Have you or your child ever struggled with digestive issues? If so, you may not realize the health benefits of digestive enzymes or how a lack of them could affect your system.
What are Digestive Enzymes?
Digestive enzymes are an important part of your body and brain health. They are proteins primarily produced in the small intestine, pancreas, and saliva that help break down the foods we eat into nutrients that can be absorbed and used by the body. Overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine (SIBO), Celiac Disease, and Pancreatic Insufficiency are all medical conditions that can lead to a lack of digestive enzymes the body needs to break down food, causing significant GI symptoms. People with these medical conditions often benefit from digestive enzyme supplements. In addition, people who are lactose intolerant and or who consume primarily plant-based diets may also benefit from digestive enzymes to avoid gastrointestinal symptoms.
Digestive Enzymes Benefits
Taking digestive enzymes can provide several benefits. Since they aid in the digestion of food, they can prevent many issues that develop from poor digestion, such as heartburn, Crohn's disease, Celiac disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Ulcerative colitis. Digestive enzymes can also prevent stomach cramps, gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
What are digestive enzymes good for? Well, these enzymes can help you get more benefits from the foods you eat as they allow your body to absorb the nutrients in your foods better. This can lead to more energy as your body is better able to convert carbs into glucose. At the same time, you may see a decrease in pain and chronic fatigue. What’s more, these enzymes can also reduce inflammation in your gut, which can alleviate discomfort.
As you absorb more nutrients and have less inflammation, you may notice fewer psychological symptoms, such as anxiety or depression. You may also find you sleep better and don’t have to deal with insomnia.
With your system working as it should, receiving the full benefit of the nutrients in your diet, you may even find it easier to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.
These are just a few of the many benefits of digestive enzymes, which can improve your overall quality of life.
Foods with Digestive Enzymes
Several foods include these digestive enzymes, such as pineapple, mango, papaya, and bananas. They are also in avocados and honey, among other foods for gut health.
Kimchi is also a source of digestive enzymes. It’s not a single food but rather a mix of vegetables, such as cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, and radishes that have been fermented. Fermenting causes healthy bacteria to form, which acts as a probiotic. Several digestive enzymes develop during the fermentation process.
Digestive Enzymes and Neuro-Developmental Disorders
Kids with neuro-developmental disorders often experience higher instances of digestion issues related to food intolerance, sensitivities, and/or allergies and may benefit from digestive enzymes as well. Recent research shows that kids with ADHD are significantly more prone to bowel problems than their peers, further underscoring the need to investigate the role that diet and digestive health may play for kids with learning and behavioral problems.
If a child is lactose intolerant or gluten sensitive and has weak gut junctions that don't properly control what passes through the lining of the small intestine (intestinal permeability), GI symptoms can occur. When trigger foods like dairy and gluten are not fully digested in the stomach, food particles may escape through the weakened lining of the gut and into the bloodstream. When undigested food particles seep into the bloodstream (often referred to as leaky gut syndrome), it triggers an immune response in the body and brain. Chemicals produced during this immune response can affect a child’s behavior, focus, and learning ability. Kids with food sensitivities may also experience vitamin and mineral deficiencies due to poor absorption, further exacerbating a child's learning or behavioral struggles.
If your child exhibits symptoms of learning and behavioral disorders and/or experiences chronic GI symptoms, we invite you to consider The Brain Balance Program.
Contact us today to schedule an assessment. You can also view the research and results of the program on our website.
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Disclaimer: The information presented on this web site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment of specific medical conditions. Discuss this information with your healthcare provider to determine what is right for you and your family.
