Your Guide To The Top 3 Digestive Enzymes Of 2024
Updated 04/24/2024Did You Choose The Right Enzyme Supplement?
Digestive enzyme supplements have flooded the market, and for good reason. These digestive aids can soothe stomach upset and boost digestion.
Unfortunately, there are so many different enzymes, formulas, and serving sizes that it can be confusing to find the right product. Many of us struggle to understand what digestive enzymes are in the first place. Some brands have taken advantage of our confusion by stuffing their products with more additives than actual enzymes, and hiding them all under the guise of a "proprietary formula."
That's why Consumer Survey created a guide to help you better understand what digestive enzymes are and what to look for in a good supplement. We also researched 59 enzyme supplements to uncover the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.
What Are Digestive Enzymes?
Our bodies produce digestive enzymes to help us absorb the nutrients we need to survive.
Unfortunately, our modern diets lack nutrients, which means that we have to work extra hard to squeeze out whatever nourishment we can from our food.
Other factors, like age, stress, allergies and chronic inflammation, can also tamper with our nutrient absorption. When these issues are triggered, your body puts enzyme production lower on its to-do list. The end result: Any nutrients in that salad you ate aren't actually absorbing into your body.
That's where digestive enzyme supplements come in. These have become a staple for anyone who wants to maximize their nutrient absorption. Unfortunately, not all are created equally. Here are the top things to look for in an effective digestive aid:
5 Things To Look For In A Digestive Enzyme Supplement
- The Right Formula
Look for a varied blend of plant-based enzymes. Unlike animal-based enzymes, these benefit guts with both low and moderate acidity.
- Probiotics
Saccharomyces boulardii is a crucial yeast probiotic for amping up digestive health. Adding it to your formula boosts not only your short-term digestion, but also long-term health.
- Doctor-Formulated
Digestive enzymes are tricky. Crafting the right formula requires years of expertise. Look for a gastroenterologist backing the product.
- Third-Party Tested
We saw dozens of brands making claims about their products' effectiveness, without any evidence. Your enzyme aid should have a lab certificate to prove it's been tested.
- Money-Back Guarantee
It takes time to see lifelong results, so it's crucial that the company offers at least a 90-day risk-free guarantee that they stand behind. This shows that they believe in the products they sell.
A supplement with these characteristics is critical for real results, but most importantly, make sure the formula includes these enzymes:
Top Clinically Proven Enzymes:
- Protease - breaks down protein into amino acids, or its basic building blocks. As we age, we begin producing less of them naturally. Look for: a varied blend of at least 100 SAPU, 11,000 HUT and 9,000 HU.
- Bromelain - helps you digest proteins found in meats, nuts, cheese and grains. Look for: At least 100 GDUs per serving.
- Papain - also crucial for digesting protein. The best blends contain both bromelain and papain for comprehensive digestive support. Look for: At least 800,000 PUs per serving.
- Amylase - breaks the starch, sugar and fiber found in grains, fruits and vegetables down into smaller molecules. Look for: 5,000 DU or more per serving.
- Cellulase - helps us digest fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, humans can't produce it naturally. Look for: At least 2,000 CUs per serving.
- Lipase - breaks down fats like butter, cheese, olive and fish oils into fatty acids and glycerol, which then travel throughout our body. Look for: 2,000 FIPs per serving.
While researching, we also ran into a few red flags:
What To Avoid When Researching A Digestive Enzyme:
-
Dangerous Fillers & Additives
Steer clear of supplements formulated with magnesium stearate, chromium, gelatin capsules, and silicon dioxide. These can all cause unwanted side effects.
- Focusing All Your Research On Amazon Reviews
Up to 65% of Amazon reviews are written by paid individuals, and some of them might not have tried the product.
-
Prioritizing Quality Over Price
We found that the lower-priced brands tended to fall short on potency. It's better to invest in a quality supplement that includes all the necessary ingredients for healthy digestion. You'll save more money in the long run.
The Results Are In...
We took all of these factors into account, and after reviewing 59 products, only a handful offered users the right combination of enzyme, probiotic strain, and purity. When it comes to enzyme supplements, you get what you pay for.
Top Picks are updated monthly based on testing and analyses:
Top Pick
Consumers Survey Recommended
- 18 plant-based enzymes
- Saccharomyces boulardii probiotic
- Doctor-formulated
- Third-party lab
tested for purity - 100% natural, no artificial additives
- Speedy customer service
- 90-day money-
back guarantee
Call 1MD Toll Free:
(888) 393-4030
#1: 1MD MediZyme
1MD's Complete Digestive Enzymes Platinum was the only product we found that contained both enzymes and a probiotic.
We confirmed that its capsules are 100% vegan, and it contains absolutely no fillers or additives. In fact, 1MD was one of the safest brands we found. Customers raved about the results they noticed, both immediately and in the long-term.
1MD stands by its product with a 90-day money-back guarantee. We were able to get on the phone with their customer service department more quickly than most other brands, and the agent was extremely knowledgeable about the product.
We verified that Complete Digestive Enzymes Platinum is supported by clinical trials and developed by a board-certified gastroenterologist.
With all this in mind, we decided to make 1MD our top pick for potency, quality, safety, and overall customer satisfaction.
* * * EXCLUSIVE Special Offer For First-Time Users ONLY * * *
LIMITED OFFER DISCOUNT FROM 1MD
Purchase Discount Digestive Enzymes Supplement Now >>#2: VeganzymeBy Global Healing Center
The Global Healing Center's Veganzyme came in a close second for its popular and potent formula.
It contains all-natural, pure ingredients and absolutely no unhealthy additives. Customers raved about their results, but unfortunately, we found that Veganzyme doesn't contain the same potency as our #1 pick. While it does contain a great serving of protease, it also lists a "proprietary blend," which masks whatever other ingredients have been added.
They redeemed themselves with a stellar, 100% money-back guarantee, so if the product just isn't potent enough, users can feel safe returning it without hassle. With that in mind, we decided to put Veganzyme in our #2 position.
#3: Digest Gold By Enzymedica
Digest Gold by Enzymedica is an extremely popular digestive enzyme supplement, but we were admittedly worried about adding it to our list.
While Digest Gold does contain a decently potent serving of enzymes, we were concerned about their limited return policy. It doesn't include any probiotic strains, so its effectiveness is also diminished.
Digest Gold has some great qualities, but we had to put it at the bottom of our list.
What We Do
ConsumersSurvey uses a unique three-step approach to reviewing the most popular products in the online marketplace
1. Research First we conduct in-house research with a highly qualified editorial team comprised of individuals who specialize in various fields.
2. SurveyWe survey our readers who have tried the product over time in order to learn from their experiences.
3. OpinionWe monitor public opinion in the world’s most popular marketplaces, from Amazon and eBay, to Bizrate and Pricegrabber.