Bloating, gas, constipation…oh boy! These are just a few of the symptoms indigestion can cause as well as abdominal pain and diarrhea. If you find yourself experiencing these unfortunate symptoms then they could be a sign your body is having trouble digesting carbohydrates, fats and proteins in your food. Not only will you feel the less than desirable side effects of indigestion but your body will be missing out on important nutrients that pass through your system unabsorbed.
To help alleviate the problem you can try an elimination diet to see what foods are triggering your symptoms but your best bet is to supplement your diet with digestive enzymes. If you’re unfamiliar with these cool little guys, digestive enzymes are a natural component of your body present in saliva, intestinal microflora, pancreatic juices and can even be found in some foods. Their main function is to break down the food you eat into usable molecules for cell function and energy production.
As we get older our bodies produce fewer enzymes which means it’s necessary to make up for those lost enzymes by either taking supplements or raw foods that contain digestive enzymes; the reason being so that the enzymes already found in our liver and pancreas for example, can be reserved for removing waste buildup and moving nutrients into cells rather than working to break down food that’s meant to come with its own enzymes.
You can find digestive enzymes in foods such as papaya, pineapple and whole grains which contain proteolytic enzymes(Proteases) that aid with digesting proteins into amino acids that can be used to repair cellular damage, build muscle as well as remove toxins!
Other important enzymes your body needs are Lipase and Amylase. Lipase breaks down oils and fats into fatty acids that both your body and brain can use for energy; they’re produced in the pancreas and liver and can be found in nuts, avocados and legumes. Amylase enzymes are those found in your salivary glands that help to break down carbohydrates turning them into glucose that your body can also use for energy-apples, bananas and potatoes are all foods that contain these enzymes.
If you find that you have food sensitivities and/or enzyme insufficiencies, then get your digestion back on track by incorporating these essential digestive enzymes into your diet either by eating the aforementioned foods or adding a supplement to your daily regimen.