23/06/2023
Proteins are notoriously difficult to digest. This is highlighted by the fact that your body needs to produce an arsenal of proteases (enzymes that digest proteins) including pepsin in the stomach, trypsin and chymotrypsin in the small intestine, to break them down.
When protein is poorly digested in the stomach, it can cause a reduced rate of stomach emptying which leads to that uncomfortable overfull feeling called bloating.
This is particularly an issue for people with compromised digestion, such as the elderly, who typically produce less pepsin and/or stomach acid. But today, bloating and constipation are becoming common digestive discomforts of gym goers/active individuals who consume large amounts of protein powder after each workout.
Can you imagine how overwhelmed your digestive enzymes are by that heaped 30 g scoop of protein you just chugged down? The recommended protein intake for an average woman and man is 45 g and 55 g of protein per day, respectively!
To help your body digest protein more effectively and alleviate that bloat, why not try:
(1) Eating a balanced diet with more fibre.
(2) Spread out your protein intake during the day.
(3) Eating foods or taking supplements that contain proteases, for example, kiwifruit, pineapple and figs.
Natural fruit proteases, like actinidin from kiwifruit, have been scientifically shown to help enhance the digestion of various proteins, including meat proteins, casein, gluten and plant proteins.
Check out our blog https://actazin.com/need-help-digesting-protein/ to learn about Actazin, bloating and protein digestion.
