Do you constantly suffer from gas, indigestion and bloating? If so, your digestion may need help. Sometimes, it may seem that everything you eat causes you discomfort. Even when you're trying to eat as healthy as possible, you still feel bloated and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are many digestive supplements that can help your body's natural digestive function. Here is my selection of the top 7 digestive supplements to give your intestinal tract the boost it needs:
1. Digestive Enzymes
While your body naturally produces its own digestive enzymes to help digest food, these are sometimes not enough to get the job done. It could be that your body does not produce enough enzymes, or that they have been diluted, or that your diet contains too much fat or protein for your own enzymes to handle. Taking digestive enzyme supplements can really help give your digestive function a boost.((Sigg Metab Drugs: Digestive Enzyme Supplements in Gastrointestinal Diseases)) Most digestive enzyme formulas contain a mixture of the enzymes that your body would normally have such lipase ( for the breakdown of fats), amylases (break down carbohydrates), as well as proteases and peptidases (break down proteins). These enzymes are usually taken from natural sources such as fruits, vegetables and amino acids. You can increase your digestive enzymes naturally by eating foods that contain them. Typically, they include fruits such as pineapple, papaya, and mango. Honey and avocado are good choices, as are fermented milk products like kefir and sauerkraut. You can also look for a brand that contains various digestive enzymes. It is best to take digestive enzymes with or after a meal. Pure Formulas is a reputable brand that produces a beneficial blend of digestive enzymes, including less common enzymes such as beta-glucanase, alpha-galactosidases. Look for their digestive enzymes ultra formulation:
2. Probiotics
Probiotic bacteria are found in "friendly" microorganisms that live in your intestines and contribute to normal digestion. There are many different strains of probiotic bacteria, and each strain has a slightly different role in maintaining health. One of the main benefits of these bacteria is the ability to help digest the foods you eat and absorb the nutrients they contain. If your probiotic bacteria are deficient anyway due to an imbalance in your gut flora (also known as dysbiosis), you may need to top it off with a probiotic supplement. Dysbacteriosis can be caused by poor diet, use of antibiotics, other drugs such as NSAIDs,((Clinic microbiology infect.: Effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the gut microbiome.)) and even stress.((Medical news today: how fibers and gut bacteria reverse ((Candida Diet: What Is Candida Albicans?)) Look for a quality supplement that contains various probiotic strains and has a high cfu (colony forming units) count. Some of the best strains for improving digestion include l. large among trees, l. acidophilus, B. bifidum. The main thing is to choose a probiotic that will get its own probiotic bacteria in the gut. Look for a brand that uses time-release tablets to deliver its bacteria safely bypassing stomach acid. My recommendation is 15 billion CFU probiotic developed by Balance and other supplements. It uses time-release tablets and contains 15 billion CFU bacteria. The 12 probiotic strains include the largest among the dendritic L., L. acidophilus, B. bifidum.
3. DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice)
No, not a sweet treat! Licorice is actually a plant that has been used as a digestive aid for centuries. Licorice root contains an emollient, which means it can soothe inflammation or irritation of the tissues lining the intestines. It is known to help prevent ulcers and intestinal spasms, as well as reduce inflammation and allergies. is a form of licorice that has been processed for safe consumption. Most of the active ingredient glycyrrhizin has been removed, making DHL safer for long-term use, especially in people with medical conditions. DGL is useful for fighting excess stomach acid and reducing heartburn. DHL supplements come in chewable form or as liquids, capsules, or powders. You can also find DHL in many gut health powders, along with L-glutamine and marshmallow root. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice is a very economical supplement and can usually be found relatively inexpensively. A good example are the natural factors of deglycyrrhizinated licorice:
4. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint is known for its cooling properties, which can alleviate the unpleasant effects of indigestion. It is often used to prevent and treat the most common digestive symptoms such as flatulence and bloating. Some studies have shown that mint relaxes the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract, which can relieve discomfort. It also helps reduce spasms and prevent smooth muscle spasms, which can reduce any cramps. People who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are often advised to try peppermint tea or peppermint oil, with evidence that it provides substantially better symptom relief than placebo. Peppermint oils are best taken on an empty stomach before meals, and mint tea can be drunk at any time to help soothe the intestines. A good example is mint oil from Heather Care. They also contain ginger and come in enteric-coated capsules to make sure the oils reach their intuition safely:
5. Ginger
The spicy and warming ginger is one of the best known digestive aids in natural medicine. Ginger has long been known for its carminative properties, which means it helps soothe the intestines and reduce spasms. Carminatives like ginger also help eliminate excess gases from the digestive system. Ginger is especially useful for treating conditions such as nausea, indigestion, and colic. Evidence suggests that ginger can stimulate the flow of saliva and bile, which aids digestion. ) and stimulate the production of bile. At the same time, ginger also improves the production of the digestive enzymes trypsin and pancreatic lipase, which are needed to break down fat. It helps in increasing peristalsis in the gastrointestinal tract. There is no need to spend a lot of money on ginger supplements. Simply buy ginger from your local store, cut it into small pieces, and boil it to make a simple yet effective ginger tea.
6. L-Glutamine
If your bowel has been suffering from the effects of Candida, lead bowel syndrome, or food-related allergies, you could do with a dose of L-Glutamine. This essential amino acid is highly recommended for any digestive problem, particularly irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), an inflammatory bowel disease. L-Glutamine is vital for healthy cell repair in the intestinal mucosa. In fact, it is the most abundant amino acid in the blood and plays an important role in keeping your intestinal mucosa strong. Maintaining the integrity of your intuition With L-Glutamine, you will be improving your overall digestion. L-glutamine has been found to improve the immune activity of cells in the gut, help reduce the risk of infection and inflammation, and soften the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract. In the lower intestine, glutamine is required to provide fuel for metabolism, regulate cell growth and maintain intestinal barrier function.((J Epithel Biol Pharmacol: Glutamine's Role in Protecting Intestinal Epithelial Tight Junctions)) The most cost-effective L-Glutamine is generally , comes in powder. It is often combined with other gut-supporting powders such as marshmallow root and slippery elm. If you want pure L-Glutamine Powder, Pure Encapsulation makes quality developments:
7. Papain
Papain is the active ingredient within papaya, a tropical fruit. Papain is a sulfhydryl protease that your body requires to break down protein. Interestingly, this is why papain can be used as a meat tenderizer. The proteolytic enzymes papain help in breaking down proteins into smaller fragments known as peptides and amino acids. One particular study involving a commercial papaya preparation found that it improved both constipation and bloating in people with chronic gastrointestinal dysfunctions.((Neuro Endocrinol Latvian: Papaya preparation (Caricol®) in the gastrointestinal tract.)) While it is possible to get some benefit from eating papaya as a fresh fruit, a concentrated supplement will provide more effective relief. You can take papain in capsule form by itself or as part of another digestive enzyme supplement. Doctor's Best produces a high quality proteolytic enzyme formula that includes papain as well as 8 additional enzymes that include serrapeptase and bromelain:
So there you go, 7 digestive supplements that can improve your digestive health. If you want to know more ways to improve your digestive health, check out these articles:
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