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Continue ShoppingUltimate Guide to Amylase
If you think you may have a gluten intolerance or other gut issues, amylase may be able to help you. This digestive enzyme is present in your saliva. It makes it easier to digest and absorb the nutrients in your food while you eat.
When you have less of it in your system then you should, you might run into complications in your digestive system. Adding more amylase-rich foods into your diet or through a digestive health supplement can assist in relieving symptoms.
In this guide, we are going to be covering everything you need to know about amylase.
What is Amylase?
Your digestive system breaks down the food you eat into nutrients that your body can then absorb. These nutrients are known as carbs, fats, vitamins, and proteins.
If your body does not have enough nutrients, you may start to experience a whole slew of health issues, usually starting with fatigue. This symptom may also appear if your digestive system is not functioning as it should. Digestive enzymes, such as amylase, are crucial for breaking down food. They allow you to absorb the nutrients that give you energy.
Amylase is a type of digestive enzyme that breaks down carbs into simpler sugars. This type of enzyme is essential for processing gluten. Without it, you might have some issues digesting gluten-heavy foods.
Your salivary glands and pancreas make amylase. When you spend more time chewing your food, the amylase enzymes in your mouth help process the food better.
Amylase and Gluten Intolerance Relief
If you have a gluten intolerance, you may be able to better process foods and absorb more nutrients by upping your amylase intake. Since this is the digestive enzyme that handles starch and sugars, it can help your body digest gluten properly.
Amylase can focus on breaking down gluten when there is more of the enzyme present in your system. The enzyme may break down the food before it causes issues and symptoms, as long as your intolerance isn’t too severe.
So, if you have a gluten intolerance, adding more digestive enzymes to your diet may reduce symptoms. If you eat something with gluten in it, you can avoid a harsh reaction by supplementing your gut with some additional firepower in the form of amylase.
Signs of Gluten Intolerance
Many people do not realize they have a gluten intolerance since they have had it their entire lives. If you start noticing you feel uncomfortable after eating certain foods, you might want to consider an intolerance as a possibility.
Gluten intolerance is not as severe as celiac disease, although they do share symptoms. The following are signs that your body probably does not get along with gluten:
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Bloating or abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Headaches
If you think you have a gluten intolerance, you will want to make sure it is not something more serious. Your doctor can take a blood sample and let you know if you have celiac disease or a wheat allergy. Once those are ruled out, it will generally be safe to say you only have a mild to moderate gluten intolerance.
Ways to Increase Amylase in Your Diet
There are a few easy and efficient ways to add more amylase into your diet. Raw honey, bananas, mangoes, and avocados are all rich in digestive enzymes. These foods are rich in other nutrients, so you can have more benefits from eating more.
A lectin supplement can also be beneficial, especially if you are having trouble determining exactly what foods cause symptoms in your body. If you struggle to eat more amylase-rich foods, adding a supplement can give you the same benefit.
Many people prefer adding supplements to their routine. The pill is easy to take and adds minimal to no calories to your daily intake. If you count calories for health reasons, adding more food to your diet isn’t really something you may be willing to consider.
However, making changes in your lifestyle and diet can help you manage your gluten intolerance. Instead of your usual breakfast, consider a smoothie made from bananas, strawberries, and mangoes. You get the amylase benefits, and it is a delicious way to start your day!
What If You Have Low Amylase Levels?
Low amylase levels can indicate a larger health problem. Not having enough of this enzyme can be a sign of chronic pancreatitis, i.e. when the pancreas becomes inflamed.
Other symptoms of low amylase include nausea or vomiting, fever, jaundice, or diarrhea. If you suspect you have low amylase, be sure to make an appointment with your doctor. They will be able to let you know if the underlying cause of your deficiency is severe or not.
If you naturally have lower amylase levels, you might have digestion issues or food sensitivities. In those cases, you want to boost your levels whenever you can. Supplements and amylase-rich foods can help.
Take Digestive Enzymes During a Cleanse
If you are working on detoxing your gut, taking digestive enzyme supplements can be highly beneficial to help your body really digest your food so that your gut lining can focus on healing.
When you eat, taking the enzyme right before or during your meal is best. Doing so gives the enzyme more time to react to the food so it can help you digest it, making you feel more energized and nourished after eating.
Taking supplements after your cleanse assists your digestive system during the reintroduction step when you eat regularly. Your body must have enough of these enzymes when you do a cleanse. You will want to take supplements regularly before and after you start.
Bacteria That Can Produce Amylase
Suppose you are looking for another way to increase your amylase levels. In that case, it is essential to know that certain kinds of bacteria can help you produce amylase, too. Good bacteria, known as probiotics, are present in your gut and aid in digestion as well.
Lactobacillus strains can help produce more amylase and lactase in your digestive system. They can be found in many probiotic supplements, which benefit your overall gut health in various ways.
Probiotics balance your gut health, can benefit weight loss, support your immune system, and much, much more.
These good bacteria strains can be found in fermented dairy products like yogurt, or in fermented foods such as pickles, sauerkraut, and miso.
By taking probiotics, you are helping improve the natural environment of your gut, also known as your microbiome. In this healthy state, good bacteria can produce amylase more efficiently.
Conclusion
Amylase is an essential digestive enzyme that breaks down food in your body. If you are experiencing digestion problems or think you might have a gluten intolerance, adding more of this enzyme to your diet can help to relieve symptoms.
Make sure that you check out supplements as an option if you want to increase your amylase intake. Adding a probiotic that contains amylase-producing bacteria can also be beneficial.
If you have any questions or want help finding a product that works for you, be sure to get in touch with us. We would love to help you (and your gut) feel healthier!
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/natural-digestive-enzymes