The Key to a Healthy Holiday Season: Digestive Enzyme Support

Let’s talk about what really counts: What you put in your body is obviously important — but equally important is whether or not your body can effectively break that food down. That is a big OR! We can’t assume that we actually use all that we eat. That would be nice, but unfortunately it’s simply not the way it works. Sadly, a lot of great, organic food (and our moola!) often gets wasted...and it’s put to work in benefiting our bodies, skin, hair and energy. I know. IT SUCKS! But there is something we can do. Read on…

That’s where digestive enzymes come in. These extremely useful entities help to break down macronutrients (protein, carbs, fat) as well as micronutrients (fiber, vitamins, and minerals), thereby helping your body to better leverage any nutrients as well as eliminate waste.

There are different groups of enzymes for fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, and if your body isn’t producing enough of them, you obviously won’t be able to adequately digest those, which can lead to a host of uncomfortable issues and health risks.

With the holiday season upon us, you’re faced with a number of challenges in regards to your diet. With those concerns in mind, there’s hardly a better time to start thinking about digestive enzymes, and how they could offer just the support you need for a healthy, happy entrance into the new year. (Because we all want to start 2018 off on the right foot, don’t we?)

In this guide, I’ve outlined everything all the top reasons why digestive enzyme supplementation could benefit you during the holiday season and beyond.

Fiber: Your New Bestie!

If you follow the Beauty Detox Solution diet, you likely have a diet that’s high in fiber (think beans, whole grains, vegetables, and fruit). Fiber is a biggie for healthy digestion, as it helps to move material through your tract and prevent constipation.

However, some of us may experience stomach discomfort, gas or bloating from all this fiber consumption — particularly when we first increase our intake. These issues mainly arise due to a deficiency in digestive enzymes. Fortunately, specific enzymes such as xylanase and alpha-galactosidase can assist your body in breaking down fiber, thus limiting digestive distress.

Xylanase, for example, is an enzyme that humans don’t naturally produce, which can aid in breaking down a particular kind of fiber by converting one of its components into a simple sugar (xylose) that our body is easily able to use for energy.

One study published in The Journal of Family Practice found that the digestive enzyme alpha-galactosidase reduced participants’ gas after they consumed a high-fiber meal [1].

Meanwhile, a 2016 study revealed that those who supplemented with alpha-galactosidase saw a reduction in Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms [2].

Still need more proof? A review paper covering five individual studies showed that alpha-galactosidase can lower the overall level of digestive discomfort after eating complex carbohydrates [3].

Combating Candida

None of us are perfect — and that goes for our eating, too. Particularly around the holidays, there will be an occasion (or five or ten!) where we overdo it on the (bad) fat, sugar, additives, etc. These missteps are totally natural, but unfortunately, they can lead to candida — an aggressive fungal condition. When this yeast overproduces, breaking down the intestinal lining walls, entering the bloodstream and causing serious problems in the digestive tract. And since the cell wall of candida can morph its composition and influence the immune system, its overgrowth can be exceedingly challenging to get under control.

It can contribute to everything from chronic bloating, difficulty losing weight, spaciness, moodiness, acne and skin conditions and so many other downers.

The ugly truth is that even if you do have a healthy diet, you’re still at risk of a candida overgrowth. That’s why it can be important to take a supplement with powerful candida-fighting enzymes, such as chitosanase and cellulase. These enzymes can destroy the protein coating that protects candida fungus cells, leaving them totally inert so they don’t spread.

The results? Not only a stronger immune system and improved energy, but also enhanced mental clarity. One study also found that patients who took a multi-enzyme blend containing cellulase saw improved protein absorption as well as immune function (it’s worth noting that when patients stopped taking the supplement, those positive effects reversed) [4].

Fat-torching Fuel

Lipase is one digestive enzyme we all want to most definitely want to get acquainted with: it’s the enzyme that breaks down fat. A number of studies have demonstrated the benefits of lipase supplementation — for example, research published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics showed that high doses of lipase normalized fat digestion up to 63 percent in patients with chronic pancreatitis [5].

Another study found a reduction in fecal fat and improvement in fat absorption in patients supplemented with lipase [6].

Beauty fat is super important for maintaining healthy structure, hormonal balance, supple skin and so on. But if we are not utilizing it or breaking it down properly, then not only is it not benefiting us, but it can amass and deposit in unfavorable areas (thighs, arms, under the chin, belly and so on…). Fat is the most dense of the macronutrients and needs to be properly metabolized for us to feel and be our best!!

The Feel Good Digestive Enzyme Formula delivers two to three times more lipase than other top formulas, which means you’re reaping optimal fat metabolism. And I’m not referring to breaking down the dietary fat in your food, but also your own body fat (so you can use it for energy). How’s that for kicking off 2018 as your fittest self?

A final word on choosing a supplement: Be sure to look for a full-spectrum enzyme blend that’s capable of breaking down multiple components of the diet. My new digestive enzyme formula is designed to break down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. It’s vegetarian-friendly (many complexes contain animal-source enzymes like pancreatin), and contains no soy, wheat, yeast, gluten, milk, egg, fish/shellfish, or peanuts/tree nuts, making it suitable for nearly any diet.

So, ready to give your digestive system a recharge? A multifaceted enzyme formula could be just the boost you need. Happy Holidays, Beauties — and here’s to a an amazing and healthy new year!

In love and health,

Kimberly

[1] Does Beano prevent gas? A double-blind crossover study of oral alpha-galactosidase to treat dietary oligosaccharide intolerance.
[2] Does oral α-galactosidase relieve irritable bowel symptoms?
[3] Enzyme replacement as an effective treatment for the common symptoms of complex carbohydrate intolerance.
[4] Improvement in protein utilization in nursing-home patients on tube feeding supplemented with an enzyme product derived from Aspergillus niger and bromelain.
[5] Effect of the administration schedule on the therapeutic efficacy of oral pancreatic enzyme supplements in patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: a randomized, three-way crossover study.
[6] Making Sense of Digestive Enzymes