Stomach discomfort is a nuisance that plagues millions of people. Whether it’s indigestion, heartburn, bloating or diarrhea, stomach problems can throw a wrench in your daily life. Here are just a few causes of digestive problems.
· A diet low in fiber
· Eating too many highly processed and junk foods
· Excessive carbonated drinks
· Taking certain drugs such as antacids, antihistamines or birth control pills
· Parasites
· Eating improperly cooked food
· Stress
Fortunately, for most of these causes of digestive system problems, there are simple and easy ways to counteract these antagonists. However, if you believe you suffer from parasites, you should contact your physician immediately. Undercooked food is also dangerous and more care should be taken during cooking to assure proper cooking temperature with certain foods.
The first and most common of these digestive aids are
digestive enzymes. There are many different enzyme supplements out there, and many contain a full spectrum of enzymes to help you properly digest foods and eliminate stomach discomfort.
Some of the most widely used and versatile enzymes are:· Pepsin
· Bromelain
· Papain
· Lactase
· Amylase
· Protease
· Lipase
The above
digestive enzymes are macronutrient-specific, meaning they are suited for digesting either proteins, carbohydrates, or fats. For example, protease is will help with digesting proteins, whereas lactase is better suited for digesting lactose, which is a sugar (carbohydrate) found in milk. Lipase will help to break down fats for easier digestion. If you struggle with digesting a particular macronutrient, choosing the proper digestive enzyme may make a significant improvement in your digestive health.
Digestive enzymes are not the only way to improve your digestive health. Many people are not aware of this, but our gastrointestinal (GI) tract contains bacteria that are essential to digesting food and keeping waste from building up. Probiotics are actual living microorganisms that can be obtained through foods such as yogurt, or through supplemental form. While they are not the exact same as the bacteria within the human gut, probiotics are very similar and elicit the same effect.
Outside and inside sources can have a detrimental impact on the healthy bacteria in your gut. Factors such as:
· Antibiotics
· Lactose intolerance
· Irritable Bowel Syndrome
· Vaginal infections
· Crohn’s Disease
…can all directly impact the integrity of these bacteria. The use of probiotics may be able to halt the progress of these antagonists.
While there may be an abundance of reasons why your digestive system isn’t running at its’ top efficiency, the simple addition of either
digestive enzymes or probiotics (or both) may be able to get you back into the flow of your life with little effort on your part.
Tim MielkeAuthor and Supplement Expert
www.i-supplements.com
Tim Mielke has been involved in the supplement industry for over 15 years. As a former competitive body builder and personal trainer, Tim has extensive first-hand knowledge of the benefits and pitfalls of fitness supplementation. Knowledge so extensive that his book, “The Book of Supplement Secrets: A Beginners Guide to Nutritional Supplements,” was recently published and is currently available through Amazon.com. Tim brings this supplement and bodybuilding know-how to www.i-supplements.com as a contributing author and researcher.
