What's the deal with digestive enzyme supplement?

We often get asked by guys and media outlets about digestive enzyme supplements. To make things simple for you, we've covered some of the most frequently asked questions and answers on this topic below.

Enjoy! -Dr. A & The FFP Team

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What the heck are digestive enzymes? When we say they are "small proteins" what does that mean exactly?

Digestive enzymes are small compounds that help our bodies break down the proteins, carbs, and fats from foods we eat into smaller pieces so that our bodies can absorb nutrients. Our bodies naturally produce digestive enzymes in our mouth, stomach, pancreas, and small intestine. After eating, our bodies release these digestive enzymes to break large food particles into smaller particles that can be easily absorbed.
People often hear that digestive enzymes are “proteins,” which can be a bit confusing because digestive enzymes themselves are involved in breaking down large proteins, carbs, and fats from foods we eat. By definition, any structure that is made up of amino-acid building blocks is considered a protein - even though the chemical structure of the proteins found in a chicken breast are much different than the chemical structure of the protease enzyme that helps break down those chicken proteins.

How do these enzymes help break our food down into smaller particles? Are there different types of enzymes that work differently? 

Our bodies use 3 main types of digestive enzymes that have a specialization for specific types of food.
  • Digestive enzymes that specialize in breaking down proteins are called Proteases.
  • Digestive enzymes that specialize in breaking down carbs are called Amylases.
  • Digestive enzymes that specialize in breaking down fats are called Lipases.
Our bodies need all three types of these enzymes, because the meals we eat typically contain proteins, carbs, and fats. 
It’s best to think of digestive enzymes as “little soldiers with scissors” that cut large food molecules into smaller pieces. Our digestive tract can’t absorb large food particles, so it’s necessary for our bodies to cut these large proteins, carbs, and fats into smaller units that can easily pass through the small holes in the digestive tract into blood circulation.

Do we naturally produce enzymes? Why might these not be enough for some people? How does this relate to fiber (does it?)? Does it relate to lectin? 

Our bodies naturally produce digestive enzymes in every section of our digestive tract. In fact, when we’re chewing food, the natural digestive enzymes in our saliva are already working on breakdown down food so it will be easier for the rest of our digestive tract to absorb. After swallowing our food, there are specialized digestive enzymes in our stomach, along with hydrochloric acid, that begin to break down proteins specifically. This process continues throughout the small and large intestine until the majority of the essential food nutrients have been absorbed and the remainder exits our bodies hours later as poo.
As our bodies age, we naturally produce fewer digestive enzymes, which can cause digestive issues (gas and bloating) in some people. For people who experience consistent gas and bloating after meals, supplementing with enzymes can be a helpful tool for aid in digestion.
Digestive enzymes aren’t just useful for our bodies as we age. Athletes and bodybuilders who consume large amounts of food to maintain calorie intake may also benefit from digestive enzyme supplementation to help them assimilate more of the calories from the foods they’re eating.

Are digestive enzymes the same thing as pills that help folks with lactose intolerance? 

One of the most famous digestive enzymes is called lactase, which is the enzyme that’s required to break down the sugar in milk. People who are lactose intolerant lack this key digestive enzyme, so the milk sugars found in dairy products unfortunately sit in their digestive tract unabsorbed which causes uncomfortable gas and bloating. When people take pills for lactose intolerance, they are simply swallowing the “lactase” enzyme which immediately begins breaking down the milk sugars that may be in their digestive tract.

Okay, what should you keep in mind when considering a digestive enzyme? 

When considering buying a digestive enzyme supplement, I prefer looking for products that contain a full spectrum of enzymes that includes Proteases (for proteins), Amylases (for carbs), and Lipases (for fats). Most very good digestive enzyme products also contain specialized enzymes for milk sugars (called lactases) and gluten (called ASP). Many quality digestive enzyme products also contain active probiotics, which also aid in digestion.

How do you take them? Before or after or during a meal? 

It’s best to take digestive enzymes (in pill form) with a small glass of water upon your first bites of a meal to ensure that both the food you’re eating and enzymes are in the digestive tract at the same time. 

What are some recommended digestive enzyme products?

Here are a few of our favorites on Amazon:

For helping digest gluten/wheat specifically:

For helping digest dairy/milk/cheese specifically: