Digestive Enzymes

Digestive Enzymes, What You Need to Know.



Enzymes are the single most important element of your health and far out weigh the importance of any other nutrient. Nothing in the human body functions without enzymes making it happen. Without exception, every new "breakthrough" nutritional product being introduced on the market depends entirely upon enzymes (i.e. MSM, HGH, 5HDP, DHEA, Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids, etc.) for it's effectiveness.



Why Digestive Enzymes are Important

As we age our bodies ability to produce enzymes slowly diminishes putting us at risk for degenerative diseases. Other factors such as cooked and processed foods increase the need for digestive enzymes. Without digestive enzymes the body cannot utilize proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fibers, and sugars. Digestive enzymes also help break down the supplements we take so that vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients we supplement with can be used effectively and not wasted. Digestive enzymes also help ensure complete digestion of our food and supplements. Partial digestion of our meals can cause harmful imbalances in our body.



Benefits of Taking Digestive Enzymes With Meals

Reduction of gas, bloating, indigestion

Reduce Food Allergies by completely breaking down proteins.

Better elimination (helps constipation and diarrhea)

Not as hungry because of better absotption.

Increased energy levels

Balance of blood sugar levels

Relief from hiatal hernias and ulcers

Reduced lactose intolerance



WHAT ARE ENZYMES?

Enzymes are a delicate lifelike substance found in all living cells whether animal or plant. Enzymes are energy protein molecules which are necessary for life. They catalyze and regulate chemical reactions and are an essential part of every activity in the body. Enzymes turn the food we eat into energy and unlock this energy for use in the body. There are three primary groups of enzymes: metabolic, digestive and food enzymes. Our bodies naturally produce both digestive and metabolic enzymes as they are needed. Metabolic enzymes run your body. Digestive enzymes digest your food and food enzymes are naturally present in all raw foods.



WHY DO I NEED DIGESTIVE ENZYME SUPPLEMENTATION?

Everyone is born with a certain Enzyme Potential which represents the limited number of enzymes that our bodies can produce in a lifetime. This potential is contingent upon your genetic DNA, and is unique for every person. To bolster our body's natural enzyme potential, we need to eat enzyme-rich raw foods and supplement our diet with plant enzymes. When we eat cooked or processed foods, we are drawing from our enzyme potential and make ourselves vulnerable to a variety of problems. As we continually draw from our enzyme potential over the years, we begin to experience illness, ulcers, constipation, bloating, arthritis, headaches, PMS, chronic fatigue, and the list goes on.



We get enzymes from two sources: those our body makes and those we ingest. Only raw or uncooked food contain enzymes. Enzymes are heat sensitive, so when food is cooked, the enzymes are destroyed. If our digestive enzymes are not adequate our metabolic enzymes are then called upon to aid the digestive process. We quickly deplete our enzyme reserves without enzyme supplementation.



If you eat fast, processed, or cooked food, supplemental enzymes assist in the digestion of these enzyme deficient foods. Researchers have discovered that processing or cooking foods kills virtually all enzymes that the food once contained. This is unfortunate because food enzymes are essential in the first step of proper digestion, absorption, and usage of these vital nutrients found in the foods we eat.



WHAT CREATES AN ENZYME DEFICIENCY?

Digestion of food takes a high priority and acts as a powerful stimulus in the demand for enzymes. We add to that stress, strenuous exercise, colds, fever, pregnancy, changes in weather conditions, ingesting caffeine and alcoholic beverages, plus the normal loss through sweat, urine, feces, and digestive fluids and overtime, a deficiency is created. We need to consider that the body is not being replenished at the same rate of demand.

When you habitually eat food deficient in enzymes, your digestive organs become exhausted. The body puts a higher priority on digestion than on maintaining health, so it will call on enzymes from other parts of the body to finish the job, thereby depleting the immune system. This will eventually weaken the body to the point where it has a difficulty defending itself against disease.



Nutrients cannot be absorbed and the body thirsts for energy.

Blood sugar levels are elevated.

Immune response is compromised.

Hormonal imbalances are disturbing the whole system.

Other vital organs are now effected.

The body is susceptible to crisis.



THE TOXICITY EVOLVES

When we cannot digest our foods these foods become toxins, the digestive tract is compromised and the depletion of enzymes is obvious. These toxins then can be the perfect nourishment for the bad microorganisms. The battle between the balance of the good and bad bacteria is constantly being waged within our body.

Partially digested food stuff can and will be absorbed through inflamed mucosa or via lymphatic channels. If the body cannot handle these foreign particles then the toxins begin to filter throughout the body which may at first show up as skin allergies or eczema. These non-usable toxic substances begin to be stored in the tissues, joints and organs, which we loving refer to as arthritis or gout. The further the system becomes compromised the harder it is for the enzymes to do their job. Toxic residues can be stored in the tissues causing:

Severe oxidative stress

Excessive cellular activity

Mineral imbalance

Lymphatic congestion

Liver stress

All of this because of an imbalance or lack of enzymes. In medical school they say this leads to disease



Strange Labeling

Looking a the label of an enzyme supplement you will find measurement units you may not be familiar with. These are from the Food Chemical Codex (FCC). The FCC is published by the National Academy Press and is the accepted standard of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The system for determining enzyme potency used by the American food industry is derived from the FCC. This is the ONLY National Standard for evaluation of fungal enzymes. This system establishes activity levels and potency for enzymes.

With most foods we are used to comparison by weight. With enzymes we are interested in the activity and potency available. There is no direct relationship between weight and units of activity.

The enzyme activity of the enzyme products available at Accelerated Wellness is measured and reported in FCC units. These unit measurements are expressed as follows:

Protease--HUT (Hemoglobin Unit Tyrosine base)

Amylase--DU (Alpha-amylase Dextrinizing units)

Lipase--LU (Lipase unit)

Cellulase--CU (Cellulase unit)

Lactase--LacU (Lactase unit)

Maltase-- DP (degrees Dastatic power)

When comparing enzyme activity products make sure measurements are listed using FCC standard codes. Some manufacturers make up their own abbreviations, and not only does that not comply to standards, it is confusing to the consumer.



Because of the variety of labeling formats used it is important to read carefully and make sure you are not comparing apples to oranges, but the strength in activity of an enzyme product to one that is comparable.



http://www.accelerated-wellness.com/Digestive_enzymes.asp

My Bacterial Balance Is Off And I Can?t Get It Back

My Bacterial Balance Is Off And I Can’t Get It Back
by author on September 8, 2010

Bacterial equilibrium? What is bacterial balance and why should I care? Bacterial balance is really the key to good health.For us to remain healthy we have to be able to break down the foods that we eat and extract all of the essential nutritional value and vitaminsFungi, bacteria and other microbes in our gut make it possible to do this.An added plus is that these same little creatures in our stomach help break down toxins and allow us to manage low levels of contaminated substances. Humans can live all over the planet, in widely different climates, with different food souces, why? It’s the bacteria.

How do I know if I have lost my bacterial equilibrium? If you find you are getting sick easily, this is a good indicator of your bacteria balance off. One of the key functions of good intestinal bacteria is to contribute to the working of the immune system and protect us from various infections.

Bacterial balance is a natural thing or should be. That equilibrium is then adjusted and improved by the foods we eat. Unfortunately, in our world of highly prepared foods, many of the foods we eat essentially throw off our balance. Bad bacteria thrives, and good dies off, because of our food choices. Foods or chemicals in our environment that do this include chlorine, sodium fluoride, sugar, alcohol, antibiotics, birth control pills, and many prescription drugs. When you look at the list your first reaction might be, I don’t eat any of that stuff. But if you live in the US — you do period. That is why your bacterial balance is off.

What should we do to try and regain some of the balance? First, try to eat right. Avoid too many sweets, fats, fried food, meat, and alcohol. Eat lots of vegetables and fruit.

Probiotics are a great way to get that balance back.According to the Mayo Clinic website’s information on probiotics, there is encouraging evidence that probiotics may help treat diarrhea after a course of antibiotics, prevent and treat vaginal yeast and urinary tract infections, treat IBS, reduce the incidence of bladder cancer, shorten the length of intestinal infections, and prevent eczema in children. The website also noted that there was a small study done in Sweden to test the effects of probiotics on general health. Probiotics was given to a group of workers they missed fewer work days, and were affected with lower instances of cold and flu. (http/www.mayoclinic.com/health/probiotics/an00389).

What if you’re pregnant or have just had a baby and are breastfeeding. Probiotics are again a very good way to help your system handle or recover from the stress of pregnancy and the life style adjustments that come after having a baby. Struggling with a colicky baby and looking for colic remedies. Probiotics have been proven safe for a baby to injest and some studies have shown them to be one of the effective colic remedies to decrease colic symptoms.

Probiotics are not expensive, especially considering the positive side effects.But there are different kinds, and many of the types that you can obtain in the grocery store are just not that useful. Probiotics have to be stored and shipped carefully in order to prevent the good bacteria from failing off. So it is important to buy the right type, check with health care providers for recommendations..