Do you eat a lot of protein every day and experience digestive issues related to your diet? Are you having a harder time than usual with healing and pain relief?
Normally, the human body produces enough chemicals known as proteolytic enzymes (including protease, proteinase and peptidase) via the pancreas to help it accomplish a variety of critical functions by breaking down proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids that do the job.
But, if you’re a little older or you aren’t eating as much protein and your body isn’t producing enough of these important enzymes, you could be experiencing problems that could be relieved by a healthy dose of proteolytic enzymes.
Food-based solutions
There are many ways to get the right amount of proteolytic enzymes your body needs. Pineapple and papaya are among the best food-based remedies to supplement your body’s needs for these enzymes. (No wonder both fruits are key ingredients found in meat tenderizers!)
Other food-based sources for proteolytic enzymes include fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi and yogurt, asparagus, yogurt, kiwi fruit and ginger.
The benefits
Proteolytic enzymes are so important to your optimal health for good reasons.
For one, many people commonly use proteolytic enzymes in a supplement form to improve their ability to digest protein and ease simple digestive problems like recurring symptoms of an upset stomach, better known as functional dyspepsia.
Also, studies conducted in 2020 and 2022 found consuming proteolytic enzymes (also in supplement form) performed as well in reducing pain as taking traditional NSAID-based pain relievers.
Some formulations of proteolytic enzymes could serve as a non-drug treatments for facilitating healing and easing pain suffered from traumatic injuries, according to a 2018 report.
The other good news about taking proteolytic enzymes, either in a food or supplement form: The side effects are limited.
If you consume high amounts of proteolytic enzymes in food, you may experience some digestive issues. If you are allergic to pineapple, you may be vulnerable to skin rashes.
The biggest side-effect concerns deal with taking proteolytic enzymes if you are taking an antibiotic (bromelain), a sedative (bromelain) or blood thinners like warfarin (bromelain and papain).
Although the benefits you can receive from taking proteolytic enzymes sound great, please be sure to talk to a health professional you trust about it first, especially if you take the aforementioned drugs or are more prone to digestive issues.
Love and chi,
Paul
P.S. Interesting in trying out a safe and proven proteolytic enzyme product from a company I trust? Check out Masszymes from BiOptimizers today!
Resources
- How Your Body Benefits From Proteolytic Enzymes - June 27, 2024
- Your Fermented Foods Primer - May 16, 2024
- Finding the Perfect Balance: Anaerobic Training for Endurance Athletes - April 3, 2024
