What is Alpha Galactosidase?
Your gas-disrupting enzyme
\ˈal-fə\ gə-ˌlak-ˈtō-sə-ˌdās , -zə-ˌdāz
Alpha galactosidase is an enzyme that breaks down the glycolipids and glycoproteins in hard-to-digest foods. We’ll get into the technicalities of those fancy terms later, but first, here’s a little more about this handy enzyme.
- Human saliva contains alpha galactosidase, and it is also produced in the pancreas before traveling to the digestive tract.
- The body’s ability to produce adequate amounts of alpha galactosidase determines how efficiently it can digest certain foods, and production of this enzyme naturally tampers off with age.
- When alpha galactosidase levels are insufficient, it is more likely that undigested food will remain in the digestive tract, potentially causing indigestion, abdominal cramps, swelling, gas, and even the overgrowth of harmful bacteria or Candida yeast.
Alpha galactosidase supplementation can improve gastrointestinal health through proper digestion of carbohydrate-rich foods and amplify the body’s natural enzymatic activity. This equates to some very beneficial regulation of flatulence after consuming gassy foods – and alpha galactosidase conquers them all!
Bypass the Gas
You’re probably already familiar with the foods that cause gas and bloating: beans, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and other carbohydrate-rich foods. But why exactly is audible discomfort the result of consuming these popular edibles?
Here’s why: The carbohydrates in these foods are bound to fats or proteins, forming glycolipids and glycoproteins, respectively. But too often these particles are not properly broken down in the digestive tract, causing them to accumulate. That’s when healthy intestinal microflora ferment glycolipids and glycoproteins, which produces carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas.
You guessed it! These gas byproducts are one of the main reasons people suffer from digestive problems after eating carbohydrate-rich foods.
Essentially, alpha galactosidase disrupts this fermentation process by breaking down the glycolipids and glycoproteins in foods that are hard to digest, keeping your digestive tract happily functioning without excess gas.
Fun Fact: Alpha galactosidase is the active ingredient in Beano®!
Don’t Skip the Beans!
Remember the song kids used to sing about beans? Well, there’s a reason for that, which may be why researchers used beans to study the effects of alpha galactosidase supplementation on digestive issues.
A study published in the Digestive Diseases and Sciences journal documented the health benefits of taking alpha galactosidase after participants ate cooked beans. Three groups of individuals who consumed 420 g of cooked beans were either given 300 IU or 1200 IU of alpha galactosidase, or a placebo.
Symptoms like abdominal discomfort, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and the production of hydrogen gas were all measured for eight hours. The result was a significant reduction in total symptoms scores for the participants who were administered either dosage of alpha galactosidase. However, the 1200 IU dosage was found to be especially beneficial at reducing the severity of gas and hydrogen production.
Research has also shown that children and adolescents with sensitivities to certain foods who supplement with alpha galactosidase experience less gastrointestinal distress without any side effects, suggesting it is safe for variety of age groups. Alpha galactosidase for the whole family!
Amplified Enzymes
Alpha galactosidase not only targets complex carbohydrates and fats, but it also stimulates the enzymatic activity within the body’s cells to promote better digestion. It does this by enhancing the activity of lysosomes, which are specialized structures inside of human cells that contain additional enzymes to break down various particles.
Because alpha galactosidase has been found to boost the activity of these lysosomes, quintessential gassy foods like lentils, beans, peanuts, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower, can be properly digested – without the audible complaints or unwarranted discomfort.
Get Your Grub On with Alpha Galactosidase
In summary, alpha galactosidase assists in reducing digestive issues, such as gas and bloating, by targeting food particles that are hard to digest (i.e. glycolipids and glycoproteins) before they can accumulate and become fermented by beneficial microorganisms in the intestines.
This helps to support overall gastrointestinal health by limiting the probability that partially digested or undigested food will remain in the digestive tract where it may lead to further problems.
In addition, alpha galactosidase boosts the activity of the body’s cellular enzymes to assist with proper digestion and circumvent the gassy reminders of what you ate for lunch.
So go ahead and request those extra beans next Taco Tuesday – with a little alpha galactosidase on the side!
Experience the Advantages of Alpha Galactosidase at Any Age!
Devigest eases digestive complaints from many hard-to-digest foods with the power of alpha galactosidase, to break down the complex carbohydrates found in gassy foods into simpler, more easily digestible sugars.
Alpha Galactosidase Advantages
- Promotes gastrointestinal health by breaking down hard-to-digest foods.
- Helpful for people who are prone to gas-related problems after eating meals that are high in complex carbohydrates.
- Safe and well-tolerated among different age groups, including children and adolescents.
- Stimulates the enzymatic activity within the body’s cells to reduce gassy complaints.
