The Bloat Buster You Haven't Tried
You do your best to eat probiotic rich foods like plain yogurt on a daily basis, and you haven't touched a diet fizzy drinks in weeks. Oh, and water? You guzzle about as much as an ultra-marathon runner. So why the heck are you still bloated?
If there's one downside to eating clean, it's that it can sometimes leave your belly so puffed out that your trousers barely fit. Fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains are loaded with naturally occurring, hard-to-digest sugars and fibres—which are notorious for causing uncomfortable bloating and flatulence.
If you’ve tried all sorts of bloat-banishing tactics and still have a “puffy tummy", there is something else you can try: Digestive Enzymes. Enzymes are proteins that process food into smaller, more absorbable pieces so your body can extract the nutrients, and they play a key role in keeping the dreaded “stomach pooch” at bay.
"Enzymes help break down carbohydrates, protein, and fat," says Keri Glassman, RD, founder of Nutritious Life and author of The New You and Improved Diet. "So when they're lacking, these nutrients aren't properly broken down, which can cause bloating and other gastro-intestinal issues. Enzymes are a necessary part of a healthy digestive system."
“Your body already makes digestive enzymes in your mouth, stomach, and small intestine. (Basically, everywhere food passes through.) But if your bloating feels like a never-ending problem, you might not be producing the amount that you need. As with virtually everything else, your digestive enzyme factory tends to slow down with age”, Glassman says.
While that's a bummer, don't fret too much. You can get more enzymes into your body. Digestive enzymes are abundant in uncooked foods, so eating more of your fruits and vegetables raw instead of roasted, steamed, or sautéed is one way to load up. Chewing these raw foods well will also help, as chewing activates the production of more saliva, and saliva contains digestive enzymes.
Not planning on becoming a raw foods enthusiast? Not a problem. You can add more digestive enzymes into your diet in a supplement form. But just like probiotics and other supplements, not all enzymes-in-a-bottle are created equal. Look for a supplement with a combined strain of enzymes that work in various pH levels to make sure they don't get destroyed by the acid in your stomach before they can do their job. Look for a vegetarian capsule (if the enzyme is in tablet form then the enzymes have all ready been denatured and are of no use). Steer clear of filler ingredients on the label, particularly magnesium stearate (which is used to “oil” machinery that makes supplement and should never appear in a high quality supplement product). We like Enzymedica’s vegetarian supplement – Digest Gold.
For the best results, follow the dosing instructions on the label and take the digestive enzymes with your meal. They'll get to work on breaking down your food asap. "So you can actually notice a difference after one meal," Glassman says.
For further information about the benefits of using digestive enzyme supplements go to: www.enzymedica.co.uk/pages/enzyme-faq FB:EnzymedicaUK @EnzymedicaUK
For Press Details:
Carole Petch carole@enzymedica.co.uk
Susan Warris-Liepa susan@tmcventures.com
High Res Images – upon request