Probiotics vs. Digestive Enzymes

Probiotics vs. Digestive Enzymes: Ways to Improve Your Gut-Health

Many of us want to look and feel our best, but that is tough when dealing with symptoms from bad gut-health.  Surprisingly, it can affect immune and nervous systems, and can also cause hormone imbalances.  That could lead to mood swings, possible weight-gain and so much more. Research is even discovering links between poor gut-health and Parkinson's disease!  These issues are increasing the popularity and the demand for probiotics and digestive enzymes.  Are you looking for ways to improve your gut health? Here are a few things to consider:

Probiotics versus digestive enzymes

Probiotics and digestive enzymes both help with the digestive process, so they are basically the same thing, right?  Not quite!  You shouldn't have one without the other because their work complements the others' duties.  So, what is the difference between probiotics and digestive enzymes?  Let's compare the two!

• Probiotics--are alive and mainly bacterial, but sometimes a yeast strain. They help your gut absorb vitamins and minerals, help with lactose intolerance, and make vitamin K.  
• Digestive enzymes--are proteins, which are not alive, that help breakdown food like carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into smaller molecules for your body to absorb. 

So, now that you know what they are, you can see that digestive enzymes lay the groundwork for probiotics by breaking the food down small enough for the probiotics to absorb.  If you are missing one or the other, your gut-health may not be optimal.

How to get probiotics

Probiotics are naturally occurring in the body, but sometimes they need help being replenished.  Lifestyle issues such as being overweight, taking antibiotics, poor diet, lack of exercise, and not staying hydrated can affect the amount of probiotics in our bodies, so often times, there is not enough for proper absorption during the digestive process.  For this reason, ingesting probiotics through food or supplements is beneficial to digestion for those with poor gut-health.  Supplements such as 35 Billion Probiotic and 100 Billion Probiotic are designed to help increase the amount of probiotics in the body, but you can also get them by eating foods like the following:

• Kefir
• Kombucha
• Sourkraut
• Kimchi

How to increase digestive enzymes

Now that you know how to increase gut absorption, it's time to work on breaking down your food by increasing digestive enzymes, or making use of the ones you do have. This can be done through a combination of things. Check out the list to see how many you are doing?

• Eat more raw foods
• Chew food slowly and thoroughly before swallowing
• Avoid chewing gum
• Eat fewer calories
• Supplements

Keep in mind that different foods have different enzymes, so find out what your body needs and eat accordingly. Because that takes a lot of time and research, there are also supplements like Superzymes that help to digest an array of different food types to help aid in digestion if that is your preference.  

What to look for before you buy

Like anything else you buy, it's important to make sure you are getting the best quality. Run through this checklist to make sure your probiotic and enzyme supplements are the best:

• See if the supplement's probiotic strain has been studied for ability to support health.
• Does the potency match your need?
• Is it a capsule?  They offer more protection from contamination. 
• Does it contain a broad range of enzymes?
• Does it have pH versatility?  

Don't forget to check the manufacturer's date on the package to make sure you are getting a quality product.  

Whether you want to eat your way to better gut-health, or pick-up a supplement, Chicago Health Foods has what you need. Come visit us, or visit our online store!