Supplements To Aid Digestion: What's Right For You?
Supplements taken to improve your capacity to digest various foods can make a tremendous difference to improve your symptoms but also to re-balance the gut bacteria.
Indeed, foods that are not digested properly can cause a lot of digestive issues, such as gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea.
But what is perhaps even more important to understand is that incompletely digested foods can be fermented by pathogenic organisms and may contribute to SIBO, yeast overgrowth and dysbiosis. It can also cause inflammation of the gut lining, and contribute to leaky gut.
But not everybody needs the same supplements.
There are three main types of supplements that can support digestion:
Here's how to find out which of these you might benefit from.
DIGESTIVE ENZYMES
Q: Do you feel like you bloat or get gassy every time you eat vegetables, starches, fruits or beans?
A: If yes, you may benefit from digestive enzymes.
Read more about digestive enzymes here.
HELPFUL TEST:
Although this is not 100% accurate, it's a fun test that can help you determine if you might be deficient in pancreatic enzymes and benefit from digestive enzymes.
Find the pancreatic enzyme point, which is located 1 human inch (the width of your thumb) under the xyphoid process, on the right rib margin. Rub this area quite vigorously.
If it's tender, it's a sign that you might benefit from digestive enzymes.
However, even if this test comes back negative for you, we still recommend giving digestive enzymes a go if you answered yes to the question above.
BETAINE HCL
Q: Do you feel heavy after eating a high protein meal?
Q: Do you feel like your food sits in your stomach for hours.
A: If yes, you may benefit from Betaine HCL. Please note that from our experience, about 70% of people with gut issues see improvements in symptoms from taking betaine HCL, so it could be worth a try.
We've included two quick tests you can do at home to help you figure out if betaine HCL might benefit you.
1- HCL POINT
Find the HCL point, which is located 1 human inch (the width of your thumb) under the xyphoid process, on the left rib margin. Rub this area quite vigorously.
If it's tender, it's a sign that you might have issues with stomach acidity and might benefit from betaine HCL.
2- BICARBONATE OF SODA TEST
This test is based on the chemical reaction between acidity and bicarbonate of soda.
We recommend doing it on an empty stomach 3 mornings in a row to get a more accurate result.
SUPPLEMENTS TO AID FAT DIGESTION AND SUPPORT BILE FLOW:
Q: Do you feel like you don't tolerate high fat meals?
Q: Do you get nauseous after eating fats?
Q: Do you have greasy stools, floating stools, or see fat floating in the toilet?
Q: Do you have light or grey-coloured stools?
Q: Have you had your gallbladder removed?
Q: Do you have right shoulder pain?
A: If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may benefit from supplements to improve fat digestion.