally has digestive enzymes that carry out different roles. Proteolytic enzymes help you digest protein, lipases help to digest fat and amylases help to break down carbohydrates. Various factors can deplete your body's own supply of digestive enzymes, such as an illness, stress or a poor diet. Taking these enzymes as supplements can help to restore a healthy balance and to improve your health.
Digestive Enzymes Role in Weight Loss
When your own enzymes are low, your metabolism becomes sluggish --- and a robust metabolism is essential for weight loss and maintenance. An unhealthy digestive system also disrupts other metabolic processes that play a role in weight control, such as detoxification, absorption of nutrients and energy production.
Who Needs Digestive Enzymes Most
If you are following a raw food diet to lose weight or in general, digestive enzymes can improve digestion and nutrient absorption. Also, people with some medical conditions are more likely to be deficient in digestive enzymes, such as those with celiac disease, pancreatic insufficiency and cystic fibrosis. Also, digestive enzymes might be beneficial for people who have autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, conditions that may increase the risk of gaining weight.
Precautions
Some people cannot take digestive enzymes. This includes people with ulcers, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, according to Leslie Beck, a registered dietitian and author of "The Complete A-Z Nutrition Encyclopedia." If you are pregnant, nursing or have a medical condition, speak to your doctor before taking these supplements. Some digestive enzymes can interfere with nutrient absorption and may interact with medications such as blood thinners and antibiotics.
Considerations
While digestive enzymes may help to improve digestion and metabolism, don't rely on them as ultimate solutions for weight loss. You should still eat a well-balanced, low-calorie diet rich in weight-friendly foods such as vegetables, fruit, fish, lean poultry and meat and whole grains. Also, perform aerobic exercise for 30 minutes most days of the week and strength train at least twice a week.
References
- "The Complete A-Z Nutrition Encyclopedia"; Leslie Beck, R.D.; 2010
- Village Health Clinic: Digestive Enzymes
- "The Detox Strategy"; Brenda Watson, C.N.C. et al.; 2008
- NYU Langone Medical Center: Proteolytic Enzymes
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