Bio-Gest® 180 Vegetarian Capsules

Bio-Gest® was designed by Thorne Research for individuals who need needing more than HCl (hydrochloric acid) to aid with digestion.

Bio-Gest includes a blend of HCI, pepsin, ox bile and pancreatin to help the body digest proteins, carbohydrates and fats, which can benefit people who suffer from occasional indigestion. The ox bile was specifically added to emulsify fats. Similar to other Thorne Research products, Bio-Gest was made to the standards of a superior-quality product. As such, it does not include lactose, magnesium stearate, diluents, lubricants or preservatives.

Who Should Take Bio-Gest?

Thorne Research created Bio-Gest for people who need a truly broad-spectrum digestive aid. This product contains HCI, pancreatin, ox bile and pepsin, which are extremely beneficial to those who need additional support in order to digest proteins and carbohydrates. These ingredients also help the body emulsify and absorb fats.

How Does Hydrochloric Acid Aid in Digestion?

When hydrochloric acid is secreted in the stomach, it has various positive effects. For one, it helps the body digest protein by activating pepsinogen to pepsin. It also helps to protect the stomach from ingested pathogens by rendering the stomach sterile. Hydrochloric acid also inhibits the overgrowth of undesirable bacteria in the small intestine and it helps to encourage the flow of pancreatic enzymes and bile. In addition to all this, hydrochloric acid facilitates the body’s ability to absorb various nutrients including ascorbic acid, vitamin B12, beta-carotene, iron, folate and certain forms of magnesium, zinc and calcium. In many studies, hydrochloric acid secretion has been shown to naturally decline with age.

Using antacids in excess throughout your life can also result in lower than optimal levels of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

What is Pancreatin?

Pancreatin is actually a combination of various digestive enzymes that are naturally produced by cells within the pancreas. Among those digestive enzymes are lipase, amylase and protease. Pancreatin that is produced and secreted by the pancreas is necessary for the digestion and absorption of many nutrients and essential fats.

Who Can Benefit from Bio-Gest?

Anyone who has digestion problems, and especially those who take antacids on a regular basis, can benefit from Bio-Gest. There are certain situations (like when your gall bladder has been removed, you’ve overused antacids or you’re experiencing an illness) that can contribute to insufficient stomach acid, pancreatic enzymes and bile secretion and can have a negative effect on digestive enzyme activity, which will lead to heartburn, bloating, gas among other symptoms that result in gastrointestinal discomfort.

The inability to properly digest your food can lead to poor nutrient absorption, which may result in vitamin deficiencies. This is especially so with the fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E and K.  Food allergies can present themselves as food allergies. Food allergies can occur when improperly digested proteins are absorbed through the intestines. When these large proteins are absorbed, the body may start recognizing them as foreign objects. If this occurs, the body will create antibodies to these foods, which results in the classic symptoms of a food allergy.

The Thorne Research Difference

Bio-Gest by Thorne Research offers hydrochloric acid and pure pepsin from a porcine source; but it does not contain any preservatives or other undesirable additives. Bio-Gest is a pure and natural product that is lactose free and undiluted.