But which groups of people can benefit from which types of digestive enzymes? Who Should Take Digestive Enzymes? 1. New vegans and vegetarians Your small intestine, stomach, and pancreas are primarily responsible for producing enzymes that help break down your food, making it easier to digest, and allowing your body to absorb more nutrients from the food you eat. If you have a condition called pancreatic insufficiency, in which the pancreas doesn't produce enough of the key digestive enzymes (lipase, protease, and amylase), a prescription enzyme regimen (known as pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy or PERT) is advised. Although some over-the-counter digestive enzymes offer the same enzymes found in the prescription formula, the dosage is significantly lower and typically insufficient for improving digestion. That’s right – many of the digestive enzyme supplements on the market are enzymes taken from another animal’s stomach. It’s not just cows, either; pigs are often exploited for their enzymes as well. Those on a plant-based diet will want to choose products whose enzymes are sourced from fruits and fungi. What’s In a Digestive Enzyme Supplement?

Money ME, Walkowiak J, Virgilio C, et al. Pilot study: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial of pancrealipase for the treatment of postprandial irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhoea. Frontline Gastroenterology. 2:48-56. Taking this digestive enzyme with a plant-based meal high in these types of foods can help minimize any symptoms that follow. 2. Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

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If you’re looking for a comprehensive product that’s affordable, 100% plant-based, and effective, then you can’t go wrong with Mary Ruth’s Vegan Digestive Enzymes. Fruit enzymes, usually sourced from pineapple or papaya, work well for treating some people’s symptoms, but are considered a gentler, weaker digestive enzyme supplement, and may not be powerful enough for people who need stronger support, or have more serious gastrointestinal issues. If your body isn’t absorbing nutrients efficiently, you could eat a varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and still not be “healthy,” because your body isn’t getting all the right stuff from what you’re eating. Although they may sound like a high-end product, most digestive enzymes are actually affordable supplements that cost about as much as a vegan multivitamin.

Not sure if enzymes are right for you? Some of the main benefits of consuming digestive enzymes include: The digestive process is a complex system in which the body breaks down the food that we eat into nutrients using digestive enzymes, which are produced in the pancreas and small intestines. If we do not have enough digestive enzymes, our body cannot break down our food completely and even though we are eating a healthy and balanced diet, the nutrients arent being absorbed efficiently. Food allergies, low stomach acid and chronic stress also all have an impact on the production of digestive enzymes. Experts note that while digestive enzymes are beneficial to many groups, we should conceptualize them like we would vitamins. It’s hard to distinguish whether taking “vitamins” are beneficial, but we know that vegans benefit from specific supplements of vitamin B12.There is no research suggesting greater efficacy of one form of the supplement over another; however, keep in mind that some chewable and flavored products may contain additional ingredients, such as sugar alcohols, that can cause extra symptoms. Of note, a subset of people with sucrase-isomaltase deficiency (SID) may also find a benefit from this product if they are starch intolerant and carefully chewing (for extra amylase production) is not enough to prevent symptoms caused by starchy foods like grains and potatoes. Lactase supplements: At least 3,000 ALU (acid lactase units) of lactase enzyme at the start of a meal, though larger portions of lactose-containing dairy may need 6,000-9,000 ALU.