Enzyme MD Review

Review Rating:

Best for: improving digestion, decreasing gas and bloating

No Risk – 90 day money back guarantee

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Review Summary of EnzymeMD

This broad spectrum enzyme supplement was designed by Dr. David Kahana, MD. EnzymeMD can help people digest a wide variety of foods.

There are 18 different enzymes included in this product. And each of these enzymes helps break down a different type of food, or molecule found in a food.

As people age, there is evidence that enzyme production may decrease significantly.^AA And without the right enzymes, you can’t completely digest certain foods. Those undigested foods can cause gas, bloating, or poor absorption of ingredients.

Another thing that can decrease enzyme production is acute or chronic stress.^AB I’ve been quite stressed lately from the Coronavirus quarantine. So, I’ve been using EnzymeMD more often than usual.

This product also has a minimum of potential allergens. And doesn’t contain any funny preservatives, flavorings or colorings.

Another thing I like about 1MD’s products, is their favorable return policy. The great thing about this return policy is that if the product doesn’t seem to help you, you can return it for any reason within 90 days of purchase for 100% refund (excluding shipping). Just call and alert customer service of your decision.

So based on the ingredients, the research behind the ingredients and the return policy, I’m rating EnzymeMD 5 out of 5 stars. I really like what Dr. David Kahana did with this product, and I use EnzymeMD myself.

Enzyme MD’s Ingredients

Alpha-amylase

This enzyme prevents gas by helping to digest complex carbohydrates. It also helps weaken pathogens in the intestines by killing their defensive biofilm.

This enzyme is present in large amounts in human saliva and in pancreatic secretions. It is also found in many starchy plant seeds.

Amylase helps to break down complex polysaccharides (like starch and glycogen) in food into smaller, simple sugars that are easily absorbed by the body. Normally it responds like a stress hormone during periods of psychological or physiological stress to increase the amount of sugar available to the body. ^D Complex carbs that are not broken down by amylase get passed on to the colon where the normal bacteria there break it down, forming gas and loose stool.

The intestinal tract forms a slimy layer of mucous called a “biofilm”. That biofilm gives additional protection to potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi in the gut. Amylase has been shown to help break down that biofilm, helping to get rid of pathogens in the gut^E.

Bromelain

This enzyme helps digest protein. It comes from pineapples.

Bromelain is a type of enzyme called a protease. Proteases break down proteins into digestible components. This particular enzyme comes from the stem and fruit of pineapples and has been used for centuries to clean wounds. In fact, in Europe it is approved as a pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of large burn wounds^F. Very small studies have also shown that bromelain may help treat arthritis and blood clotting disorders^G, but the evidence for that is weak. People who are allergic to pineapples are likely to react to this component since it may be allergenic.

Peptidase

This enzyme helps digest proteins and break them down into amino acids.

This term describes any one of hundreds of enzymes called proteases which break down proteins into simple amino acids and small peptide fragments. This helps the proteins in our diet get absorbed into the bloodstream. The term peptidase is not specific enough to research and give solid advice, since peptidases are involved in virtually every metabolic transaction involving protein. One paper says there are 8,000 new articles per year on peptidases^H.

Glucoamylase

This enzyme helps digest complex carbohydrates.

This is a form of amylase that is normally present in the gut, specifically in the small intestine, where it breaks down complex carbohydrates into more absorbable components. Glycoamylase aids in digestion and releases glucose into the bloodstream. The free glucose also may act as food for good bacteria and stimulate their growth in the intestines.^I. There are some studies that suggest that glucoamylase might enhance the insulin response to rising blood sugar, potentially helping in the treatment of diabetes.^J

Proteases

These enzymes help digest protein into amino acids.

This is the same situation as “peptidase”, a very generic term used to describe enzymes that break down proteins into amino acids. Peptidases and proteases likely help the digestive tract by digesting proteins, but specific statements about their effectiveness cannot be made.

Papain

This enzyme is used as a meat tenderizer. It breaks down proteins and softens tough cuts of meat. It is found in papaya.

Just like its cousin bromelain, papain it helps break down dietary proteins. Papain also has been added added to certain toothpastes to help remove plaque^K. Papain also is used to remove dead tissue from wounds, although the FDA has removed its approval because of allergic reactions. More recent studies have shown its anti-inflammatory effects and its ability to reduce the risk of heart disease^L.

Alpha-galactosidase

This enzyme helps break down carbohydrates and prevents gas. This is the main ingredient in the product Beano®.

Alpha-galactosidase breaks off the simple sugars attached to fats (glycolipids) or proteins (glycoproteins) that we eat in our diet, making those sugars available for energy. Since the enzyme breaks down glycoproteins and glycolipids, those foods are not available to pathogenic gut bacteria to form gas^M. As an aside, this enzyme might be deficient in patients with Parkinson’s Disease^N.

Cellulase

This enzyme helps break down cellulose found in vegetablee; it can help reduce gas and bloating.

Cellulase, as the name implies, breaks down cellulose in the diet. Cellulose is the non-digestible fiber component that makes up plant cell walls. The breakdown of cellulose by the human body is extremely difficult, requiring significant energy. As such, the net energy gained from digesting cellulose is very low. Undigested cellulose passes in the stool unchanged. Cellulase releases the energy hidden in cellulose, making simple sugars available to the body. Cellulase aids in the reduction of gas and bloating by digesting cellulase, it can also help with the liberation and absorption of simple sugars ^O.

Lipase

This enzyme helps digest fat.

Lipase usually comes from the pancreas and breaks up fat into smaller digestible molecules. This helps in the digestion of dietary fats and also may increase the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are fat-soluble vitamins^P.

Beta-glucanase

This enzyme helps digest certain types of complex carbohydrates, which can reduce bloating and gas.

Glucanases are a family of enzymes that break down complex carbohydrates through the process of hydrolysis. They are used extensively in the process of making wine to break down yeasts and polysaccharides. One type of beta-glucanase is cellulase, described above. Most of the research around beta-glucanase relates to pretreatment of animal food to increase their growth and vitality, probably related to its ability to break down non-digestible plant materials^Q,^R.

Phytase

This enzyme helps digest nuts and seeds, and increases zinc absorption (something that I am deficient in).

A phytase is a phosphatase enzyme that breaks down phytic acid, a major storage form of phosphorus in plants and seeds. Phytase helps release phosphorus from the food and makes it more available to the body. Normally, phytic acid is the major storage form of phosphorus found in seeds, grains, and legumes, and it inhibits the absorption of zinc from the diet. Phytases, through their digestion of phytic acid, help to block that inhibition and help make zinc more available to the body^S.

Invertase

This enzyme improves digestion of some sugars, and decreases the spike in blood sugar when consuming them.

Invertase helps to break down sucrose into inverted sugar (glucose plus fructose). Invertase enzyme is created by bees, and can be extracted from yeast. It appears to reduce the spike in both blood sugar and blood insulin after consuming sugar^T. The insulin spike has been associated with obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, so invertase may help avoid those common conditions.

Maltase

This enzyme helps break down maltose to the simple sugar glucose.

This is another enzyme that normally lives in the surface of the upper part of the small intestine, the duodenum. This enzyme has been shown to worsen the spike in blood sugar after meals rather than blocking it as does invertase^U. In diabetics this may worsen blood sugar control, but in healthy adults it more likely improves energy by making glucose more available to the body^V.

Hemicellulase

This is an enzyme that helps break down vegetable matter, and decreases gas/bloating.

Hemicellulase is a type of cellulase, enzymes that decompose cellulose into simple sugars. Hemicellulose is one of the major components of cell walls of plants, and hemicellulase helps break it down into small sugar molecules for absorption. Hemicellulase has been used to improve the breakdown of plant-based fiber into more digestible sugar components, reducing gas formation downstream^W.

Xylanase

This enzyme helps improve vegetable fiber digestion and decreases gas/bloating.

This a type of hemicellulase and helps to break down the polysaccharide xylan into xylose. Xylan is described as the third-most common biopolymer on Earth, present in the cell walls of virtually every green plant. Xylanase contributes to the breakdown of the cellulose cell wall structure of plant materials into smaller sugars. It is used as a pretreatment of wheat to improve dough handling in bread and improves the nutritional value of foods derived from plant materials. It is widely used in the preparation of livestock feed to improve the digestibility and energy gained from foods^X. There is also evidence that it reduces oxidative stress in the liver, at least in zebrafish^Y.

Lactase

This enzyme improves digestion of lactose, a sugar commonly found in milk products like ice cream. Better digestion of lactose can prevent bloating, gas and diarrhea.

Lactase is a well-known enzyme that is present in the lining of the small intestine. It is necessary for the breakdown of lactose from dairy products into the components galactose and glucose. Many people lose the ability to create their own lactase, leading to lactose intolerance: bloating, gas, diarrhea, even malnutrition. Adding lactase to a supplement may help the millions of Americans who cannot digest milk or milk products. Lactase may also help with obesity and insulin resistance^Z.

Saccharomyces boulardii

This is a strain of fungus used as a probiotic for the treatment of several diarrheal illnesses. It is the same as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, another commonly used probiotic ingredient. It remains in the gut and is not absorbed. Scientific studies have shown its effectiveness in the treatment of C. difficile diarrhea ^A, antibiotic-associated colitis ^B, H. pylori infection A2 , and viral gastroenteritis ^C. Like most probiotics, we don’t really know its full mechanism of action, but it seems to either crowd out or starve out pathogenic bacteria and viruses. It is safe and very well-tolerated unless a person has a severe disorder of the immune system.

1MD also made 1MD Complete Probiotics Platinum, which can be helpful for people with digestive issues.

What Allergens Does this Product Have?

Bromelain and Papain

People who are allergic to pineapples and/or papaya are likely to react to bromelain or papain respectively.

Gluten Free

Celiac’s should have no problem with this product since it’s 100% gluten free.

Non-GMO Ingredients

This product does not contain genetically modified ingredients. None of the probiotic strains are genetically modified either.

Vegan

This product is 100% free of all animal products.

How to Take EnzymeMD

The directions on the bottle are: “Adults take 1-2 capsules as needed with or after meals.”

I personally only take enzymes during my meal, and not after. This is because enzymes can break down your intestinal lining or stomach lining in some cases. So, I like to only take enzymes on a stomach with something in it, closer to the middle of a meal, and not at the end of a meal. I also don’t take enzymes with a meal that I can digest very easily. For instance, I digest raw salads well, so I don’t take enzymes then. But, I don’t digest a heavier, red-meat meal as well, so I will often take digestive enzymes then. In the end, you’ll have to experiment with what feels right for you.

Ideally you should consult with your doctor before taking any supplement, including this one. As far as I can tell all of these enzymes do occur naturally, so they are probably quite safe. But, there may be a rare exception where you shouldn’t take this, especially if you have had a serious illness, disease or surgery. So please check with your doctor.

Does 1MD Offer a Money Back Guarantee?

1MD seems to stand behind its products with the full force of its return policy. The company offers a 100% money-back, no-questions-asked guarantee for up to 90 days, which is longer than most other supplement providers.

You can return any used or unused product for refund. Before sending unwanted product back, you have to call customer service at (888-393-4030) prior to shipping. 1MD will issue you with a return authorization number (RAN) that identifies your return and entitles you to a full refund (minus the cost of return shipping). Without an RAN, 1MD reserves the right to refuse your return shipment.

Refunds are typically processed in 2 to 3 weeks.

Are There Any EnzymeMD Scams?

After checking on search engines and multiple sites that track scams, I cannot find anything that raises an alert. That said, you always need to do your own research and buy from reputable retailers. And the best way to be sure you’re avoiding a scam is to purchase directly from the manufacturer.

Are There Any Product Complaints?

Although I can find nothing alarming or particularly serious regarding Enzyme MD no product is right for every individual or condition. There are a few isolated complaints of stomach pain, diarrhea, or not seeing a discernible change or improvement. That said, the vast majority of reviews, reports and comments are very positive. You’ll need to determine for yourself if EnzymeMD is the right choice for your digestive comfort.

But, if you have any serious complaints about the product, 1MD will be able to issue a refund within 90 days of buying EnzymeMD.

Does 1MD Have Good Customer Support?

Based on the strength of the money-back guarantee, reputation of the company and prominent publication of their phone and email number, their customer support appears to be very good. And I have not heard, read, or experienced anything to the contrary.

Where to Purchase Enzyme MD

The safest place to buy 1MD EnzymeMD is directly from the manufacturer. Not only do you have access to special offers and discounts on volume purchasing, but you can be more assured that you are getting the authentic product, unopened and at its freshest.