Digestion Aids
Those new to a
vegetarian diet often have issues with bloating and gas, which can
usually be helped with digestion aids. For many, the
increase in complex carbohydrates in the vegetarian diet is what
causes the problem. Fortunately, there are several digestion
aids that can remedy the situation.
Digestive enzymes
are complex proteins involved in the process of converting the
food we eat into substances that can be digested by the human
body. There are three main types of these digestion aids:
-
Lipases - function
in the digestion of fats, oils and fat-soluble vitamins.
-
Amylases - break
down starch molecules into smaller sugars. Amylases also break
down carbohydrates into maltose.
-
Proteases - are
responsible for breaking down protein into smaller amino acids.
Diet alone may not
supply enough digestive enzymes to adequately digest the complex
carbohydrates in a vegetarian diet.
Beano, beloved by
vegetarians everywhere, contains an enzyme specifically for
breaking down complex carbohydrates so they can be easily
digested. The correct dosage amount of this digestive aid is
key to Beano's efficiency. At meal time, take one Beano tablet or
five drops of Beano liquid per ½ cup serving of gassy food.
If Beano doesn't do
the trick, try a digestive enzyme supplement that contains all
three enzyme types: lipases, amylases and proteases. These
can be found in health food stores and pharmacies. Digestive
enzymes taken with meals should stop digestive problems before
they start.
Acidophilus, the
live culture in yogurt and kefir, can also be a helpful digestion
aid when taken daily. You can purchase it in capsules if you don't
eat dairy products. Refrigerate the bottle after opening so the
capsules remain fresh. Acidophilus is especially important
after a round of antibiotics as it restores important
digestion-enhancing bacteria killed by the antibiotics. It's
a good idea to keep this digestion aid on hand for those
occasions.
Activated charcoal
capsules taken at the first sign of bloating, nausea, or gas can
be helpful in quickly alleviating symptoms. The charcoal
absorbs symptom-causing bacteria. Charcoal is suitable for
occasional use only, as the charcoal can also soak up good
bacteria and minerals. So, charcoal isn't a daily solution - but
many on a vegetarian diet keep it on hand for potentially
embarrassing situations.
Digestive upsets
indicate that you're not fully digesting the nutrients in your
vegetarian diet. Digestion aids can help you make the most
of a healthy vegetarian diet and prevent common malabsorption
problems.
