Preface to this review: I always take digestive enzymes alongside a good probiotic. They go hand in hand IMO. I am currently on monthly ship of these Probiotics . It works very well but that is for another review. For the average person, digestive enzymes should be taken with every major meal. Along with probiotics at night and possibly in the morning if one chose to do so. I They help with all sorts of digestive issues and allow our bodies to better absorb nutrients. We consume food, but our digestive system does not absorb food, it absorbs the nutrients in the food. Nutrients have to be broken down from things like steak and potatoes into its nutritional particles: amino acids from proteins, fatty acids, cholesterol from fats, and simple sugars from carbs, along with vitamins, minerals, and a bunch of other animal and plant particles. Why digestive enzymes stop working correctly in the body: Diseases may prevent proper digestive enzyme production. Pancreatic problems, including cystic fibrosis, pancreatic cancer, and acute or chronic pancreatitis. Brush border dysfunction, the most severe is long standing Celiac disease, where the brush border is flattened or destroyed. Other diseases like Crohn's can also cause severe problems. But even in the absence of any obvious disease(s), things still may not be working properly. Inflammation in the digestive tract caused by “food allergies,” intestinal permeability, dysbiosis, parasitic infection, etc. can lead to a decimation in overall digestive enzymes. Aging Badly has been associated with decreased digestive function. Chronic long term stress. This is the most common reason for digestive enzyme problems. Our body has two modes: sympathetic “fight or flight,” and parasympathetic “rest and digest.” When we're in “fight or flight” mode, digestive is given a very low priority, which means digestive function (including digestive enzyme output) is dialed down. Chronic stress= constant “fight of flight” mode = impaired digestive enzyme output. symptoms that suggest you might have problems with digestive enzymes are: Gas and bloating after meals The sensation that you have food sitting in your stomach (a rock in your gut) Feeling full after eating a few bites of food Undigested food in your stool Floating stools An “oil slick” in the toilet bowl which is likely undigested fat The good news is that digestive enzymes are very safe and cheap, you can always try them and see if you see any difference in your bowel movements or digestion. When you should take digestive enzymes and how much to take: Always take your digestive enzymes with food. Some people make a big deal of timing, but my bottom line is just to get them in around the time you're eating. Most people find it easiest to pop them just before they eat, but anytime within 30 minutes of a meal will be beneficial. If you have a quality product, most people need 1-2 capsules with any of their major meals. Usually people don't need to take any with small snacks barring their digestion is very off. When you find found a dose that works for you, your systems inflammation symptoms will dissipate - that gas or bloating after meals, the feeling of a brick in the stomach, or your messed-up bowel movements should get better. If not, try increasing your dose incrementally, by one digestive enzyme pill per day, giving it at least 7 days (and up to a week) to evaluate how things are working

I have been dealing with digestive issues for quite some time and none of my doctors have been able to provide much help. I also have been trying to lose weight without much success. All this after eating a gluten free, dairy free paleo diet too! I was inspired to try digestive enzymes from a youtube vlogger who struggles with the ability to digest her food due to an autoimmune condition. It occurred to me that I was also struggling with the ability to digest my food. My condition is a result of abusing NSAIDs over many years and several courses of antibiotics. I have most likely damaged my gut despite my clean diet and it is taking a long time to heal. Why not give my body a little help and try these out? Within about 1 week of use I saw an immediate improvement in my IBS symptoms. My craving for constant food also declined since my body is now able to absorb the nutrients of the food I am eating. I take one of these with each meal. I have since lost nearly 10 pounds

For the past two years, I have suffered daily gastrointestinal issues that have been very disruptive to my life. I had my gall bladder removed four years ago. I did not experience any digestive symptoms immediately or even shortly after that. So, I did not think the problems two years later were related. I tried digestive enzymes without bile, and found no relief. However, my research brought me back to the lack of a gall bladder. Getting the digestive enzymes with the ox bile was instantly successful in handling my issue. I am managing well on one per day, which I take with my first meal. I started with two per day (one with each meal,) but I could see it was too much. Since using the enzymes with ox bile, I have had a dramatic descrease in heartburn, bloating and diarrhea I was experiencing daily. I'm glad I hung in there to find this simple solution. I chose the Now brand upon recommendation and previous experience with the brand. Unlike some reviewers, I've had no problem with the capsules looking or smelling bad. I'm guessing there might have been a bad batch at some point. For anyone without a gall bladder and suffering digestive issues, even if you were fine for a while following the gall bladder removal, don't discount that as a possible reason for symptoms

As a survivor of a lower motor neuron spinal injury that resulted in a partial neurogenic colon, I am intimately familiar with the extensive benefits of taking digestive enzymes. After my accident, I immediately needed assistance with digesting my food, and digestive enzymes came to my rescue. Digestive enzymes absolutely assist with flatulence, bloating, and constipation. Some digestive enzymes containing Betaine HCL and Pepsin such as NOW Foods Super Enzymes also reduce acid reflux and GERD. Acid reflux should be treated by increasing hydrochloric acid, not antacids which will neutralize hydrochloric acid, making acid reflux worse. I know my statements are accurate as I have benefited from taking enzymes for over two years. Enzymes are that one supplement where results are noticed immediately. Our bodies require digestive aids to break down proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and fiber. As we age, especially over 40, our production of digestive aids decrease. After two years of taking NOW Foods Super Enzyme, I have not had any acid reflux. Those days of waking up at night with my throat burning are gone. My constipation and flatulence are way down (my family agrees), and I believe in this product. I am rating this product five stars because it simply works as advertised. NOW FOODS SUPER ENZYMES CONTAINS: Amylase - breaks down large carbohydrate chains Betaine HCL - increases stomach acid reducing acid reflux and GERD Bromelain - breaks down protein Cellulase - breaks down fiber for nutrition from plant food Lipase - breaks down fat Ox Bile Extract - Contains lipase enzymes to break down dietary fat Papaya Fruit Powder - contain 212 amino acids and several enzymes Papain (from Papaya) - proteolytic enzyme that has an anti-inflammatory effect on the stomach Pepsin - break down proteins into the peptides required for proper absorption (that's really important) Protease - breaks down protein The one missing component I wish were present within Super Enzymes is Alpha Galactosidase, which breaks down Amylase resistant carbohydrates, such as beans/legumes, starchy fruits and vegetables (such as bananas), whole grains (oats, oatmeal), green peas, some types of cooked then cooled foods (such as potatoes and rice). The product I use to increase Alpha Galactosidase is Bean-zyme Anti-Gas Digestive Aid, 500 Capsules per bottle, Food Enzyme Dietary Supplement which is the same component within "BeanO". For Vegetarians or those practicing religious exclusion of pork, NOW Food Super Enzymes contains porcine (pork) pancreatin from pork pancreas and also Ox Bile. I purchase online almost daily and rely on other reviews to guide me to smart purchases. I write both positive and negative reviews, as can be witnessed from my review history, based on my experience. If you find this review helpful, please click the "yes" button below

I have never written a review for all the items I buy on amazon, mostly for the lack of time. But for this product and due to the fact that it might represent a response to health issues for other people I need to share the wonders of this product. due to my job I have skipped over the years meals that made my digestion slower and was damaging the right function of organs such as liver, kidneys, pancreas, etc. Food when I felt hungry, which was like never, passed almost undigested to my intestines, generating all kinds of issues, from trouble breathing, coughing when eating, acid reflu, pain in my hips and legs, diarrhea, and an abnormal acute pain beneath my breast on the right hand side , went to sooooooo many doctors of all kinds, medicine of all kinds and I felt lost, fat and tired all the time. One day I had to take my daughter to a nutritionist for some analysis and she started asking me about my health, she saw in my skin, hair and probably my attitude that I was "under-nourished"????!!!!. so after some tests she explained the fact that I was not digesting any food.....long story short: she prescribed enzymes, this brand together with the probiotic, and NOW I AM PAIN FREE, COUGH FREE, FATIGUE FREE, it is unbelievable. Thanks for reading, and I hope you feel this freedom too. By the way I gave this to my kids teenagers, and they are feeling different in a very positive way. H

When I say these changed my life, I really am not exaggerating. I used to have an iron stomach and could eat anything. Progressively over the past few years I have experienced more and more GI trouble - everything from diarrhea to constipation to bloating to heart burn to horrible pains in the gallbladder area to gas - you name it. I could barely eat anything without being in pain and got to a point where I decided it hurt less to starve to death than to eat. I lost 1/4 of my body weight. I went to multiple doctors. A surgeon tried to line me up to have my gallbladder removed. I spent thousands on testing and a naturopath and supplements. I went on an extreme elimination diet for almost a year. Some of these things helped but nothing took away my pain and gave me the ability to eat again until I started taking these pills. The day after I started I thought I had made a mistake - it was ahem, a mess. But since then, I have felt AMAZING, truly like my old self again. Absolutely zero discomfort after eating. I am amazed. If you are on the fence about these, BUY THEM. They just may change your life, too

Ok this review is focused toward people who have Silent Acid Reflux , now being called LPR. About 7 years ago I was diagnosed with LPR , my symptoms were congestion, clearing my throat, lump in my throat, and hoarse voice. Over the years it got worse and worse, to the point where people thought I was sick all the time. Every doctor prescribed the same stuff, some form of H2 blockers ( Zantac ect) and Proton Pump Inhibitors ( PPIs) , these only made my symptoms worse. No ENT I went to actually cared enough to do a little research outside what the pham. reps told them. Anyways I decided to give these a shot, I took two at every meal in combination with one BETAINE HCL..... and wow it actually worked! After taking these for almost a month im about 60-70% better! I can breath through my nose, my voice is coming back, my dark circles under my eyes are fading, its unbelievable! It did take about 2 weeks to notice anything, but it really does work. My theory is that many people diagnosed with LPR have low stomach acid causing teh LPR, not high stomach acid. So by taking PPIs and H2 blockers you make yourself worse. If the prescription drugs did nothing for you try this stuff combined with the BETAINE HCL. I sincerely hope anyone who has LPR gives this a shot, because it literally has been a miracle for me

I wanted to write this review just in case anyone experiences the same side effects that I did. I'm not criticizing the product itself, just relating, my experience. Just this week I suddenly began to notice that I was very itchy. The itching was all over but was especially bad on the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet. For a couple of days, I couldn't find an explanation, and it was getting worse. The only reason I figured it out is that it reminded me of cholestasis of pregnancy, which I had experienced many years ago. I looked that up just to try to find a starting point for research and was reminded that the itching in cholestasis is caused by a build up of bile salts in the skin. That's when I remembered that I had just recently started taking this product containing ox bile. I stopped taking the product two days ago and, thank God, the itching is almost completely gone. I imagine that the issue may simply be that the dosage was too high for my needs, which resulted in excess amounts in my system. I started taking it because I've been following a ketogenic diet and read that it might be beneficial. Again, I'm NOT saying anything negative about the quality of the product, just putting this out there in case anyone experiences the same thing and starts searching for the cause

For years the fam has relied upon Trader Joe's [TJ] Papaya Pineapple Enzyme product to aid with our digestion. A couple of months ago the product vanished from their shelves and upon inquiry, we learned it had been discontinued. Disappointing news, but, given my tenacious nature I searched Amazon for a replacement product. We've used other NOW supplements and have come to trust the brand. Which led to order placed, and received, and incorporated into our feeding regimen. The first time we found it to be incredibly potent. Adjustments were made to aid in our satisfaction which came about easily. All subsequent applications have been a success leading the fam to agree that the TJ product was 'candy' versus the incredible results through our use of the NOW Super Enzyme product. Softer stools. No indigestion, and the feeling that we've found the answer to digestion aides to our great benefit. We also found this supplement to be very effective in the digestion of red meats. My routine includes taking one capsule before my two daily meals. Anything eaten between these two meals is affected by the initial morning dose and therefore does not require taking additional capsules. Here's my caveat: If you exceed your dose you will enjoy very loose stools. So, find your threshold and allow the supplement to do its job. Fats, proteins, and carbos all digest well which in turn provides your body with the nutrition it requires. Magic. Highly recommended

Tl;dr - proceed with caution of you have a mold and/or penicillin allergy. This product works immediately. Was taking it for silent reflux (LPR/Laryngopharyngeal Reflux.) HOWEVER! The pepsin in this derived from mold. The name aspergillopepsin gave me pause because I am allergic to several molds, including penicillin. That ingredient nullified the positive effects of the other stuff. I was itching like crazy all over which is what happened the one time I had penicillin. Also gave me a terrible stomachache and messed up my bowels