Supplements and Vitamins for Gut Health

Vitamins and supplements can play a helpful role in keeping your digestive system running smoothly. They support your body’s natural ability to break down food, absorb nutrients, and maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria.* For example:

• Probiotics help restore good bacteria in your intestines*
• Fiber supplements promote regular bowel movements*
• Digestive enzymes can make it easier for your body to process fats, proteins, and carbohydrates*
• Vitamins help keep your digestive organs functioning properly*

When used wisely alongside a balanced diet, these nutrients can help improve digestion, boost nutrient absorption, and support overall gut health.*

Healthy Gut Supplements

Several supplements can support and improve digestion. Here are some of the most common and evidence-based options:

Probiotics for healthy digestion

Probiotics contain live, beneficial bacteria that can help restore the balance of gut flora. Probiotics for gut health can help:

• Supports digestive health*
• Helps reduce occasional bloating*
• Support the immune system*

Prebiotics

Prebiotics are non-digestible food components that nourish and stimulate the growth of probiotics. They are fermented in the colon and produce beneficial compounds that support the immune system, aid in nutrient absorption and contribute to overall health.*

Digestive enzymes

Digestive enzymes help to break down food and improve the absorption of its nutrients. They can help occasional digestive issues like indigestion and bloating.*

Puritan’s Pride has a number of supplements that contain these helpful enzymes:

• Puritan’s Pride Papaya Enzyme contains papain and is a useful post-meal supplement and digestive aid.*
• Bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapple, helps digest protein in the gastrointestinal tract.* This helps make nutrients available for the body’s energy needs, cell growth, and other vital functions.*
• Lactase Enzyme can make the sugar found in milk and other dairy products more readily digestible to your system.*

Ginger root is naturally high in digestive enzymes, making it a popular digestive supplement. Its natural enzymes help speed up the digestive process and stimulate the production of other digestive enzymes. Puritan’s Pride Turmeric & Ginger promotes healthy digestion with the help of antioxidant properties.*

Fiber

Dietary fiber is a type of carbohydrate that can’t be broken down by digestive enzymes. In this way, they help to promote regular bowel movements and add bulk, which helps manage constipation and improves overall gut health.* Add fiber to your diet with Puritan’s Pride:

• Psyllium husks are a supplemental source of dietary fiber. They also support digestive and colon health.*

Vitamins for Healthy Digestion

While supplements are often at the forefront of messaging about digestive health thanks to their immediate impact on the microbiome, there are a number of vitamins that support digestion.

B Vitamins

B Vitamins aid digestion by helping the body process fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, supporting a healthy gut lining, and influencing the gut microbiome. Add them to your vitamin routine to support gut health*:

• Vitamin B12 is involved in the absorption and utilization of other nutrients, particularly iron and folate. It helps in the creation of DNA and helps to keep the blood and nerve cells healthy.*
• Vitamin B6 supports digestion by aiding in the breakdown of proteins, carbs, and fats*

Vitamin C

What can’t Vitamin C do? This multitasking vitamin can be beneficial for gut health by supporting the integrity of the stomach lining, balancing beneficial gut bacteria and acting as an antioxidant.*

Vitamin D

Vitamin D plays an important role in maintaining gut health*:

• It regulates the microbiome and influences the composition of gut bacteria, promoting the growth of good bacteria.
• Vitamin D strengthens the intestinal barrier, which prevents harmful substances from leaking into the bloodstream.
• It helps to support the immune system through the gut.*

A Final Note Before Taking Healthy Gut Supplements:

The best way to support digestion is by incorporating fiber-rich foods into your diet and by drinking enough water. When choosing to add supplements, always discuss them with your healthcare practitioner first.