Key Takeaways
Digestive enzymes help break down food and support nutrient absorption.
In combination with probiotics, digestive enzymes can help promote a healthier gut.
If you are prioritizing probiotics but still looking to support digestive comfort, adding digestive enzymes may be worth considering. Sometimes your body may not produce optimal levels of enzymes, or certain lifestyle factors and dietary choices can influence how comfortably you digest foods. In some cases, specific foods may simply feel harder to digest.
When used daily or as needed, alongside probiotics and a balanced diet, digestive enzymes can help support normal digestive function.
Let’s go back to chemistry 101: An enzyme is a protein that helps chemical reactions happen faster and more efficiently in the body. Without enzymes, these processes would happen too slowly for our bodies to function properly. From digestion to immune health and metabolism, every system relies on various enzymes.
Digestive enzymes are the specific proteins that break food into smaller components for nutrients to be absorbed and used for energy, growth, and repair. They turn carbohydrates into sugars, proteins into amino acids, and fats into fatty acids and glycerol. Think of them as your mini sous chefs, doing all the extra, behind-the-scenes cutting and chopping that successful digestion requires. Our bodies have them stationed at all the stops along the food consumption train, from saliva to stomach to small intestine.
Your body already produces digestive enzymes like amylase, protease, lipase, and others, which break down carbs, proteins, and fats, respectively. So why supplement? By improving food breakdown before it reaches the intestines, enzymes may help reduce the difficulty of digesting foods, which can also ease bloating and gas.
Many digestive enzyme products are blends that include several enzymes together (like protease, amylase, and lipase), all of which perform different functions. Here are some of the most important enzymes for gut health:
That’s an important distinction: digestive enzymes are different from probiotics. Broadly speaking, probiotics support the balance of beneficial gut bacteria, while digestive enzymes help break down food more efficiently. But when used together—and alongside a healthy diet—enzymes and probiotics can support more optimal gut function.
We always say, the best digestive supplements are ultimately those that fit your routine and help you feel your best. Choosing the right support for you starts with understanding your body’s needs and your wellbeing goals. Those can be just general, ongoing gut balance (and all the good health benefits that come from that) or targeted help breaking down certain foods.
Some people find they benefit more from one than the other, while others may opt to use a digestive enzyme/probiotics together in pursuit of comprehensive support.
AG1 is a good option because it offers both the digestive enzyme bromelain and probiotics in one daily drink, as well as prebiotics and additional nutrients, which provide gut health support*. Our blend is designed to support digestion gently while helping your body access nutrients from whole foods—without adding complexity to your routine.
Taking enzymes to help digestion is like targeted support to break down specific components of food, which can be useful when digestion feels strained or when certain symptoms reliably follow certain foods. They’re standardized to offer more predictable support for issues like bloating or gas.
But remember: long-term gut health depends on your total diet quality, consistent fiber intake, good microbiome balance, and gut lining health. Eat a variety of whole foods to ensure you’re getting an array of nutritional benefits.
You can also find certain digestive enzymes naturally in foods like pineapple (which has a lot of bromelain), papaya (which has papain), and fermented foods.
In conclusion, digestive enzymes are a useful complement to other gut health go-tos like probiotics and a gut-healthy diet. While they’re not a total replacement for long-term gut-healthy habits, digestive enzymes can help improve comfort, nutrient absorption, and overall digestive function. The goal for all gut health is consistency, balance, and choosing tools like that help support digestive function and overall wellness each day*