Have you ever tossed and turned at night because your dinner was not sitting well in your stomach? Is the "iron stomach" of your teenage years a distant memory? Consider enzyme supplements to help your digestion.

Enzymes take large pieces of food and break them down into smaller pieces for absorption through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream. As you get older, particularly after age 40, the enzymes found in your digestive system become weakened or more difficult to stimulate. As a result, you may not get all the good nutrition you expect to get from your food. Partially undigested food can pass through your system and cause a host of problems such as bloating, belching, cramps, gas and even allergies.

Supplemental enzymes can help restore enzyme levels to their youthful state. They can be used to improve the digestion of food, promote the growth of intestinal flora (good bacteria) and maintain normal pH levels. For example, the pH needs to be just right for the protein-digesting enzyme pepsin to become activated. Without it, certain peptide bonds won't be properly broken down in the stomach. This can cause bloating or even food allergies as improperly digested proteins get absorbed. If you have an ulcer disease, talk to your doctor before using a digestive enzyme supplement.

Lindberg Betaine Hydrochloride with Pepsin contains ingredients like the ones naturally secreted by the stomach that work on the first phase of digestion. It contains pepsin, which starts the digestion of protein, and betaine HCl helps establish a proper pH level.

Lindberg Pancrea-Lind contains pancreatic enzymes, like the ones secreted by your pancreas into the small intestine that work on the second phase of digestion. The three principle enzymes in pancreatin are protease (protein enzyme), amylase (carbohydrate enzyme), and lipase (fat enzyme). And to finish off this second phase of digestion in the small intestine, iron ox bile is included to help with fat digestion. This bile supports the normal bile produced by your gall bladder to help emulsify fats.

For those who wish a single formula to help with both phases of digestion, Lindberg Complete Digestant combines both betaine HCl and pepsin with pancreatic enzymes, bile and additional enzymes like papain (from papaya) and bromelain (from pineapple). Digestive enzymes are designed to be taken right before or during a meal.

If you find yourself removing foods from your diet because you just can't stomach them anymore, try a broad spectrum digestive enzyme supplement and enjoy a healthy diet again!