What’s the Difference Between Probiotics & Digestive Enzymes? An Expert’s Take

You've heard about probiotics for gut health, but you may have also read about the importance of digestive enzymes. What's the difference? They do two different things but both are beneficial for gut health, which in turn is vital for immune health, mood function and overall disease prevention. Here's what you need to know and whether you might want to consider taking probiotics or digestive enzymes for gut health.

Every time we eat, our body requires the use of specific digestive enzymes to break down our food. Digestive enzymes are proteins that help turn nutrients into substances your digestive tract can absorb. Your saliva has digestive enzymes in it, but most of all they are released by the pancreas, and do their main work in your intestines, which is where most of the breakdown and metabolism of food takes place.

The gut is home to millions of beneficial bacteria, known as our gut microbiome. The microbiome controls a variety of health functions in the body, including influencing how well the immune system works, as well as impacting our brain's mood center, since your gut houses 90 percent of the body's serotonin, a chemical vital for mood regulation.

Both the digestive enzymes and the colony of beneficial bacteria in our gut are extremely important for overall health and wellbeing. The foods we eat directly impact our digestive enzymes and microbiome, and poor choices can tip the ratio of good bacteria to bad bacteria out of balance, and contribute to inflammation and eventually increase our risk of disease.

If our gut bacteria gets out of balance – driven by eating less healthy plant foods, and more processed foods, added sugars, and inflammatory foods like red meat – it can lead to chronic diseases including irritable bowel syndrome, type 2 diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease, research finds . The foods we eat directly impact our digestive enzymes and microbiome, and poor choices can contribute to inflammation and increase our risk of disease.

But what if you are already eating a mostly healthy, plant-based diet? This is where digestive enzyme supplements and probiotics can help your gut microbiome and digestion be as healthy as possible. Here is the difference between digestive enzymes and probiotics and how to add them to a healthy plant-based lifestyle for optimal health and wellbeing.

Digestive enzymes and probiotics are completely different, but work to achieve the same goal of improving our gut health. Digestive enzymes are naturally occurring in our body and help to break down certain foods for digestion. While our stomach and small intestine make some of these enzymes, our pancreas is the main organ that creates the enzymes that break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Probiotics are living microorganisms that help to fend off “bad” bacteria to keep our gut environment healthy. (Prebiotics are the foods these organisms eat.) They also help to digest certain foods, destroy cells that may cause disease, and even produce vitamins.

In the end, both digestive enzymes and probiotics can keep the digestive process functioning smoothly and prevent issues like constipation, diarrhea, or bloating.

There are many different bacteria strains you’ll see in probiotic foods and supplements. they each are a type of good bacteria that fights diarrhea and helps the body break down food, absorb nutrients, and fight off disease. Some of the common names you may come across include:

Each name is given according to its genus, species, and strain. The genus of each probiotic is what sets them apart when it comes to their varying characteristics and health benefits. For example, Bifidobacterium is one of the most abundant bacteria in the gut making up about three percent to six percent of the total microbiome. According to a review, Bifidobacterium can benefit our immune system and improve our bowel health.

The National Institute of Health says probiotics may also improve:

Many probiotic-rich foods and supplements may contain more than one strain of bacteria which provides you several different health benefits.

You may have also heard of prebiotics, which are different from probiotics. Prebiotics are carbohydrates that feed the gut bacteria and help them thrive in a healthy environment, according to a 2019 article. You can actually purchase a synbiotic supplement that contains both probiotics and prebiotics together.

If you’re ready to add more probiotic-rich foods to your diet, there are plenty of plant-based options to pick from. They include:

When shopping for these kinds of foods, make sure that they contain live active cultures to get the probiotic benefits. Some store-bought items, such as sourdough bread and sauerkraut, aren’t fermented to create bacteria. You can also ensure you’re meeting your probiotic needs by making these foods and drinks from scratch!

While not every probiotic supplement is vegetarian or vegan, there are many on the market that fit into a plant-based eating style. Before deciding to invest in a daily probiotic, be sure to check with your doctor to ensure it’s a safe option for you.

As we previously mentioned, digestive enzymes are crucial for breaking down carbs, protein, and fats. Without them, you’ll likely deal with gastrointestinal issues including:

According to John Hopkins Medicine, a lack of digestive enzymes can be genetic and be present at birth or develop over time. Certain gastrointestinal surgeries and conditions that affect your pancreatic health can also lead to digestive enzyme insufficiency. The symptoms of a digestive enzyme deficiency can be similar to that of an individual who may have an imbalanced gut microbiota, which is why it’s important to first check-in with your doctor before purchasing supplements.

Most digestive enzymes on the market contain multiple enzymes to improve digestion. Some of the most common digestive enzymes include:

Here are five digestive enzymes that are that are appropriate for a plant-based diet:

These two supplements can help individuals who may be dealing with gastrointestinal or digestive problems. While they are different, they both can help benefit our gut health and beyond. Before deciding to add a supplement to your routine, make an appointment with your doctor to be sure it’s a safe option for you.

For more expert advice, visit The Beet's Health & Nutrition articles.