Protease

🧪 What is Protease?

Protease breaks down proteins for digestion and is made in the stomach, pancreas, and intestines. It's also found in papaya and pineapple. Some people may experience discomfort from protease supplements or enzyme-rich foods.

🤔 Why Do I Have an Intolerance to Protease?

A Protease deficiency may result from enzyme imbalances, gut irritation, or sensitivities to supplemental enzymes.

Stomach sensitivity – Protease is highly active and can irritate the stomach lining, especially in those with gastritis or ulcers.
Digestive enzyme imbalances – If the body overproduces or underproduces proteases, digestion may be impaired.
Pancreatic insufficiency – Insufficient enzyme production may lead to difficulty digesting proteins.
Histamine intolerance – Some protease-rich fermented foods can trigger histamine-related reactions.
Sensitivity to protease supplements – High doses or certain formulations may cause digestive discomfort.

🛠️ What Can I Do About It?

💊 Take Digestive Enzyme Supplements – Look for a broad-spectrum digestive enzyme that includes protease. Plant-based options like bromelain (pineapple) or papain (papaya) are gentler on the stomach.
🍗 Eat Protein Wisely – Choose easy-to-digest proteins like eggs, fish, or tofu.
Cook proteins well to aid digestion. Eat smaller, more frequent meals.
💧 Stay hydrated – Proper hydration supports enzyme function and reduces digestive discomfort.
🔥 Support Stomach Acid Production – Avoid overusing antacids.Try diluted apple cider vinegar before meals (if tolerated). Eat bitter greens before meals.
🌱 Promote Gut Health – Take probiotics to balance gut bacteria. Eat prebiotic foods like onions, garlic, and asparagus. Cut back on processed foods and excess sugar.

💊 Which Supplements Can Help with Protease Deficiencies?

Plant-based digestive enzymes – Bromelain and papain may be gentler alternatives to animal-derived proteases.
Betaine HCl – Supports protein digestion for those with low stomach acid.
Probiotics – Improve gut microbiome health and aid digestion.
L-Glutamine – Helps repair the gut lining if irritated by protease activity.
DGL licorice or aloe vera – Soothe inflammation in the stomach lining.

🌟 Why Might I have a deficiency to Protease but not Other Digestive Enzymes?

Targeted enzyme imbalance: Your body may produce enough enzymes for carbs (amylase) and fats (lipase) but not enough for proteins (protease).
Pancreatic stress: The pancreas makes protease—if it's under stress or inflamed, protease output might drop first.
Supplement reaction: Some people don’t tolerate protease supplements well, leading to avoidance or reduced intake.
pH sensitivity: Protease works best in certain pH ranges—if stomach or intestinal pH is off, protease may be less active, even if present.
Digestive demand: High-protein diets increase the need for protease, which might expose a mild deficiency not seen with other enzymes.

🍽️ Foods to Avoid with a Protease Deficiency

Digestive enzyme supplements (protease blends)
Meat, fish, eggs (stimulate natural protease production)
Fermented foods (miso, kimchi, aged cheese)
Pineapple (bromelain) and papaya (papain)
Pancreatic enzyme replacements

🍽️ Foods that Support a Protease Deficiency

Papain or bromelain – Gentler plant-based proteases from papaya and pineapple.
Herbal digestive aids – Ginger, peppermint, and fennel may support digestion without strong enzymatic action.
Balanced meals with moderate protein – Ensuring adequate but not excessive protein intake can reduce strain on digestion.
Alkaline foods – Can help balance acidity and ease protease-related discomfort.