Thursday, April 25, 2013

Inflammatory Foods Put Stress on the Gastrointestinal Tract - Digestive Enzymes vs. Probiotics

What is the difference between Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics?

Digestive enzymes and probiotics both work to support proper digestive health but in different ways. Digestive enzymes work directly with the food a person consumes to break down carbohydrates, fats and protein into small substrates that can be properly absorbed and nutrients utilized by the body for energy throughout the day.  Enzymes are naturally produced by the body, however, as a person ages, they can become deficient which can create inflammation and stress on the body starting in the gastrointestinal tract. Probiotics are live bacteria that assist with balancing the digestive tract, vitamin absorption and may help reduce lactose intolerance.  Probiotics can take up to a few months to get into your system and for a person to be able to determine whether or not they are working properly.  Probiotics do not break down food but rather work to create a state of balance in a person's digestive tract.  Since digestive enzymes work directly with the food a person eats, when taken with a meal, they begin to break down right away and many people report feeling a difference after adding enzymes to 1 or 2 meals, especially those who are in tune with their body.


 
Consuming inflammatory foods such as dairy, sugar, red meat, refined grains and processed foods can cause stress on the gut and lead to many GI issues. Adding digestive enzymes to your daily regimen will give your body the support it needs to break down food properly and reduce inflammation starting in the gut. Food can only be utilized for energy if it is broken down into small enough substrates to be absorbed in the blood stream.
According to the National Institute of Health, 60 to 70 million people in America suffer from some type of digestive disorder.  People who suffer from poor digestive health are commonly linked to: Low energy, excessive gas, poor skin health, joint pain and discomfort, bloat following meals, weight gain, weak immune system, heartburn and headaches. 
 
Learn more about the benefits of Innerzyme's Digestive Enzyme Complex, visit:
 www.innerzyme.com/Digestive-Enzyme.html