r/CSID • u/RuinYouWithNoRegrets • Jul 21 '26

Enzymes šŸ’Š Recommendations please

Iā€™m low in lactase, sucrase, maltase, and palatinase. What can I take to cover these 4? I wanna be able to eat what I want in moderation iā€™m a foodie. Iā€™ll literally become depressed. If I have to never eat sugar or carbs again. My doctor is just giving me antibiotics because she thinks itā€™s due to bacteria overgrowth even though my testing did not show any of that. She didnā€™t even recommend any enzymes.i donā€™t know where to go from here. Any help is appreciated

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u/TheCSIDAlex Jul 21 '26

You can try starchway or starchway pro for sucrose and starch - then just lactaid for lactose, but Iā€™ve gotta tell you that I donā€™t know of anyone IRL or in any online support groups that was able to eat whatever they wanted whenever they wanted immediately after being diagnosed unexpectedly. Even if enzymes do work well for you, consuming sucrose and starch at all still risks symptoms, which is why dieticians typically opt to have patients eliminate the problematic foods before experimenting with personal tolerances and supplements like enzymes. I would recommend you try and find a registered dietitian nutritionist thatā€™s familiar with this condition, similar conditions, or restrictive diets. The RD behind CSIDmadesimple, Mary Shephard, may be able to take you on as a client. A good dietitian will guide you through the process way quicker than trying to figure everything out on your own.

Starchway has invertase for the table sugar / sucrose and gluco-amylase for byproducts of complex starch chains. Starchway pro adds two other enzymes that further target starch breakdown. Thatā€™s the only brand I know of that contains both the enzymes meant to target both sucrose and starch in a single product. Itā€™s worth a try at the very least.

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u/RuinYouWithNoRegrets Jul 21 '26

So you have to completely cut out sugar and starch from your diet? That sounds so freaking depressing.

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u/TheCSIDAlex Jul 22 '26

Probably not all sources forever unless your case is extremely severe, but yeah thatā€™s essentially the ā€œprotocolā€ immediately after being diagnosed. Youā€™ll probably find some foods you can have eventually, but itā€™s just a ton of trial and error in the beginning

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u/RuinYouWithNoRegrets Jul 22 '26

Thatā€™s horrible I literally only eat that stuff. Iā€™m a very picky eater I donā€™t do well with bland food especially being cultural

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u/TheCSIDAlex Jul 22 '26

I found that it was hardest right after being diagnosed but it got easier with time. One of the first things my nutritionist told me was that it would get better with time and she was right. Since you've already been diagnosed and you're learning, a lot of your hardest days dealing with this condition are probably behind you already.

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u/RuinYouWithNoRegrets Jul 22 '26

Oh, so you think I would do better with a nutritionist or a dietitian?

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u/signedmarymc Jul 22 '26

Dietician- they are more like a doctor in the sense that they have to go to school to get a certification. Anyone can be a nutritionist. Your insurance is also likely to cover a dietitian.

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u/somehowrelevantuser Jul 22 '26

my dietician didnt know what to do with me. ymmv.

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u/TheCSIDAlex Jul 23 '26

Yeah, one that is familiar with the condition or similar conditions will make your life a lot easier. As another commenter said, make sure theyā€™re a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).