How to Take Digestive Enzymes: Timing, Dosage, and Best Practices

When you're dealing with digestive discomfort, food intolerances, or simply want to support your body's natural digestion process, digestive enzymes can be a game-changer. But knowing how to take them properly is crucial for getting the best results. At Houston Enzymes, we've spent over 30 years perfecting enzyme formulations, and we want to share our expert guidance on timing, dosage, and best practices to help you maximize the benefits of your enzyme supplements.

Why Timing Matters More Than You Think

The Golden Rule: Take enzymes at the beginning of your meal. This is perhaps the most important piece of advice we can give you. Your digestive enzymes need to be present when food enters your stomach to do their job effectively.

Here's what happens when you take enzymes with food:

• Enzymes mix with your meal in the stomach

• They work together for 2-5 hours during the digestive process

• The enzymes move out of the stomach with your food into the small intestine

• Once this process is complete, those enzymes are no longer available for the next meal

Common Timing Mistakes to Avoid

Don't take enzymes once in the morning expecting them to last all day. This is one of the most common misconceptions we encounter. The enzymes you take with breakfast won't still be around for lunch. Each meal is a separate digestive event that requires its own enzyme support.

Don't wait until after your meal. While you can still take enzymes if you forget and remember during or shortly after eating, they work best when taken at the beginning of the meal to maximize contact time with food.

Dosage Guidelines: It's About Meal Size, Not Body Weight

Unlike many supplements, enzyme dosing isn't based on your age or body weight – it's determined by the size and composition of your meal.

Standard Dosing for Houston Enzymes Products

TriEnza®: 2 capsules at the beginning of each meal

• Our most comprehensive broad-spectrum enzyme

• Supports proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and polyphenolic foods

• Contains high DPP IV activity for gluten and casein support

AFP Peptizyde®: 1 capsule at the beginning of each meal

• Specialized for protein digestion, including gluten and casein

• Higher protein-digesting activity than TriEnza per capsule

• Ideal for high-protein meals or gluten/casein concerns

Zyme Prime®: 1 capsule at the beginning of each meal

• Excellent for carbohydrate and starch digestion

• Helps with gas, bloating, and lactose intolerance

• Tends to firm stools when used alone

No-Fenol®: 1 capsule at the beginning of each meal

• Targets polyphenolic foods (colorful fruits and vegetables)

• Helps with fiber digestion and may support regularity

• Can be combined with other enzyme products

Lypazyme®: 1 capsule at the beginning of each meal

• Triple lipase formula for complete fat digestion

• Essential for high-fat meals or after gallbladder removal

• Supports keto and high-fat diets

Adjusting Your Dose

For smaller meals: You may find that half the recommended dose is adequate, especially for children or those eating lighter meals.

For larger meals: Don't hesitate to increase your enzyme dose. There's no upper limit or toxicity associated with enzyme supplementation. If you're eating a particularly large meal or one that's high in foods you don't tolerate well, taking extra enzymes can provide better support.

For grazers: If you eat smaller amounts frequently throughout the day rather than three main meals, consider taking enzymes at fixed intervals every 4-5 hours.

Best Practices for Maximum Effectiveness

Storage: Keep Them Dry and Cool

Do store enzymes:

• In a cupboard or on a shelf at room temperature

• In the freezer (the dry, cold environment actually extends their shelf life)

• With the moisture-absorbing packet in the bottle

Don't store enzymes:

• In the refrigerator (too humid – humidity activates and degrades enzymes)

• In bathrooms or other humid environments

• In hot locations like cars or near heating vents

Mixing with Food and Drinks

You can mix enzyme contents with food or beverages, but follow these guidelines:

Temperature matters: Never mix enzymes with foods or drinks hotter than 120°F (48°C). If it's cool enough for your mouth, it's cool enough for enzymes. Hot temperatures permanently destroy enzyme activity.

Timing for mixed enzymes: If you mix enzymes with a cool liquid, use the mixture within 4 hours for best potency. Keep the mixture refrigerated to slow enzyme degradation.

Safety tip: Always use care not to inhale enzyme powder when opening capsules.

How Often Should You Take Enzymes?

The frequency depends on your specific needs:

For specific food intolerances: Take enzymes only with meals containing the problematic foods. For example, if you only have issues with dairy, you only need enzymes when eating dairy-containing foods.

For general digestive support: Take enzymes with every meal if all meals cause concern or discomfort.

For restaurant dining: You might use AFP Peptizyde specifically when eating out where gluten exposure is more likely, while using other products for home meals.

Flexibility is key: It's perfectly fine to vary which enzymes you take based on what you're eating. Your enzyme regimen can change from day to day as your meals vary.

Combining Houston Enzymes Products

Our enzyme products are designed to work together. You can safely combine different Houston Enzymes products to address multiple digestive concerns:

• TriEnza + Lypazyme: For comprehensive support plus extra fat digestion

• AFP Peptizyde + No-Fenol: For protein concerns plus polyphenolic food support

• Zyme Prime + No-Fenol: For carbohydrate support while avoiding stool-firming effects

You can also take Houston Enzymes products with other supplements, including probiotics and most medications.

What to Expect: Results and Adjustment Period

Immediate effects: Since enzymes work on contact with food, you may notice relief from symptoms like bloating or discomfort within 30-60 minutes after eating.

Adjustment period: Some people experience temporary digestive changes when starting enzymes, such as:

• Increased frequency of bowel movements (not diarrhea)

• Changes in stool consistency

• Temporary increase in gas production

These effects typically resolve within a few days as your system adjusts.

Gradual benefits: Behavioral and digestive improvements typically become apparent within a month, with maximum benefits often seen within two months of consistent use.

Special Considerations and Safety

Start low and slow: If you're new to enzymes or have a sensitive digestive system, start with half the recommended dose to ensure you don't have any sensitivities to the enzyme proteins.

Consult your healthcare provider if you have:

• Active stomach or duodenal ulcers

• Severe bowel inflammation

• Bleeding disorders

• Scheduled surgery within a week

• Known allergies to Aspergillus enzyme proteins

For children: Dosing is still based on meal size rather than age, but smaller portions typically require smaller doses.

Troubleshooting: Not Getting Results?

If you're not seeing the benefits you expected:

1. Check your storage: Ensure enzymes haven't been exposed to heat or humidity

2. Verify your timing: Make sure you're taking enzymes at the beginning of meals

3. Assess your dosing: You may need to increase the amount based on meal size

4. Consider combination products: You might need TriEnza's broader spectrum or need to add a second product

5. Evaluate your specific needs: Make sure you're using the right enzyme for your particular food concerns

The Bottom Line

Digestive enzymes work every time you take them, as long as they're in contact with the specific foods they're designed to break down. The key to success is taking the right amount at the right time with the right foods. Remember: timing at the beginning of meals, dosing based on meal size, and storing properly are your three pillars of enzyme success.

With over 20 years of customer feedback and Dr. Devin Houston's 30+ years of enzyme biochemistry expertise, we're confident that following these guidelines will help you get the maximum benefit from your Houston Enzymes products. Every person's digestive needs are unique, so don't hesitate to experiment within these guidelines to find what works best for you.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.