Although Digestive enzymes and probiotics work together, they are very different. Digestive enzymes help in speeding up digestion and optimizing chemical processes within the digestive system. Probiotics are living microorganisms that keep your gut healthy so that it works properly.
Digestive enzymes and probiotics both are essential for maintaining a healthy digestive system. However, their functions are very different, but they both work to improve digestive function and prevent imbalance in the gut.
To maintain a healthy gut both probiotics and digestive enzymes are essential.
However, some individuals may have some questions, about whether it’s better to take one over the other, or if it’s safe and effective to take both. In this article, we’ll deep dive into digestive enzymes and how they work, how their function compares to probiotics, and the ways the two complement each other to support healthy digestion.
We’ll also discuss the benefits, things you should consider before adding a supplement, and the most effective ways to include digestive enzymes and probiotics into your diet.
Is it Better to take probiotics or digestive enzymes?
Digestive enzymes and probiotics are very different and affect gut health in different ways. Both complement each other, digestive enzymes improve the digestion process while probiotics keep the digestive environment healthy.
Probiotics are living microorganisms, and they are naturally found in you our gut which is referred to as “good gut bacteria,”, they support not only digestion and absorption, but also the immune system and neurotransmitter production.
Probiotics work to prevent an overgrowth of harmful bacteria and support a strong gut barrier to prevent pathogens from entering the blood. They also help in creating certain vitamins.
Taking probiotics may help with antibiotic-related diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and other digestive issues. When the number of probiotics in the gut is decreased due to certain medications or conditions, digestive health will likely suffer. Over time, an imbalance in gut bacteria can also contribute to a leaky gut, a weakened immune system, and even mood changes.
Can Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics be taken together?
When you take probiotics and digestive enzymes together can help in maintaining good digestion. Taking probiotics protects the digestive system from harmful gut bacteria and creates a balanced environment for digestion while digestive enzymes improve the actual process of digestion to ensure proper food digestion and absorption.
Together digestive enzymes and probiotics help you get the most nutrition out of the food you eat while supporting healthy digestion. Since both have different functions, there is no risk to take them together while offering the most benefit.
Which one you should choose Probiotics or Digestive Enzymes?
Choosing between digestive enzymes or probiotics, or whether to take them together, depends on your body and your goals.
Our body doesn’t produce probiotics itself, so taking a supplement is good to get the digestive benefits. Probiotics also help in improving gastrointestinal symptoms, but some people prefer to take probiotics on a preventative and supportive basis.
But if you have food allergies or symptoms that suggest malabsorption, a potential lack of digestive enzymes is worth considering. A supplement could noticeably improve your digestion.
Digestive Enzyme Supplementation Considerations
If you’re thinking of taking digestive enzymes supplement, before starting, you should consider some factors like if you have a specific condition or sensitivity causing a deficiency, you will need a specific supplement to give your body the digestive support it needs.
If you have a more severe condition, a prescription supplement will be better for you. You should consult your healthcare provider, he/she determines the best supplement for you. Both prescription and OTC supplements come in the form of pills, powders, and liquids derived from animal and plant-based sources.
If you have no severe health condition, and only want to support healthy digestion, you can try an OTC supplement or include natural sources of digestive enzymes in your diet. Foods with natural digestive enzymes are:
- Pineapple
- Banana
- Papaya
- Kefir
- Kiwi
- Honey
- Sauerkraut
You may experience some possible side effects like stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting after taking digestive enzymes supplement. These side effects are generally experienced by people who take high doses or are allergic to certain enzymes.
Probiotic Supplementation Considerations
Whenever you are thinking of taking a probiotic supplement, there is something to consider.
There are so many options of probiotics supplement available, you should choose a supplement that fits your needs, in your gut trillions of microorganisms and several types of probiotics that impact the body in different ways.
So, whenever you are going to shop for probiotics, you mustn’t just pick the first supplement you see. You should buy a product as per your body and your goals that contains varieties of high-quality probiotic strains that are shown in clinical research to address your health needs.
Another factor that should be considered before taking the supplement is timing. The best time to take probiotics is on an empty stomach. Many people prefer to take them before breakfast in the morning or before going to bed at night. Digestive enzymes however function best when taken before or with meals.
Final Words:
Digestive enzymes and probiotics both are essential for digestion. When you take them together, they benefit the body and digestive system well.
Digestive enzymes may boost digestion and speed up the process. It offers the most noticeable benefit for people who have a specific deficiency or need.
Probiotics are great for all people, age, gender, or levels of health don’t matter. They support overall gut health, including seamless digestion and bowel functions, as well as a healthy gut barrier function that can absorb nutrients from your food.
If needed, it is safe to take digestive enzymes and probiotics together. Some studies suggest that probiotics improve the outcome of enzyme supplementation.
So, it’s very important to choose a digestive enzyme appropriate for your needs, based on your symptoms and the foods that your body is sensitive to.
It’s best to choose a probiotic based on your needs as well like Neato Nutrition Digestive Enzymes, it is a unique formulation of probiotics that promotes a healthy hut and immune system.
All of the products from Neato Nutrition are formulated after deep research and extensive testing and are tailored to specific health needs. Whenever you decide to include probiotics, digestive enzymes, or both, carefully choose high-quality products to benefit your overall health.