Fasted for Too Long? Here's Why You Need Digestive Enzymes

Ask anyone what their secret to a healthy figure might be, and they’ll probably answer with something as simple as fasting. Nowadays, the concept of fasting doesn’t just hold a religious or cultural significance but is already woven into one’s daily routines. After all, when initial research suggests that fasting can help in maintaining blood sugar levels, managing inflammation, and promoting weight loss,¹ why not go for it, right?

But here’s something you may not expect — fasting for long periods of time can actually increase someone’s risk of a condition called functional indigestion, also known as functional dyspepsia. This health issue is quite a mystery in the medical world because while it has no clear cause, it comes with uncomfortable symptoms like pain in the upper stomach, bloating, heartburn, feeling overly full, or even appetite loss.²

You may wonder: Is fasting bad for health? Not really! However, someone who has not eaten for a long time may need to be careful before breaking fast and having a delicious meal. Find out how you or someone you know can prevent or resolve indigestion that may happen post-fasting with the help of digestive enzymes.

Too Fast, Too Much: How Prolonged Fasting Leads to Overeating

No matter the purpose, fasting usually entails multiple hours of not eating or even drinking anything. For example, a Muslim may fast for 12 to 16 hours during the holy month of Ramadan.³ On the other hand, someone who practices intermittent fasting can go without food for 16 to 24 hours.⁴

Now, what should happen during those hours that aren’t allotted for fasting? Well, one has to eat, of course. People should not forget to eat healthy and nutritious food to fulfill their hunger pangs and ensure they receive their daily dose of nutrients, especially those that can only come from food.

Unfortunately, many people who fast for long periods tend to indulge in food to the point that they eat too much or too quickly and increase their functional indigestion risk. Overeating or consuming a large meal right after fasting may stretch the stomach, cause its contents (acid included) to move out of it and into the throat, and trigger symptoms like abdominal cramps, acid reflux,^5,6 chest pain, and regurgitation.⁷

These issues are precisely why health experts recommend that people who fast start consuming food slowly (ideally with a light snack), space mealtimes over allotted eating hours, eat fiber-rich food, and avoid high-fat options, among others.⁸

What Are Digestive Enzymes? How a Deficiency of These Nutrients Impacts Post-Fast Digestion

You probably know by now that digesting food takes multiple steps and passes through various organs.⁸ But did you know that the body produces specific nutrients to aid in breaking down the food you eat?

Many people are unfamiliar with digestive enzymes and their essential role in optimal digestion. Digestive enzymes, like amylase, lipase, and protease, are produced once the body senses that mealtime is starting, smells or tastes food, or the digestion process starts.⁹ These enzymes are typically released by the pancreas and help break down carbohydrates (amylase), fats (lipase), and proteins (protease).¹⁰

Like other essential nutrients, digestive enzyme deficiency is possible. This can happen because the production of these enzymes relies on someone eating or consuming food. When someone fasts, he or she does not eat, so the pancreas doesn’t release digestive enzymes.

Because of this, someone who has fasted for a long time may not have enough digestive enzymes in their system once it’s time to eat. This can be problematic once someone breaks that fast by eating a heavy meal, since the body is running low on the nutrients needed for digesting food.¹⁰

Not only will this deficiency negatively impact how the body breaks down food and receives nutrients, but also increase the risk for indigestion and other symptoms like:⁹

• Stomach gas and bloating
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Unexplained weight loss

Indigestion is the last thing one would want to deal with after fasting for so many hours. The silver lining? It can be prevented with the help of some lifestyle modifications.

Avoid Digestion Problems That Can Happen After a Prolonged Fast Today

Don’t let your fasting-related efforts go to waste due to functional indigestion or digestive enzyme deficiency. As early as now, ask your doctor about ways to break long fasting periods without triggering indigestion or the potential benefits of taking digestive enzyme supplements like Enzymax Forte^®!

This supplement helps relieve functional indigestion symptoms that manifest as dyspepsia and/or flatulence because of enzyme deficiency or imbalance. Enzymax Forte^®’s formulation ensures targeted digestive enzyme delivery, wherein the mentioned nutrients are sent to both the stomach and the intestines, where a lot of these enzymes are produced.¹¹

Enzymax Forte^® is available online and in leading drugstores nationwide at a suggested retail price (SRP) of Php48.00 per capsule and Php960 per box of 20 capsules.

MAHALAGANG PAALALA: ANG ENZYMAX FORTE^® AY HINDI GAMOT AT HINDI DAPAT GAMITING PANGGAMOT SA ANUMANG URI NG SAKIT.