Enzymes Not Included: Why Adding Aminogen Makes Sense

Of course, always consult with your physician before taking a supplement or changing your supplement use. 

That being said, let's get back to the question posed in my last post: why add Aminogen? After all, there are enzymes in the foods we eat, and our bodies produce their own enzymes too.

Enzymes in Food

As the article in Scientific American points out, while there are enzymes in food, these are destroyed during cooking.  And when we eat foods in their raw form, our own stomach acid can destroy them anyway. 

You see, enzymes are all very different, and quite particular about what kind of environment they will survive and function in.  They require a specific pH (amount of acidity) in order to work. The stomach is quite acidic and therefore many of the enzymes we ingest are destroyed and inactivated here.

Endogenous Enzymes

These are released by the stomach and pancreas in response to the food that we eat. They are created by our bodies for the purpose of digestion. But these have their limits as well.

First, there are genetic differences in enzyme production.  This is why, for example, some people cannot digest dairy foods and are considered to be lactose intolerant.  Their body simply does not produce the enzyme needed to break down the lactose sugar in milk.

Second, our bodies may not always release enough enzymes for the amount of food we eat.  In the case of a high-protein drink, which would have a gastrointestinal transit time of around 1.5 hours, the body may not have enough time to produce and churn out enough enzymes to break down all of that protein before it slips further down the digestive tract, where it is no longer absorbed.

Athletes and dieters should pay particular attention to this fact because they spend money on supplemental protein. Protein has been shown to be important for satiety, weight loss, improved body composition and muscle mass, but how can taking in more protein benefit you if your body does not absorb it?

Third, our production of digestive enzymes diminishes with age. Food that is not digested properly can cause symptoms like gas, bloating and constipation because they have not been absorbed properly.  This is not only uncomfortable, but it means missing out on nutrients.  And older adults need adequate protein to maintain muscle strength, immune health and more.

Adding Aminogen

So we've established why the enzymes in food and even those produced by our own body may not be sufficient for optimal digestion.

What does adding Aminogen do?

Aminogen is a patented enzyme specifically formulated for protein digestion.  It works in the digestive tract's range of pH's, so it will not be destroyed or deactivated in the stomach or small intestine.

It's been proven in a published clinical study to triple the rate of protein absorption  - take note athletes and dieters- so adding it to high-protein foods and beverages means that extra protein is not wasted.  What's more, it was proven in the same study to increase levels of amino acids absorbed from protein by 100 percent and branched-chain amino acids (important for building muscle) by 250 percent.

I often hear from people who take Aminogen that protein digestion becomes much more comfortable, too, without the gas or bloating that signals incomplete digestion.

So if if you've ever:

Experienced symptoms of incomplete protein digestion,

Spent money on supplemental protein and want to make sure you absorb the amino acids you are paying for,

Or are concerned about getting adequate protein nutrition...

I'd say adding Aminogen makes a whole lot of sense.