Take some simple steps to optimise your intestinal health, says Nutritional Therapist Sarah Brereton.

Raise your hand if you do not have any of these symptoms at some stage – bloating after certain foods? Embarrassing wind? Flatulence? Burping? Acid reflux? Clothing feeling tight after meals? Tired after meals? Odour after using the toilet? Undigested foods in stool? IBS? bowel irregularity? Allergies? Leaky gut or candida?

If you answered yes to some of these issues you join the huge group of people who could require extra digestive enzymes to help break down food properly and release nutrients.

Our digestive system is the most crucial system in our bodies. We need to ensure it’s functioning optimally for overall health.

Digestive enzymes are imperative for complete digestion and absorption of nutrients. They work like a key fitting into a lock to release energy from food groups. Our own natural enzymes decrease through stress, caffeine, alcohol, illness, pregnancy and aging as well as from eating overly cooked, packaged or heavily processed foods. Udo’s Choice Ultimate Digestive Enzyme Blend contains 7 plant-based enzymes, which help to break down protein, fat and starches, sugars and carbohydrates, vegetable fibre milk sugar (lactose), fermentable carbohydrates, beans and legumes.

Udo’s Choice Ultimate Digestive Enzyme Blend is a popular option for people who want an enzymes blend that has no HCL (Hydrochloric acid), 100% vegetarian, Non-GMO, soy-free, dairy free and gluten-free. Take 1-2 capsules per meal as required. Udo’s Choice  Digestive Enzymes Gold is a stronger formulation for more chronic issues. For some people gluten may be the main culprit of digestive issues. It’s estimated 13% of the Irish population is gluten intolerant according to the Coeliac Society of Ireland 2017. Symptoms such as bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, headaches, or joint pain could indicate a problem with gluten.

One Nutrition Gluten Shield mini tablets provide relief from non-coeliac gluten sensitivity symptoms. They are proven to break down residual gluten in the gut in clinical studies. You can take 1 Gluten Shield tablet per meal (up to 3 per day). It is the only EU approved enzyme with novel food status. They are never intended to replace a gluten-free diet, or to prevent or treat Coeliac disease. Interestingly, globally only a third of adults can digest milk and in Ireland 5% of people are thought to be lactose intolerant. For extra support to help breakdown lactose in dairy products why not try One Nutrition Lacto Shield mini tablets? Scientifically proven to break down lactose in the gut. It’s established by over 12 clinical studies confirming the efficacy of acid lactase in lactoseintolerant people. Take 1-2 Lacto Shield tablets before a meal.