Digestive enzymes are a group of enzymes that break down food into smaller building blocks in order to aid in digestion and facilitate absorption by the body. There are food enzymes in our raw food (or at least should be) and our bodies produce digestive enzymes all along our digestive tract, although as we age this production plummets. Ug! Ideally, we should be eating food that is nourishing and healthy for our bodies, but the reality is that most people eat an unbalanced amount of cooked, processed foods. If you are cooking your food all the time, you are killing the food enzymes that may be present. According to Dr. Joel Fuhrman, keeping a good balance of cooked and raw is important, so having 2 cooked and 2 raw meals would be beneficial.  If you struggle with that bloated feeling or certain foods just don’t agree with you, then supplemental enzymes may be the support that you need.

Since there are quite a few different enzyme supplements, you may need some detailed information to help you decide which one best fits your needs.

DETOXZYME is a supplement that helps your body detox.  It is gentle and can be taken on an empty stomach or before bedtime. This supplement definitely soothes your stomach. This will also help eat up undigested proteins which will help reduce inflammation. These power enzymes promote digestion and detox. They contain bromelain, which aids in the digestion of protein, and lipase, pancreatic enzymes that catalyze the breakdown of fats. The essential oils included in Detoxzyme are Cumin, Anise and Fennel.  Detoxzyme can also support the digestion of dairy products and fight phytic acid. You can use this as part of a cleanse too. Bonus!

ESSENTIALZYME is a supplement designed to balance digestive health and unlock nutrition. It is a multi-enzyme that will break down proteins, starches, and fats. Even the healthiest of diets need this. It comes in a bi-layer caplet. The light side is the delayed-release and has a blend of pancreatic enzymes for the breakdown of fats, starches, and proteins. It will help take the stress off of your liver. The dark portion is for immediate release. These are the plant-based, veggie, and herb enzymes. It also contains bromelain along with essential oils Thyme, Anise, Fennel, Clove, and Peppermint. Also, betaine hydrochloride gives aid in the tummy when you need it. It is recommended to take 1 caplet 1 hour before your largest meal.  This is for individuals who are 6 years and older. If younger than 6 years, Mightyzymes would be a great one to check out.

ESSENTIALZYMES 4 is a digestive enzyme similar to ESSENTIALZYMES but has the broadest profile, suitable for everyone, digestive enzyme, which will support proper nutrient absorption. It helps with the breakdown of fats, proteins, carbs, and fiber. You can use this every day to unlock nutrition and get the maximum benefit from food.  This comes in two dual-release capsules – the shiny capsule will release high in the stomach. This is a plant-based capsule. The white capsule is the animal-based part and works better in the intestines so it has the delayed-release. It contains essential oils such as Ginger, Fennel, Tarragon, Anise, Lemongrass, and Rosemary. It also has bromelain which helps digest food more effectively. Bee Pollen is also found in this supplement which supports normal immune function, gives an extra hit of antioxidants, and helps with brain function and alertness. If you are totally confused about which supplement to do, do this one!

MIGHTYZYMES: Then there are Mightyzymes for the little ones. This totally kicks butt and is such a yummy supplement that it’s hard for mom not to feel like she needs her Mightyzymes too! We just finished a class on all these enzymes so if you want the info on Mightyzymes as well as one other supplement called Allerzyme head on over to our recorded class!  This information is vast and takes a bit to digest (no pun intended), so I’m here to answer any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Just email me at julie@theninjaoiler.com.

THE GAME-CHANGER AND NEXT STEPS: When choosing a supplement, it’s important to know the absorption rate.  We are not what we EAT, we are what we ABSORB. We can be eating healthy ALL day long, but if you are not able to absorb that nutrition, all the work is futile. Young Living’s supplements are not only high-end supplements that pledge the highest purity possible, they infuse their supplements with essential oils in order to reach an 86% absorbency rate in 1 HOUR. Say what??? Most high-end supplements are 35-40% in 24 hours. If you are going to spend money on a supplement, it better be worth it. If you want to see the specific product information, go to https://theninjaoiler.com/young-living/en_US/category/wellness and type the product name in the search bar or click on Targeted Nutrition to see the variety of supplements. You can save 24% on these products by being a member. For information on that click here.