subject: How Different Types of Digestive System Supplements Work [print this page] How Different Types of Digestive System Supplements Work
Indigestion is a kind of condition brought about by the inability of the digestive system to do its work. This is characterized by pain in the upper abdomen and a feeling of fullness much earlier than expected during eating. Most of the time, it can also lead to bloating, heartburn and even dyspepsia.
Although there are several kinds of treatment for indigestion, most of the medicines can treat the symptoms only and not the actual condition. One of the most common medicines used are the antacids which are originally meant to cure hyperacidity. But today, there is a new and proven effective alternative and that is in the form of digestive system supplements. There are actually two kinds of digestive supplements: the herbal and the non-herbal kinds.
The herbal digestive system supplements have long been used by many people from various countries all over the world. Although they have long been proven as an effective solution, medical studies and clinical tests have yet to validate their claim of affectivity. One of the most common and the most popular types of supplements is anise. Anise is actually a flower and is mainly cultivated and harvested for its seed. Aside from being a digestive system supplement, it is also used as a spice and a cooking ingredient. Anise has been known to help relax digestive muscles and help cure flatulence. Modern day science has been able to test and characterize the herb and reported that anise seeds contain considerable amounts of linalool, alpha terpineol and E-anetheol - all of which are considered to be beneficial to the digestive system.
The non-herbal digestive system supplements are mainly made out of pro-biotic digestive enzymes. They usually come in drinks and are composed of digestive enzymes and good bacteria that help improve the speed of digestion. The main goal for this type of treatment is to establish a balance of good bacterial population in your digestive tract and keep harmful but natural bacteria in your stomach to a minimum.
The compounds found in pro-biotic digestive supplements are those that are already found naturally in the body. They are more specifically found all throughout the digestive system - from the mouth, the throat, the stomach, down to the small and the large intestines. There are two types of enzyme supplements - the single enzyme and the multiple enzyme supplements. Enzymes found in these supplements include amylase, bromelain and lipase enzymes. Aside from curing indigestion, the enzymes can also help treat heartburns and acid reflux - all of which are side effects of indigestion.
The pro-biotic supplements are the ones available commercially. But still, medical experts recommend that you pick digestive system supplements with the best quality possible. Choose brands wisely. If you can, do your research first on the right brands and products to pick. This is because there are a lot of supplements available in stores that are not under the quality control of the proper authorities. Because of this, there is no way to assure you of its affectivity and its safety.
Without a doubt, digestive system supplements are a good solution to indigestion problems. But still, take caution in selecting the products and the brands that you take for safety purposes.
