Pros: chewable supplement contains no artificial ingredients
Cons: harder to find this brand than its artificial ingredient containing competitors
The Bottom Line: Papaya ensymes helps aleviate indigestion, by aiding in protein breakdown of the foods we eat. I'm quite happy with the results I've had, and recommend it to anyone.
willow1584's Full Review: Country Life Tropical Papaya Enzyme Supplement - 2...
*** This review may be a bit long for some people. I've broken it down into smaller parts for those who prefer to skim. I only include information that I feel is valuable to the consumer/researcher, but of course that won't appeal to everyone. I hope you can find what is valuable to you in this review. Thank you. ***
Every step towards moving away from chemicals and closer to natural counts. Personally, I'm trying also to conquer the world of medicine, and move closer to more natural remedies. It is not uncommon for me to feel the effects of the foods I've eaten, if you know what I mean. Usually, I eat one or two Tums and I'm better. But after putting some thought into it, I've realized that Tums reduces stomach acid...so...too much reduction of that acid could lead to further problems. After a bit of research, I discovered something called Tropical Papaya Enzyme Supplement. To sum up the things I read, enzymes from papaya help the body break down proteins better (especially from red meat). These enzymes also work well in acidic environments, so if someone has indigestion (or knows they will get it after eating a certain food), taking this enzyme supplement right before or after the meal can lessen the ill effects of the acid indigestion or even heartburn they may feel. Indigestion, for me, is usually mild, but is unpleasant nonetheless.
Why I Chose This Brand After deciding I wanted an enzyme supplement, it was time to pick a brand. Walmart and the local grocery store carried a couple of different brands, but they all contained either artificial sweeteners, or artificial colors, and one even had artificial pineapple flavor! Those are things that I certainly did not want. I searched on Amazon.com and found a brand called Country Life. It advertised this product as having "No yeast, wheat, soy, gluten, milk, salt, starch, preservatives, artificial color, artificial flavor, or artificial sweetener." I was sold.
Packaging This supplement comes in a brown glass bottle. It is just under 4 inches tall, and 2 inches wide, so it fits well into medicine cabinets or on a desk (like where I keep mine). The label is plain but clearly states that this product is "Tropical Papaya" which avoids confusion with other supplements that may be in brown bottles. The lid is screw-off and is NOT child-proof. The Supplement Itself The enzyme supplement comes in a chewable "wafer" as the company calls it. "Wafer" to me makes it sound like a large thing to chew up, but really it is quite small. It is 3/4 of an inch long, 5/16 of an inch wide, and 3/16 of an inch thick. They are white in color, and when you touch one there is a slight white powdery reside that comes from it. They chew up very easily and fully. I find them to be not as chalky as a Tums. They start to dissolve almost immediately after putting them in the mouth, and chewing speeds up that process. They don't leave any kind of residue one the tongue or in the mouth, either.
Flavor I'm not overly fond of the flavor, but it certainly could be worse. Since it is made from papaya and pineapple, that is the general idea of the flavor. It certainly tastes tropical, that's for sure. I taste more of the papaya than pineapple.
Directions Adults chew 2 to 4 wafers after each meal. I decide on my dose based on what I ate and how I feel. If I eat red meat, I usually take 2-3. Other high-protein meals just 1 or 2. If I feel like indigestion is sneaking up, I'll chew more. Even with supplements, I try not to take the full amount each time. I stick to this whole "the smallest effective dose should be used" that I read on a bottle of naproxen sodium, I think it's good to go by.
Supplement Facts Serving Size: 4 wafers Calories Per Serving: 5 Total Carbs: 1g Sugars: 1g
Enzymes: (per serving size of 4 wafers) Papain (2,000 USP units/mg) - breaks down tough meat fibers (is usually found in meat tenderizer) - 28mg Protease - breaks down long protein chains into shorter fragments and works well in acidic conditions - 24mg Mylase (amylase) - breaks down starch into sugar - 24mg Papaya - helps restore naturally occurring good bacteria in the intestines - 22mg
The papaya enzymes have other proven benefits. I won't go into detail, but to summarize, benefits include anti-inflammatory effects, overall colon health, treatment of ulcers, treatment of food allergies, and can even help with bruising. From what I've been reading, papaya is a super fruit!
My Experience To be blunt, I'm thrilled. I've taken numerous, varying doses of Country Life Tropical Papaya Enzyme and it has worked every time. My best experience story is this: A couple of days ago I had a very greasy cheeseburger. I rarely eat this way, so after eating the (delicious) fatty burger, I felt unwell. My stomach kind of gurgled and felt unsettled, and there was a little bit of indigestion. After the burger, I chewed just 2 of these enzyme wafers and within a few minutes began feeling better. After about 15-20 minutes, I felt fine. No need for Tums or Pepto Bismol or even additional enzyme wafers. I have been very happy with this new method of easier digestion. I avoid indigestion, acidic feelings, and even gas after eating, naturally. I do want to point out though that this supplement won't do much for an upset stomach due to other causes like overindulgence of sweets, food poisoning, or like in my recent case of too much peanut butter. I haven't tried it yet in the case of moderate indigestion, so I cannot say how well it works for that. My guess is that if the indigestion is already in full swing, these enzymes may not be as helpful. They seem to work best for me when I take them right after eating.
Cost Enzyme supplements are rather inexpensive. You'll pay less for brands that contain artificial ingredients, so read the label and not the price tag. I paid $7.50 from Amazon.com for my bottle of 200 wafers. Just check your local stores and see what they have. A Couple of Final Notes Country Life brand Tropical Papaya Enzyme Supplement is vegetarian. Some brands may derive the amylase enzyme from pigs, so vegetarians should check labels to ensure the product is all plant derived. Also, talking with your doctor before starting a new supplement may be a good idea for certain individuals with pre-existing health conditions, or those on medications. There is always the risk of allergic reaction or interactions to drugs that these are taken with. In any case, you should always tell your doctor about any supplements you take.
Enjoy your favorite foods in comfort with the natural digestive support of Country Life Tropical Papaya. An outstanding all-natural digestive aid, t...More at Swanson Health Products
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