Insufficient levels of either can negatively impact overall gut health and digestion. Having enough of both helps create an optimal environment in your digestive system and supports your well-being.<\/p>\n
At BIOptimizers, we believe that taking both together can provide synergistic benefits beyond taking either alone.<\/p>\n Digestive enzymes are the proteins that help you break down the food that you eat into nutrients. Different enzymes exist to digest different food materials, such as lipase for fats, proteases for proteins, and amylase for starches. You need enough of them for optimal digestion health and nutrient absorption.<\/p>\n The pancreas and specific cells in the walls of your gut produce digestive enzymes. The enzymes are then typically mixed with digestive juices in the stomach and small intestine. However, there are situations where a digestive enzyme supplement might be necessary for additional support. We’ll get into these in a moment.<\/p>\n To learn more about digestive enzymes, check out our article<\/a> about the types of enzymes and why you may need them. This article shares how to choose digestive enzyme supplements<\/a>.<\/p>\n Probiotics, commonly called “good bacteria,” are living microorganisms necessary for thriving gut health. They offer many health benefits, including<\/span>:<\/p>\n They may even contribute to a more positive mood and better sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n You can get these beneficial microorganisms by eating foods containing probiotics or by taking probiotics supplements.<\/p>\n Check out our extensive collection of articles on probiotics<\/a> on our blog.<\/p>\n When comparing digestive enzymes and probiotics, know that digestive enzymes help digest food, and that’s essentially it. Some digestive enzymes are systemic enzymes<\/a> that can be absorbed into the bloodstream and help break down cellular debris. On the other hand, probiotics have a wide array of health benefits. Different strains of probiotics address various health issues.<\/p>\n So, where do you even begin? Let’s start with symptoms indicating a need for digestive enzymes or probiotics.<\/p>\n Indicators you might want to start taking digestive enzymes more so than probiotics:<\/p>\n Indicators you might want to start taking probiotics:<\/p>\n There is a lot of overlap between why you might want to start taking one or both. Let’s get into some specific situations that may concern you.<\/p>\n The effectiveness of digestive enzymes or probiotics in alleviating bloating and gas comes down to the underlying cause. Explore the causes of gas in bloating in this article<\/a>.\u00a0 Let’s briefly explore both options.<\/p>\n If bloating and gas are due to difficulty digesting certain foods, such as carbohydrates or fats, digestive enzymes may assist in the breakdown and absorption, potentially reducing bloating. Full-spectrum digestive enzymes, like Masszymes<\/a>, are a comprehensive blend of enzymes designed to break down different macronutrients like protein, carbs, and fat in your meals.<\/p>\n For more detailed information, check out this article on digestive enzymes for bloating and gas.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Probiotics may be beneficial if bloating is associated with an imbalance in gut bacteria.<\/p>\n They can aid in maintaining a balanced gut microbiota, potentially reducing gas production and bloating or helping your gut move more smoothly. Probiotics like Probiotic Breakthrough<\/a> produce substances like enzymes that may help break down food and others that fight unwelcome bacteria.<\/p>\n Check out this guide to the best probiotics for bloating<\/a>.<\/p>\n We believe taking both digestive enzymes and probiotics is optimal for bloating and gas relief. It can provide a more comprehensive approach to digestive health.<\/p>\n While the main job of digestive enzymes is to support your digestion, don’t count probiotics out. They also play an important supportive role.<\/p>\n Digestive enzymes are an easy grab to help support digestion. Digestion declines with age<\/a>, stress, or other lifestyle contributors. When this happens, it can leave you with less than optimal digestion.<\/p>\n Supplementing with digestive enzymes can compensate for low enzyme levels and boost your digestive power by breaking down your foods.<\/p>\n A study of 16 healthy subjects explored the effects of the digestive enzyme lipase on fullness and bloating. Subjects took lipase right before a fatty meal. Those taking the digestive enzyme reported less stomach fullness than those who did not take digestive enzymes.<\/span><\/p>\n We have digestive enzymes to meet all of your needs, whether you’re plant-based<\/a>, keto<\/a>, or on vacation<\/a>. Check out our collection<\/a>.<\/p>\n Your gut microbiota – made up of good and bad bacteria – plays a critical role in digestion. Gut bacteria break down complex carbohydrates, proteins, and fats that reach the lower gastrointestinal tract.<\/span> Gut flora also produces molecules that help promote digestion, like short-chain fatty acids and bile acids.<\/span><\/p>\n Some probiotics also produce digestive enzymes before moving on to the gut, further supporting digestion. A controlled study of 60 individuals with lactose intolerance took probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri <\/em>for ten days before ingesting dairy. Subjects reported improved digestive comfort when consuming dairy.<\/span><\/p>\n You can find Lactobacillus reuteri<\/em> in our Cognibiotics<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lactobacillus plantarum <\/em>strains, such as in our Probiotic Breakthrough<\/a>, are recognized for their ability to generate proteolytic enzymes<\/a>. These enzymes, including peptidases, proteases, or proteinases, play a vital role in breaking down proteins and aiding digestion.<\/p>\n Because digestive enzymes and probiotics play different roles in digestion, it’s not necessarily that one is better than the other to support nutrient absorption.<\/p>\n With suboptimal digestion and consuming foods containing anti-nutrients, adding a digestive enzyme supplement may help break your food down to allow access to additional nutrients. We’ve got a couple of excellent formulas that can help:<\/p>\n While probiotics do less breaking down of nutrients than digestive enzymes, they contribute to a healthy gut environment. A balanced and diverse gut microbiota is associated with improved nutrient absorption.<\/p>\n A systematic review of 14 clinical trials explored whether taking probiotic supplements could increase the levels of essential nutrients in the body. They determined that consuming probiotics may lead to enhancements in the levels of these nutrients in your body<\/span>:<\/p>\n Leaky gut<\/a>, or increased intestinal permeability, is where the small intestine’s lining becomes more porous, potentially allowing substances to pass through that normally wouldn’t. Once again, digestive enzymes and probiotics each play a different role in helping heal leaky gut.<\/p>\n Probiotics play a crucial role in preserving the mucosal balance within the gut. They contribute to the gut mucosa’s normal functioning and shield the gut lining cells from harmful elements such as toxins, allergies, and pathogens.<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, probiotics harmonize the gut microbiota and potentially strengthen your gut barrier.<\/p>\n In a 14-week study with 23 healthy subjects, researchers investigated the impact of probiotic supplementation on gut permeability. During the study, participants took a multi-species probiotic, and researchers monitored their zonulin<\/a> levels to measure gut permeability.<\/span><\/p>\n The findings revealed a significant reduction in zonulin levels among those who received the probiotic, indicating improved gut permeability compared to the control group. This suggests a potential positive effect of probiotic supplementation on maintaining a healthy gut barrier function.<\/span><\/p>\n Microbiome Breakthrough<\/a> is our best probiotic to support the leaky gut repair process. It’s a synbiotic that has probiotics and prebiotics to support the production of gut barrier-strengthening postbiotics, along with IgYmax and bone broth.<\/p>\n Digestive enzymes play more of a supporting role in healing leaky gut. It’s harder to heal a leaky gut if partially digested foods constantly interact with the gut immune system. Optimizing your digestion with digestive enzyme supplements and betaine HCl is crucial as you’re working on healing leaky gut.<\/span><\/p>\n Helping support nutrient absorption also gives your body the fuel it needs to heal your gut.<\/p>\n Get our advice on how to repair a leaky gut in this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n Muscle building takes a lot of calories and a lot of protein and can push you past your natural digestive capacity. We recommend taking both digestive enzymes and probiotics for optimal support.<\/p>\n For bodybuilders, digestive enzymes help you maximize nutrient absorption, especially amino acids, from the food you eat, thus maximizing your gains.<\/p>\n A study of 24 healthy men examined the effects of taking digestive enzymes on amino acid absorption. After not eating overnight, they ate 50g of whey protein at the start. Then, one group took 2.5g of a protein-digesting enzyme, and the other group took 5g of the same enzyme and another 50g of whey protein.<\/p>\n The group that took 5g of the enzyme absorbed 127% more amino acids into their blood than the starting point (no enzymes). Adding the enzyme significantly improved how their bodies digested and used the protein.<\/span><\/p>\n Learn all about the science of how digestive enzymes can support muscle building in this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n Probiotics such as\u00a0 Probiotic Breakthrough<\/a> produce proteolytic enzymes<\/a> that promote optimal protein digestion, a key factor in supporting muscle growth. When combined with our digestive enzymes, Masszymes<\/a>, this potent duo creates an ideal synergy for maximizing muscle gains.<\/p>\n Digestive enzymes and probiotics can come in various forms. Let’s look at where you can find them, from dietary sources to supplements.<\/p>\n Some foods contain naturally occurring proteolytic digestive enzymes. They include:<\/p>\n Learn more about these sources and other ways to increase your digestive capacity naturally in this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n You’re probably already familiar with yogurt as a natural source of probiotics, but there are more. Eating a diet rich in fermented foods is a great way to get probiotics in. Here are some options:<\/p>\n In a study examining the impact of a diet abundant in fermented foods, 18 participants ate either a fermented food-rich diet or a high-fiber diet. After adhering to their diets for 17 weeks, participants consuming the fermented food-rich diet had more diverse gut microbiota than those on a high-fiber diet.<\/span><\/p>\n Learn more about how to naturally increase the good gut bacteria in this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n Adding enzymes- and probiotic-rich foods into your diet is a great start, but it might not be enough. Supplements allow you to be more precise with the type, strain, or dosage you’re taking. For example, MassZymes<\/a> contains a very high concentration of proteases, which is best for high-protein diets.<\/p>\n If you have histamine intolerance<\/a> or some sensitivities to wild fermentation, you may react to fermented foods. In this case, probiotic supplements, especially low histamine strains, are the better option for you.<\/p>\n There are different digestive enzymes for different proteins and other micronutrients. Some focus on helping you break down carbs, while others are great for those following a keto diet. Overall, digestive enzymes should meet your dietary needs.<\/p>\n Here are some factors to consider<\/a>:<\/p>\n We’ve done thousands of enzyme tests to find the strongest enzymes and design the most potent enzyme stacks.\u00a0 Here are some of our specially designed formulas:<\/p>\n Here’s the complete guide<\/a> to how to choose a digestive enzyme supplement.<\/p>\n The most effective probiotics for promoting gut health can differ from person to person. Study shows that each person’s gut is very selective of which probiotics it allows, depending on their immune system and pre-existing gut flora<\/span>.<\/p>\n The following is the general criteria for choosing your probiotics.<\/p>\n It’s totally possible to feel absolutely nothing after introducing a probiotic, which means the product was either dead when you purchased it or it wasn’t right for you. This is why we have a 365-day refund policy and recommend that you only get probiotics from companies that have credible refund policies.<\/p>\n Not only can digestive enzymes and probiotics be included in your routine, but they work in tandem to support optimal digestion and gut health.<\/p>\n While we do recommend that you take both digestive enzymes and probiotics to reap their health benefits, ideally, don’t take them at the same time.<\/p>\n You should take digestive enzymes just before or with your first bite. Digestive enzymes work most effectively when there is food present. Taking them with meals ensures they are available to break down the specific types of nutrients in your food.<\/p>\n Probiotics are best taken on an empty stomach. This allows the probiotics to move quickly through the stomach and into the intestines without harm from stomach acid.\u00a0 As a general rule, the best time for taking probiotics is 30-60 minutes before breakfast or right before bedtime.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bioptimizers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Optimized-GettyImages-1326307899-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nWhat are Digestive Enzymes?<\/a><\/h3>\n
What are Probiotics?<\/h3>\n
\n
Digestive Enzymes vs. Probiotics: Which Should I Take?<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bioptimizers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/clairifyme_30_year_old_couplehaving_a_great_time_shot_on_a_so_c75e9430-bf64-40f7-a010-d5822aaf3f99_0-2-1-1024x574.png\")
<\/figure>\nSigns You Might Benefit from Digestive Enzymes or Probiotics<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
Are Digestive Enzymes or Probiotics Better for Bloating and Gas?<\/h3>\n
Digestive Enzymes<\/h4>\n
Probiotics<\/h4>\n
Are Digestive Enzymes or Probiotics Better for Digestion<\/a>?<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bioptimizers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Optimized-GettyImages-604915680-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nDigestive Enzymes<\/h4>\n
Probiotics<\/h4>\n
Are Digestive Enzymes or Probiotics Better for Nutrient Absorption?<\/h3>\n
Digestive Enzymes<\/h4>\n
\n
Probiotics<\/h4>\n
\n
Are Digestive Enzymes or Probiotics Better for Leaky Gut?<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bioptimizers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/clairifyme_a_candid_shot_of_a_40_year_old_woman_walking_in_a__8ffb03bd-5062-4ca0-a687-030d8b37dfb4_0-2-1-1024x574.png\")
<\/figure>\nProbiotics<\/h4>\n
Digestive\u00a0 Enzymes<\/h4>\n
Are Digestive Enzymes or Probiotics Better for Bodybuilding?<\/h3>\n
Digestive Enzymes<\/h4>\n
Probiotics<\/h4>\n
Where to Find Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bioptimizers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Optimized-GettyImages-1620395002-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nCan I Get Digestive Enzymes From My Diet?<\/h3>\n
\n
Can I Get Probiotics From My Diet?<\/h3>\n
\n
What to Look for in Digestive Enzymes Supplement<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
What to Look for in a Probiotics Supplement<\/h3>\n
\n
Can Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics Be Taken Together?<\/h2>\n
When Is the Best Time to Take Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics?<\/h2>\n
<\/figure>\n
Digestive Enzymes<\/h3>\n
Probiotics<\/h3>\n