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Why
do I need digestive enzyme supplements?
Raw food contains the enzymes needed to digest it. However, most of us
don’t live on a raw food diet. When we cook our food, the enzymes
in the food are destroyed and our body has to make them in order to digest
our food. This puts stress on our system especially since people eat more
processed foods and meals higher in calories and fat. Digestive enzyme
supplements help you digest your meals more efficiently and deliver the
nutrients from your food to your body. Enzyme supplements are clinically
proven to reduce the effects of bloating, gas, heartburn
and acid reflux. [back to top]
Are
digestive enzyme supplements destroyed in the stomach?
Enzyme Essentials' plant-based digestive enzymes have either a wide range
of pH and/or are stable and active in the acid range. Our enzymes have
been carefully selected to withstand the conditions of the GI tract. The
theory that enzymes are destroyed in the stomach is outdated and has been
disproven by various studies.
National
Enzyme Company, a large enzyme manufacturer, conducted a study proving
quantitative evidence of the efficacy of supplemental digestive enzymes.
You can download the report here.[PDF]
[back to top]
I
don’t have heartburn, gas or digestive problems. Why should I take
digestive enzyme supplements?
Digestive enzymes can help with digestive problems, but since they help
strengthen your body's immune system, then their uses are much broader
than just digestion related illnesses and discomforts. There is a connection
between the strength of our immune system and our enzyme level. The more
enzymes we have, the stronger our immune system will be. Digestive enzymes
have been proven to help with wound healing, tissue repair, obesity, food
allergies, high cholesterol, psoriasis, tumor reduction, and many other
applications. The field of digestive enzyme research is growing and many
studies using digestive enzymes can be found in well known journals such
as the International Journal of Oncology, Lancet, Digestive Diseases and
Sciences, Digestion, International Journal of Immunotherapy, American
Journal of Digestive Disease and Nutrition, and many more. [back
to top]
Why
are enzymes important?
Enzymes are one of the most essential elements in our body. They are responsible
for constructing, synthesizing, carrying, dispensing, delivering, and
eliminating the many ingredients and chemicals our body uses in its daily
business of living. Digestive enzymes break down the food we eat, releasing
nutrients for energy production and cell growth and repair. [back
to top]
What
is happening to our enzymes?
The reason we are running out of enzymes is a LIFESTYLE PROBLEM. Research
has shown that older people and people with chronic disease have fewer
enzymes in their saliva, urine and tissues. Our poor dietary habits require
excessive amounts of enzymes to digest our foods. Stress kills and damages
cells, resulting in our enzyme-making machinery having to work overtime
to help rebuild and replace them. Environmental pollution causes cellular
damage requiring ongoing assistance from enzymes just to maintain a healthy
immune system. And time is a big factor. Time and the process of living
uses up enzymes that must be replaced if we expect to retain the healthy
active lifestyle we have grown accustomed to. ENZYMES are ESSENTIAL, but
your enzyme levels are dropping. [back to top]
You may
slow down this trend by fortifying your body with supplemental digestive
enzymes. You can help minimize this inevitable downward spiral in your
body's efficiency, a spiral created by a growing shortage of available
enzymes.
How
can I maintain my enzyme levels?
You can begin a digestive enzyme supplement regimen! By taking supplemental
enzymes at meals to help your body with digestion, you allow your body
to devote more energy to repairing and maintaining your organs and tissues.
Taking additional protease enzymes (as found in PureZyme)
between meals on an empty stomach can help strengthen the immune system
by breaking down free-radicals and blood toxins. [back
to top]
Who
is Enzyme Essentials?
Enzyme Essentials has been selling Transformation's enzyme supplements
online and direct to consumers since 1998. We partnered with Transformation
Enzyme Company in Houston to bring you the best enzyme formulations
on the market backed by clinical study. Dr. DicQie Fuller, a leading enzyme
expert and the founder of Transformation, has been developing enzyme formulas
for almost 20 years and the company’s focus is enzymes and overall
digestive health. They did not jump on the “enzyme band wagon”
that has emerged in the last few years, but have been a leader in the
digestive enzyme field for almost two decades. Enzyme Essentials is proud
to offer our own formulations (developed with the Transformation technical
research team) along with the Transformation line of proven enzyme products
that had previously only been available through health care practitioners.
When you purchase our products, you know you are getting some
of the best and most clinically proven direct-to-consumer plant-enzyme
formulas on the market. [back to top]
Why
do I need supplemental digestive enzymes if my body already makes them?
The body can make digestive enzymes; however, the more digestive enzymes
it is required to produce for digestion, the fewer enzymes it can create
to maintain optimal health. It is very important that we preserve the
body’s ability to make enzymes. If supplemental plant digestive
enzymes are taken with a meal, these digestive enzymes begin their work
immediately. The supplemental digestive enzymes will break down the food,
thus saving the body from having to release as many of its own enzymes.
This allows the body to devote its attention to supplying more metabolic
enzymes so the organs and tissues can carry on their daily work. [back
to top]
What
should I expect to feel when I begin taking digestive enzymes?
Most people feel better in terms of energy, digestion, and elimination.
Occasionally persons may experience a period of increased detoxification
when beginning enzyme therapy. This is actually a good sign as the body
is now able to eliminate excess toxins, although you may feel tired or
achy for a few days. Increasing enzyme dosages and water intake is often
the best recommendation to help you through this natural process. [back
to top]
Can
enzymes be harmful if you take too many?
When speaking about digestive enzyme formulas, no. As active protein molecules,
the enzymes do not accumulate in the body. They impart enzymatic activity
that lasts anywhere from one to four hours and then they are eliminated
from the body or the proteins are broken down and the amino acids are
used for other purposes. As with any herbal or nutritional supplement,
evaluation of amounts and over consumption should be determined on an
individual basis. [back to top]
Can
children take digestive enzymes?
Yes, absolutely. You can give digestive enzymes to infants, toddlers,
and young children. For toddlers and young children, Enzyme Essentials
recommends the basic protocol of Digestzyme,
Purezyme, and Plantadophilus.
Many children
like to chew the capsules and/or are able to swallow them. But if you
prefer, the capsules can be pulled apart easily and mixed with water or
juice. The Transformation Enzyme clinic in Houston, Texas has successfully
applied enzyme protocols with many digestive disorders including diarrhea,
constipation, colic, reflux, allergies, eczema, asthma, cystic fibrosis,
and autism. [back to top]
Can
enzymes be taken with other prescription medications?
Digestive enzymes function by breaking down specific chemical bonds in
foods. In most cases digestive enzymes can therefore safely be taken with
medications. However, it is of course always recommended to let your health
care provider know what you are taking.
One area
of caution is with prescription blood thinning agents. If you are on this
type of medication, you should consult with your physician before beginning
an enzyme regimen. [back to top]
Can
you take protease enzymes when taking prescription “protease inhibitors”?
More often than not, the term “protease” that describes proteolytic
enzymes is used in very general terms. There are many metabolic proteases
in our body, each with many different functions. The medications that
are designed as protease inhibitors are targeting a very specific viral
protease. The supplemental digestive proteases are very different and
will not interfere with the medication. In fact, oral supplemental digestive
enzymes such as PureZyme can be very supportive
to those patients with auto-immune disorders. [back to
top]
Will
taking supplemental digestive enzymes inhibit the body’s ability
to make its own enzymes?
No. It is the presence of hormones, not enzymes, that signals for secretion
of more or less enzymes. Whether from internal or external (supplemental)
enzymes, complete hydrolysis of food macromolecules is the indicator for
the hormones secretin and cholecystekinin to signal the pancreas to stop
secreting pancreatic juices. Taking supplemental digestive enzymes supports
and assists the digestive function; it does not inhibit it. [back
to top]
Are
your products “100% natural” and organic?
The preference of natural, synthetic, or organic ingredients and the definition
of each can be very confusing and controversial. We believe the real question
should be: “Are your ingredients safe, effective, and free from
harmful chemicals?” Our goal, in conjunction with our manufacturers,
is therefore to provide safe, effective, high quality nutritional supplements
that are free of any pesticide or herbicide residuals.
Enzyme Essentials
and Transformation impose very strict quality control standards on ingredient
selection and our manufacturer has been certified as a GMP company. To
each raw material received, a unique set of methodologies and specifications
is developed in accordance with all available compendial literature. This
set of methods and specifications is then applied to each subsequent batch
received. All reasonable efforts are made to completely and effectively
characterize each raw material intended for production. Read
more detail about our manufacturing standards. [back
to top]
Are
your digestive enzymes gluten-free? Dairy-free? Vegetarian?
Most of our digestive enzyme formulas are vegetarian, dairy-free, and
gluten-free and they come in vegetarian (cellulose) capsules. In fact,
the digestive formulas are very effective in breaking down gluten, lactose
and casein the food molecules that often cause problems for those with
gluten or dairy intolerance. See individual products specifications for
more information. [back to top]
Are
your products FDA approved?
We use only the highest quality pharmaceutical grade digestive enzymes.
Our products are considered as Dietary Supplements and therefore do not
fall under FDA guidelines. As a leader in the health care supplement industry,
Enzyme Essentials, Transformation and our manufacturer are committed to
enforcing the highest quality control standards. [back
to top]
What
are probiotics?
“Probiotics” refers to a group of microorganisms that colonize
the GI tract, where they live in symbiosis with their host. Within that
symbiotic relationship, they provide several benefits to the host, including
the synthesis of several important molecules and nutrients as well as
the control of potentially pathogenic organisms.
The human gastrointestinal tract hosts over 400 species of mircroorganisms.
Some of these are friendly to the human host as mentioned above, whereas
others are potentially harmful, should they be allowed to grow uncontrollably.
The organisms most frequently observed (according to Mitsuoka) include
Enterococci, Lactobacilli, Clostridia, and Staphylococci. [back
to top]
Why
do I need probiotics?
Taking probiotics, like Plantadophilus,
offers many health benefits such as improved digestion, immunity, and
elimination.
- Digestion
– Probiotics produce enzymes such as protease, lipase, and lactase
to further assist with protein and fat digestion as well as reduce problems
associated with lactose intolerance. Probiotics also produce B vitamins,
particularly folic acid and B12, which are biocatalysts in food digestion.
- Immunity
– Intestinal microbes are a key factor in the development of the
post-natal immune system and in acquired immune response and inflammation.
Probiotics produce the natural antibiotic-like substance acidophilin
and inhibit the growth of opportunistic microorganisms.
- Elimination
– Probiotics act as natural stool softeners and facilitate the
healthy and timely elimination of waste. [back to top]
Are
your probiotics lactose free?
Lactobacillus denotes ”lactic acid producing” or “acid
loving.” The term “Lacto” does not indicate a relation
to lactose or dairy, as is commonly misunderstood. Lactose may be used
in the medium to grow the probiotic culture; however, this is completely
removed from the final product. Our probiotic formula, Plantadophilus,
is lactose-free, and prefers a pH of 6.5 to 6.8. [back
to top]
Are
your probiotics GI tract stable?
Lactobacilli probiotics are GI tract stable by nature. That is a given
according to an understanding of digestion and the nature of probiotics.
Some of the bacteria will be lost in transit, but the vast majority survive
the GI tract. This is especially true when taken during times when the
digestive system is dormant, such as first thing in the morning and at
bedtime. When digestion is not in progress, the stomach pH is closer to
neutral. Only in the peak of digestion does it hit 2.0 - 3.0, and even
then some probiotics survive.
Enzyme Essentials’
Plantadophilus probiotic is live bacteria
and is assigned a one-year shelf life. The probiotics are manufactured
under refrigeration and inventoried under refrigeration prior to shipment.
The products are not shipped on ice as it has been determined unnecessary
for short periods of time. However, to help preserve maximum activity
for the longest amount of time, we strongly recommend that the customer
refrigerate our probiotics to maintain activity once they have been received.
You may occasionally come across some probiotics that use an enteric coating.
We believe this is used to increase shelf life, and it may improve gastric
survival but is not absolutely necessary. Enzyme Essentials prefers refrigeration
over enteric coating to avoid the use of additives that provide no nutritional
value.
When traveling,
it is recommended to only take with you only the amount needed, perhaps
in a separate container or pillbox. For short periods of time, non-refrigeration
is acceptable. The probiotics may lose a slight amount of activity but
do not go “bad” if left in warmer environments. [back
to top]
When
looking for an enzyme product, what label information is important?
The enzyme activity rather than its weight is the information that tells
you the real value of the enzyme product. The enzymes should also be acid
stable and function in a broad pH range. Lastly, take a close look at
the “other ingredients” list for excipients, fillers, or additives
that may not provide nutritional or digestive benefits.
Enzyme Essentials and Transformation use pharmaceutical grade enzymes
that are GI stable and function in a broad pH range. These products are
formulated to provide optimal enzyme activity for healthy digestion. The
ingredients have been rigorously tested to ensure safety and efficacy.
We do not use any fillers, additives, or other excipients
in our products. [back to top]
When
should I take the different kinds of enzymes? How strict is the timing?
We suggest a digestive formula such as OxiCellZyme
or DigestZyme at the beginning of the meal
because that is when the digestive process begins. You will want the enzymes
available as soon as possible to assist the digestive process. However,
if you forget, then it is perfectly fine to take them in the middle, at
the end, or whenever you remember, as digestion lasts several hours.
We suggest
taking protease such as PureZyme between meals
(or on an empty stomach) because the goal here is to get the protease
into the blood stream. Once in the blood stream, its fibrinolytic and
proteolytic action benefits circulation, the immune system, inflammation,
and detoxification. There is usually enough protease in the digestive
formulas to meet the need for protein digestion during meals. If you are
sensitive to taking supplements on an empty stomach, we might suggest
taking the protease at the end of a meal. However, we often find that
after the patient has been on the enzymes for a period of time, this “sensitivity”
is resolved.
We suggest
taking probiotics such as Plantadophilus
at bedtime because the gut is at rest during the night. The probiotic
organisms have the best opportunity to adhere to the intestinal wall for
colonization during this time of least activity in the GI tract. We may
also suggest additional probiotics in the morning to assist with bowel
regulation, and the probiotics may also be taken with meals to reduce
digestive discomfort from gas and bloating.
As you can
see, the recommended timing is ideal, but not strict. For the very busy
patient who just can’t seem to take them as recommended, we say:
“Taking them when you remember is better than not taking them at
all!” [back to top] |
