Probiotics and enzymes often get lumped together into the same category. After all, they both promote health by targeting the gut. Actually, probiotics and digestive enzymes are two very different substances in our body,

What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are living “friendly” microorganisms that provide numerous health benefits. They’re usually bacteria, but certain types of yeasts can also function as probiotics. Fermented food, such as yogurt, some cheeses and some pickled vegetables contain probiotics. You can also get probiotics from supplements.

Probiotics should not be confused with prebiotics, which are dietary fibers that help feed the friendly bacteria already in your gut .

The most common groups include  Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Each group comprises different species. Different probiotics address different health conditions. Therefore, choosing the right type of probiotic is essential.

Some supplements, known as broad-spectrum probiotics or multi-probiotics, combine different species in the same product.

Probiotics work by changing the composition of your gut bacteria or the metabolic activity of existing bacteria. The good bacteria crowd out the bad in your intestine. Probiotics may help your digestion and enable your body to extract nutrients from your food. Good bacteria may also produce enzymes or proteins that inhibit, or even kill, harmful bacteria. Specific strains of probiotics also stimulate your immune system. Sometimes doctors may advise you to use probiotics when taking antibiotics to combat a specific infection. This is because antibiotics kill off some useful bacteria along with the bad, which may cause diarrhea. Probiotics help maintain or restore a healthy balance in your gut.

In addition to their impact on weight loss and digestion, probiotics may also improve heart health, immune function and symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Probiotics are generally well tolerated and considered safe for most people. However, in the first few days, you may experience side effects related to digestion, such as gas and mild abdominal discomfort. After you adjust, your digestion should begin improving.

What are enzymes?

Enzymes are proteins (chains of amino acids) that drive chemical reactions in the body. Digestive enzymes, produced in the pancreas, help break down food into simpler compounds, making them more available for the body to process and absorb. The major enzyme groups you might have heard of include proteases and peptidases that break down proteins, lipases that break down fats, and amylases that break down starches and sugars.

Certain foods, like raw fruits and vegetables, contain  plant enzymes that assist with their own digestion. Raw dairy contains enzymes that help break down milk sugars, which are often difficult to digest. Enzymes are very sensitive to their environment, and heat can destroy the enzymes present in the food we eat. Temperatures as low as Fahrenheit 100° can start to impact enzymes. So when you consume cooked, pasteurized, and processed foods, you are missing out on the naturally occurring enzymes that would help you to digest and break those foods down.

When should I take probiotics and digestive enzymes?

Enzymes and probiotics perform similar functions in the body, but there may be instances where you will benefit more from one or the other. For example, if you’ve recently finished a round of antibiotics, probiotics will serve you better than digestive enzymes. On the other hand, if you’re lactose intolerant, you will probably see more improvement from adding a digestive enzyme supplement containing lactase, as this would help your body to break down the sugars in milk.

While they each have their own benefits, you don’t necessarily have to choose between them. Both digestive enzymes and probiotics support healthy digestive and immune systems, and there are many foods that contain both, including yogurt and fermented vegetables. We recommend trying to get as many enzymes and probiotics from natural food sources as possible, though, of course, this isn’t always easy to do in today’s world.

Due to our modern lifestyles, even the healthiest eater may not be able to consume enough probiotics and enzymes through diet alone. Many factors—such as stress, processed foods, medications, and antibiotics in food and as medicine—can deplete the good bacteria in our body and cause our enzyme production to take a dive. This is why health experts recommend supplementing with digestive enzymes and a high-quality probiotic.

Signs you may need probiotics or enzymes

If you experience these signs, talk to your doctor for your probiotics needs:

• Gas, bloating, heartburn
• Constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Yeast infections
• Fungal infections
• Skin disorders and allergies
• Autoimmune conditions

The following signs indicate that enzymes may benefit you:

• Gas, feeling heavy, bloated, sluggish after meals
• Bacterial overgrowth in small intestine
• Trouble digesting fatty foods
• Skin rashes, acne, and eczema
• Brain fog, headaches, and mood swings