Digestive Enzymes

Our Digestive Enzymes support nutrient absorption and digestive comfort from eating a variety of foods.*

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3-month supply, shipped every 3 months. Includes free nutritionist consult.
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Product Details

Comprehensive daily Digestive Enzymes to maximize your comfort and benefit from eating a wide variety of foods. Our 14 clinically-backed digestive enzymes support the optimal digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, as well as sensitive foods like dairy, gluten, and legumes, throughout the entire PH spectrum of your digestive tract*. Supports nutrient absorption, digestive comfort, overall gut health, energy, immunity, and more*.

Learn More

Enzymes are naturally occurring proteins that speed up reactions to break down the food that you eat, by helping to break it down into smaller components. A variety of enzymes are needed to support the digestion of a wide range of foods throughout different parts of your digestive tract. Modern food processing depletes food of naturally-occurring enzymes, and most mamas don’t produce enough themselves. Pregnancy and nursing, along with stress and eating on-the-go, exacerbate digestive challenges. Our Digestive Enzymes are vegan and free of allergens, GMOs, gluten, and gross fillers.

How to Use

Take one (1) capsule before every meal, or more as needed. 90 capsules per bottle. Store fully sealed at room temperature.

Have Questions?

What makes us different

Optimal Nutrients

Formulated By Experts

Backed by Clinical Insights

Third Party Tested

Comprehensive digestive enzymes for an optimal you.

Our formula includes a variety of enzymes to support the digestion of different macronutrients and foods.

Proteases

21,000 HUT, 4,000 PC, 50 SAPU, 125 DPP IV, 2AP
5 enzymes types to break down protein at different pH levels throughout all portions of the digestive tract; Includes DPP IV for gluten specifically

Amylase

3,500 DU
Supports the first stage of breaking down starches or carbohydrates like potatoes, rice, and bread

Glucoamylase

9 AGU
Follows amylase to further breakdown partially processed starches or carbohydrates like potatoes, rice, and bread

Invertase

400 SU
Supports the digestion of refined sugars

Acid Maltase

14 MaltU
Follows amylase to further breakdown partially processed starches or carbohydrates like potatoes, rice, and bread

Alpha-galactosidase

150 GalU
Breaks down the carbohydrates in beans and legumes that can otherwise cause flatulence

Lactase

1,000 ALU
Breaks down lactose, supporting the digestion of dairy

Lipases

480 FIP, 10 FIP, 10 FIP
3 enzyme types supporting the breakdown of fats and lipids, including supporting the absorption of fat soluble nutrients like Vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids

Real Reviews from Real Customers

Thoughtful inquiry is needed.

What are enzymes and how do they work?

Digestive enzymes are proteins that your body makes to break down food and aid digestion.

There are many different types of digestive enzymes. The main categories of digestive enzymes include:


  • - Amylase (made in the mouth and pancreas, breaks down complex carbohydrates)
  • - Lipase (made in the pancreas, breaks down fats)
  • - Protease (made in the pancreas, breaks down proteins)
  • - Lactase (made in the small intestine, breaks down lactose - found in dairy products)
If my body and food already produce enzymes, why do I need extra Digestive Enzymes?

Digestive Enzymes are produced naturally by the body, but a number of factors can inhibit their production which can affect your digestion and absorption of nutrients. For example, stress, eating too quickly, and alcohol consumption can all inhibit digestive enzyme secretion.


Pregnancy can increase the need for supplemental enzymes even more. In pregnancy, levels of progesterone are elevated. Progesterone serves a number of important purposes, but it also relaxes the smooth muscles that line the digestive tract. These muscles are important to keeping digestion moving, and when they are relaxed, your motility (the motion of the intestines that moves food and waste along) is also slowed.


Progesterone also relaxes the sphincter in the esophagus and the sphincter that controls the release of digestive juices. This can lead to uncomfortable heartburn. Digestive Enzymes can help your food to move from the stomach into the small intestine more quickly, alleviating heartburn.


In addition, food quality has changed. Years ago, food came “packaged” with its own enzymes needed for digestion, so it wasn’t as critical that the body produced its own enzymes. Unfortunately, modern day farming practices have led to soil depletion, which has greatly reduced the presence of enzymes in our food. Key elements needed for enzyme production in plants, like nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur have declined. Furthermore, there has been an increase in processed food consumption, and processed foods lack the enzymes needed for digestion.


Finally, the enzymes that do exist in food exist in raw food. Once food is heated or cooked, enzyme potency declines.

Why are Needed’s Digestive Enzymes different?
Needed Digestive Enzymes are both safe and effective for use in pregnancy. While they are supportive at all stages, our Digestive Enzymes were selected to provide broad digestion support for foods that commonly cause digestive discomfort in pregnancy. They are also designed to provide support for other common symptoms in pregnancy and postpartum, including regularity support, heartburn, etc.
How do I determine what the enzyme potency is? What do the numbers and letters after each enzyme mean?

The supplement facts panel looks different for digestive enzymes than for other supplements. This is because the potency of digestive enzymes is not measured in weight like vitamins and minerals, and enzymes do not provide nutrients in the form of calories or vitamins. Instead, the potency of digestive enzymes are measured by activity units.


An enzyme’s activity unit varies by enzyme type and represents the ability of one unit of an enzyme to break down a substrate (e.g., a food or other substance that an enzyme acts on) in a defined amount of time at a specific temperature and pH level.


Therefore, you will see a number followed by the activity unit next to each enzyme. This represents the potency of each enzyme.


Our Digestive Enzymes were designed to help digest a large, well rounded meal containing protein, fat, and carbohydrates, and including some difficult-to-digest foods like gluten, dairy, and legumes. They are also supportive of smaller, simpler meals and snacks.

Your Digestive Enzymes do not include some items commonly found in other digestive enzymes like cellulase, Betaine HCL, Ox Bile, or herbals. Why not?

We chose to exclude cellulase, Betaine HCL, and Ox Bile as they are not beneficial for everyone at all times and should be used in specific circumstances for Betaine HCL and Ox Bile. For cellulose, we don't usually suggest supplementing with it and instead have your microbiome do the work of breaking down these fibers


In addition, herbs are also often added to Digestive Enzymes. However, many herbals can actually deactivate enzymes, so we excluded them for optimal potency.

Can I open the capsule and mix it into my smoothie or other foods and drinks?
We do not recommend opening this capsule and mixing it into a smoothie or other food or drink. The enzymes combined with food prior to entering the body could decrease efficacy as they are intended to break down food in the digestive system.
What is the source of your enzymes?
Enzymes are derived from microbial fermentation of plant, fungal, and bacterial sources. This fermentation process results in the elimination of the original yeast and bacteria source, leaving only the potent enzymes remaining
If I take Digestive Enzymes, will my body stop producing my own? Or, am I now reliant on the Digestive Enzymes?
Taking supplemental digestive enzymes does not affect the body’s production of its own enzymes. This makes digestive enzymes safe to take multiple times throughout the day and over the long term.
What do you mean by this supporting digestive comfort?
Digestive Enzymes help your body digest food more effectively and completely. Digestive Enzymes have been shown to support everything from motility, constipation, bloating, gas, cramping, post-meal brain fog, and other digestive discomforts.
I don’t eat any gluten, is DPP IV for gluten still beneficial for me?
Even if you actively avoid gluten, you likely consume trace amounts of gluten through cross contamination in other foods that are packaged, processed, or served in restaurants. In cases of micro exposures to gluten, DPP IV can be supportive.
Are there any side effects?
Generally, Digestive Enzymes do not cause any negative side effects. You should benefit from better nutrient absorption, fewer digestive problems, and better gut health, immunity, and energy levels. However, there can be a transition period when adjusting to any supplement. Please reach out if you have any questions as you adjust to your new routine.
Are your Digestive Enzymes vegan, allergen free, and Non-GMO?
Our Digestive Enzyme is vegan and non-GMO. It is also free of 9 major allergens and unwanted fillers.
What kind of testing do you do?
We test all products for quality and safety at third-party laboratories including tests for nutritional content, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, microbes, and other contaminants.
Do Digestive Enzymes interfere with probiotics?
Digestive Enzymes do not interfere with probiotics. In fact, they both help to support gut health in different, complementary ways. Probiotics are live organisms that support the balance of good bacteria in your gut. Unlike enzymes, probiotics do not have the ability to break down or digest food components.
Everything makes me nauseous while I am pregnant, will your product work for me?
Our Digestive Enzyme capsules are very small and easy to swallow. Many nauseated mamas find that Digestive Enzymes can help alleviate, not exacerbate nausea.
I am not pregnant, will your product still work for me?
Our Digestive Enzymes are safe, effective, and supportive at all stages, before, during, and after pregnancy.
What happens if I miss a meal, or a few days?
Don't sweat it. We know how busy life can get and new routines can take time to establish. If you miss a meal just start back up with the next meal. You might notice a difference in bloating or digestion following the meals that you missed.
Can I take more than 3 capsules per day?
Digestive Enzymes are a gentle and supportive supplement. They can be taken with as many meals and snacks you eat throughout the day. In certain cases, practitioners may recommend more than 1 capsule per meal. Please talk to your practitioner about dosing for your individual needs.
Can men take Digestive Enzymes?
Yes, our Digestive Enzymes are safe and effective for both men and women!
Where is the Digestive Enzymes manufactured?
The Digestive Enzyme product is manufactured in the United States at an FDA registered facility that has third party GMP certification.