Feeling Weighed Down After Meals? Here’s How Digestive Enzymes Can Help
Article by Sammy Roberts
You sit down to eat, ready to relax and enjoy your meal, but halfway through, you feel the familiar bloat, heaviness, or discomfort creeping in.
For some people, it's only after big meals. For others, it’s all the time – even with “healthy” foods. If your digestion feels sluggish or unpredictable, digestive enzymes might be the missing link.
What Are Digestive Enzymes (And Why Do They Matter)?
Digestive enzymes help your body break down food into usable nutrients. They're essential for proper digestion – but age, stress, inflammation, and certain medications can all reduce your enzyme output. For many people over 40, this means food doesn’t digest properly, nutrients aren't absorbed, and digestion starts to feel like work.
Without enough enzymes, meals can leave you bloated, foggy, tired, or reaching for antacids. This is where digestive enzymes for bloating and sluggish digestion solutions come in – helping your body do what it was designed to do, just more efficiently.
3 Digestive Enzymes I Trust for Real Results
All available through Nutrition Capital:
Thorne Advanced Digestive Enzymes
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A plant-based enzyme supplement that supports the digestion of proteins, carbs, and fats.
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Perfect if you're eating a more wholefood or plant-forward diet, or simply want to improve digestion naturally without relying on heavy synthetic formulas.
Especially helpful for large or complex meals.
Thorne Multi Enzyme
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Combines hydrochloric acid (HCl), pepsin, and pancreatic enzymes to support full-spectrum digestion — ideal for anyone with low stomach acid or under chronic stress.
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Boosts the breakdown of protein, fats, and starches, and improves absorption of key nutrients like B12, iron, and magnesium.
Thorne Pancreatic Enzymes
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Highly concentrated enzymes for fat digestion, protein, and carbs. Especially useful for those with reduced enzyme output due to gut inflammation, stress, or a history of digestive issues. If your meals feel heavy or sit for hours, this is your go-to.
How to Use Digestive Enzymes Effectively
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Take enzymes just before or with your meals (not after).
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Start with one capsule at your main meal of the day and adjust based on how you feel.
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Consistency is key — especially if you’re rebuilding digestive function after chronic stress, antibiotics, or a restricted diet.
FAQs
Should I take digestive enzymes daily?
If you regularly experience bloating, gas, or heaviness after meals, especially higher-fat meals, taking enzymes daily can support digestion and improve comfort. Many people over 40 benefit from consistent use as part of a long-term gut health strategy.
What’s the difference between digestive enzymes and probiotics?
Probiotics are live bacteria that support gut flora and immune health. Digestive enzymes, on the other hand, help you break down food so your body can absorb nutrients. Both are important, but they serve different roles in digestive health.
If food feels like a stressor instead of a source of fuel, digestive enzymes can make a massive difference. They’re not a replacement for whole foods or a balanced diet – but they’re a powerful tool to improve digestion naturally, reduce bloating, and help your body absorb what it needs to thrive.
For more practical tools like this – from gut health to sustainable fat loss – follow me on Instagram @thesammyroberts
Nutrition Capital is proud to be an official Thorne distributor.
All Thorne products are dispatched for fast shipping from our local warehouse here in Melbourne, Victoria. Browse the full Thorne range here.