Digestive Enzymes vs. Probiotics: What’s the Difference?
Digestive enzymes and probiotics are widely known for their health benefits. Both help in treating digestive health problems and boosting the immune system. But are probiotics the same with digestive enzymes?
Although sometimes used interchangeably, they differ from each other. But remember, your body needs digestive enzymes and probiotics to be healthy. And knowing their difference will help you determine which one might be beneficial for you.
What are Digestive Enzymes?
Digestive enzymes are substances found in your digestive tract – mouth, stomach, pancreas, and the small intestine. Your body needs to have these enzymes to break down food to aid digestion, to build muscles, as well as destroy toxins in your body.
There are three main digestive enzymes. These include:
Amylase: breaks down starches and carbohydrates into sugars.
Protease: breaks down proteins into amino acids.
Lipase: breaks down lipids, which are fats and oils, into glycerol and fatty acids.
Lack of digestive enzymes can result in indigestion and compromised immune systems. Enzyme deficiency prevents your body from absorbing the food you eat, which means you are also not getting enough nutrients that your body needs. As a result, your body finds it difficult to function as they should.
One of the most common enzyme deficiencies is lactose intolerance. It happens when your body does not produce enough lactase to break down lactose from dairy products. People with enzyme deficiency usually need enzyme supplements to avoid unwanted symptoms.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are the “friendly” bacteria that help in fighting the harmful bacteria in the body. And it’s very trendy nowadays because of its proven health benefits.
Probiotics are widely known for treating gut issues such as intestinal spasms, diarrhea, indigestion, and several medical conditions concerning the gut.
But, unknown to many, probiotics can also treat ear, nasal, and mouth problems. It’s also proven to improve the immune system. Thus, eating probiotic-rich food like sauerkraut or taking probiotic supplements can lessen your chance of acquiring diseases.
Which is Better?
Probiotics and digestive enzymes are essential to keep your body healthy. But since they play a different role and do different things, both are great for your body.
Each has its own benefits, so you don’t necessarily have to choose which one is better. In fact, it’s certainly fine to take them together!
Digestive enzymes and probiotics promote a healthy digestive system and immune system. It’s advisable to get as many enzymes and probiotics from natural food sources or supplements as possible.
You can get additional enzymes from food such as pineapple, papaya, mango, kefir, kimchi, and many more. These foods contain probiotics as well, so it’s like hitting two birds with one stone!
Is It Better To Take Supplements?
Getting natural nutrients from natural food sources is always better, but many people don’t get enough nutrients from it alone. And if you lack a specific nutrient or enzyme, then taking a supplement can be beneficial and might be advisable.
Take Bionaze, for example. It’s a probiotic supplement formulated with two cutting-edge probiotic strains, BLIS K12 and Bl-04, that target nasal and oral problems. It’s available in lozenge form, which makes it super effective too.
About The Author
As a nurse, Franchette Agatha Jardin wants to spread to the world the ways on how to achieve a healthy body through probiotics. If she recommends something-or anything!-it’s because she already tried it!
