Q&A with the Founder and CEO of FODZYME, Anjie Liu
FODZYME
FODZYME is a next-gen digestive enzyme that targets the FODMAPs fructan, lactose, and GOS/galactans. They’re changing the game for those with sensitivities to high-FODMAP foods like garlic, onion, wheat, beans, dairy, and much more, whose previous only option was to avoid these foods outright – or suffer the consequences.
I sat down with Anjie Liu, the visionary behind FODZYME, to explore her personal FODMAP journey, FODZYME’s founding story and what lies ahead for the company!
Tell me a little bit about your IBS journey and how long it took to get diagnosed.
Anjie: Like many people with digestive issues, my journey was both challenging and eye-opening. For years, I grappled with unexplained digestive issues that led me to multiple hospital visits. When I finally got diagnosed with IBS, my GI immediately referred me to the low-FODMAP diet. The revelation of the dietary approach provided relief but demanded significant culinary sacrifices. I found it incredibly restrictive from a gastronomical and social standpoint. Garlic, onion, nuts, bananas and so many more high-FODMAP foods are among my favorites to enjoy and cutting them out felt just about impossible. This experience pushed me to understand the mechanics behind how FODMAPs cause digestive trouble and develop a solution to break them down so my body could better tolerate them.
Will FODZYME ever be able to protect against all FODMAP trigger foods?
Anjie: Our aim with FODZYME is to provide as much relief and support as possible. We designed FODZYME to target the most common FODMAP triggers: fructan, GOS and lactose. However, we're diligently working on an enzyme that targets polyols, further expanding FODZYME's benefits.
Do you think an IBS “cure” will ever be possible? There is a lot of competing evidence about IBS being a symptom of a root issue like SIBO, leaky gut, etc.
Anjie: IBS is a complex condition, and its root causes can vary between individuals. From chronic stress to a nasty bout of food-poisoning, many risk factors are at play. Our best understanding of IBS to date is that it is a chronic condition that requires lifelong management. Still, researchers in the field are uncovering more and more hidden pathways surrounding the condition and that gives us hope for more effective treatments in the future.
Why is FODZYME a powder? Will FODZYME ever be available in pill form?
Anjie: In addition to our novel and proprietary fructan-targeting enzyme, fructan hydrolase, FODZYME’s powder form is core to our innovation. Administration of our enzymes as a powder is a key difference that makes FODZYME more effective than other products. We know from extensive research and testing that mixing enzymes directly into food is the most effective way to deliver an over-the-counter digestive enzyme like FODZYME.
A powder format is important because it allows FODZYME to mix well with the food and come into direct contact with the FODMAPs (e.g. fructan) it breaks down. Swallowing an enzyme as a pill or capsule does not allow the enzyme to sufficiently work into the food. Instead, enzymes in pills or capsules remain localized until it is too late for them to act on the FODMAPs: the pH of the gastric tract becomes unfavorable for the enzymes to work or the enzymes become digested themselves. It is crucial to maximize food-enzyme-homogenization, and this is what our powder form accomplishes.
What are your favorite high FODMAP foods to eat with FODZYME?
Anjie: I love a wide range of cuisines and dishes so it's hard to pick "favorites, but a few recent culinary highlights stand out: garlic bread, fresh ceviche with onions, a heavily garnished hot bowl of pho!
Does FODZYME work for those with IBD, such as Crohn’s?
Anjie: Remember that FODZYME does not target specific conditions — rather, FODZYME can help those with FODMAP-sensitivities. While some people with IBD might also experience gut distress related to FODMAP intake, this is not everyone with IBD. We always recommend consulting with a healthcare professional for their opinion on if FODZYME may be able to help with your gut distress.
What do you have planned for FODZYME as a company? Any new products or goals in mind?
Anjie: Our mission is to provide relief and improve the quality of life for those with digestive distress. We believe food is so much more than just a daily source of energy and we are committed to helping everyone enjoy the social, cultural, and nutritional benefits that food and culinary exploration provide. While we keep busy on the R&D side to develop new enzymes over the next few years, we're also exploring multiple ways to increase access to FODZYME and creative applications of our core enzyme technology. Please stay tuned!
What are your favorite Low FODMAP brands? (Fody Foods, BelliWelli, etc).
Anjie: I rarely eat low-FODMAP nowadays, but if I’m in a pinch I do appreciate GoMacro bars and the variety of flavors they offer.
How often can you safely consume FODZYME?
Anjie: Based on our research and experience, FODZYME can be used daily with high-FODMAP foods and its benefits may be greater than a low-FODMAP diet alone.
While everyone’s FODMAP tolerances, habitual diet, and digestive enzyme use varies, an enzymatic approach generally allows for greater prebiotic intake, which in turn supports microbiome diversity. For those who do not use a digestive enzyme and follow a low-FODMAP diet instead, there are risks. If not implemented well, a low-FODMAP diet can be low in fiber, which has implications for microbiome diversity. In fact, in our peer-reviewed research assessing FODZYME's efficacy in a simulated digestive tract, use of FODZYME with a high-FODMAP prebiotic-rich source supported short chain fatty acid production, which suggests FODZYME use can support the gut microbiome.
While ideally FODZYME has a FODMAP to break down each time it’s used, digestive enzymes like FODZYME are simply proteins and get metabolized as any other protein would if they do not have a FODMAP to break down.
Aside from the utilization of FODZYME, what is the #1 thing that has helped your digestive issues that others might not know about?
Anjie: Mindful eating. I love to try new foods and cuisines and it can be oftentimes tempting to dig right in and go overboard with a delicious variety of foods. It's important for me to eat slowly to be aware of when I'm approaching satiety so I don't overburden my digestive system.
Summary
Thank you, Anjie, for sharing your experience!
If you are interested in trying FODZYME, you can talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian. They can help you determine if FODZYME is right for you. Use the links in this article for 15% off your first order!
Xo,
Julia
