Enzymes

[Cooper27]

Does anyone take Enzymes to help with digestion? It's something I've heard can be linked to hashimotos.

I've dipped my toes into the world of digestive enzymes, but since buying them, I've been hearing more on the different types out there. I'm wondering what types of enzymes others take (if they take any)? There's digestive ones, pancreas ones, dried cow/pig/sheep's pancreas, ones with a huge list of enzymes and ones with a short list, or even just digestive bitters...

[Aslangal]

I take a good probiotic and try to avoid foods which I know are not good for me 😀

[Lalatoot]

Some hypos take diluted apple cider vinegar.

Remember that if you alter how your gut functions then you may alter the absorption of levo and or lio. This may mean you need to adjust doses.

[Cooper27 in reply to Lalatoot]

I like apple cider vinegar, it does help a bit

[wellness1]

Izabella Wentz has written about digestive enzymes and Hashimoto's in great detail. She has several blog posts and a guide to digestive enzymes available online.

[Cooper27 in reply to wellness1]

Her posts are amongst the ones that have prompted me to ask I have heard 3 independent sources mention enzymes recently, so it's piqued my interest.

Unfortunately I think the brand's she's recommended are US based, and when I started searching for myself, it turns out it's complicated

[wellness1 in reply to Cooper27]

yes, complicated. hopefully someone will be along who has some experience with this.

[Redlester]

I take Doctor's Best digestive enzymes - they contain the 3 key things which IW's products contain but in slightly lower amounts, plus other things which hers don't contain. I take them with each meal. Sadly very pricey so I am constantly shopping online for them and "hoarding" them if I find them at a low-ish price

[Cooper27 in reply to Redlester]

I found a post on Izabella's instagram saying that UK based followers could email her general enquiries email address, and they'd be sent a list of alternatives. I've bought Now Super Enzymes based on their recommendation - only started them today, so it's be too soon to say how effective they are. If you wanted to, you can get in touch in a couple of weeks and I'll tell you how I get on, if you think they're cheaper?

[Redlester in reply to Cooper27]

They'd be of no use to me Cooper27 as they contain Betaine HCL and ox bile - as amounts of betaine required will vary with the protein content of a meal a separate betaine hcl which you can tailor to your own stomach's needs would be better than a combined version like the Now brand and likewise with ox bile - I have a gallstone and do take ox bile but supplement separately for that - apparently you should take a "random" amount of ox bile with each meal, again based on fat content, as opposed to the same amount of ox bile per each meal which this combined Now product would deliver. But interesting that UK followers can get a list of alternatives to her products.

[Cooper27 in reply to Redlester]

Interesting! Thanks for letting me know

I can see I have more reading to do into this. Perhaps I might get a second enzyme to take for earlier meals and only have the ox bile one with dinner initially, the vary things a little.

[Redlester in reply to Cooper27]

while a "combi" type of formula seems convenient and possibly cheaper, and while separate dosing of OB, enzyme and betaine will be more expensive, it allows you to tailor things more to your own personal needs and meals and gives you a better chance, I think, of optimising what you get out of your nutrition if your digestive system is compromised.

[Cooper27 in reply to Redlester]

Yes of course! I was intending this, simply to 'use up' the Now supplements, as I've now got 90

Can I ask where you learned about the combinations? Would be very interested in some further reading.

[Redlester in reply to Cooper27]

I think I learned about the need to "randomly" dose OB [ie take a different dose with each meal - I split caps up using empty capsules] from the site gallbladderattack.com but as for the betaine I think I have just absorbed that over time from tons of different websites discussing low stomach acid and digestion. GG sent me a link recently about stomach acid which I will try to locate and post in a bit

[Redlester in reply to Cooper27]

Cooper27 - another - very very important thought occurred to me last night re the reason for not using combined products. I don't know if you have low stomach acid [if you are hypo you likely do], but if you take ox bile and betaine hcl in a combined product then one will cancel out the other and you will not benefit from the betaine hcl. If I can explain - ox bile is used to "buffer" stomach acid. Someone who for any reason is finding that they are not able to get bile released into their stomach after eating food [say if there is an obstruction like a gall stone blocking a duct] will have horrendous heartburn because their stomach acid production isn't being appropriately "buffered" by the bile. If you have low stomach acid and need to supplement with betaine hcl and you take ox bile at the same time [in a combi supp] the ox bile will 'buffer' that betaine so you won't get the benefit of the betaine and so won't digest your meal. I learned this the very hard way even using individual supps. One evening I decided to play about with the order I took my supps in and took my ox bile at the start of the meal - big mistake - I hoovered up all my betaine hcl, digested nothing and had a main meal sitting in my stomach overnight not moving and in great discomfort. My normal routine would be enzymes and betaine at the start of a meal and ox bile right at the end. I use nutricology ox bile 500mg and turn it into random doses by splitting the capsules into empty caps - you can buy both on amazon.

[Cooper27 in reply to Redlester]

Thanks, that's really helpful I'll do some more research into different products and try out as you recommend.

[Redlester in reply to Cooper27]

no worries - combination products suit the manufacturers marketing policies - they think they can tell you they are selling you something that does everything - but sometimes taking things individually lets you tailor things more to your own needs.

[Cleopatra73]

Hello I take "Advanced Multi-Enzymes Complex" by Solgar. It used to be called "Comfort Zone" which wass a far nicer name I think!!! It does me the power of good and I no longer have the "effects" of eating beans....... lol

[Cooper27 in reply to Cleopatra73]

Oh that's good to know! Beans are one of my problem foods, but not the "traditional" way, I just get an acidic feeling band across my stomach.

I'm glad to hear they help you

[Cleopatra73]

My research taught me that the enzyme we should look out for is " alpha- galactosidase" to deal with bean-skin etc. This enzyme complex by Solgar is one of he few I found which has this particular enzyme. Hopefully this will help you to feel easier about eating what you like.