Unfortunately, I gotta talk about a personal issue for the sake of praising my favorite new supplement. But I'm also doing it for the sake of the many many people who I know share the same issue.
What's the issue?
BLOATING.
I'm not talking about water retention either. I'm talking about that painful swelling that happens in your stomach and leaves you in absolute misery until it "passes." ;)
This has been an on and off struggle of mine ever since eating clean. WHAT in the world. Isn't eating clean supposed to solve all your problems?!
Well, unfortunately, it can sometimes begin to reveal the "real" issues that are going. Rather than being "fatigued in general" or "chronically gassy" or "always having a headache", you will begin having acute symptoms. They seem more dramatic though because they are "onset" rather than chronic. But find great joy in coming to this place. Your body is very specifically wired and it is unique. Once you are mostly clean, you can really begin to find the connections between your symptoms and their cause.
Back to the bloating thing. I seriously can bloat so bad at times that I look 6 months pregnant. Ask anyone who has seen me in this condition. I've even taken pregnancy tests before because it can persist for days. LOL. It's ridiculous...and it's PAINFUL. I think the cause is either certain food combinations, too much raw produce, or eating while I'm anxious. Who knows? It may be a food allergy, but I haven't found a specific link.
However, I think I might finally know what could possibly be going on, and I think I may have found my ultimate solution to this problem!!
I have heard and learned about "Digestive Enzymes" for years. I never prioritized it on my supplement list because I felt other things were more important. :) Anyway, while I was away at home last week, I broke down and purchased the smallest and least expensive bottle I could find. I figured I would give it a run for it's money.
Well, let me just tell you! I have had no bloating WHATSOEVER. I just pop one of these puppies right before I eat my meals and my tummy stays happy. If you struggle with random tummy swelling and pain, I highly recommend trying these out.
So, what exactly are digestive enzymes?
Digestive enzymes are secreted along the gastrointestinal tract and break down the food in the body so that the nutrients can be absorbed.
A good example would be someone who is lactose intolerant. They have to take lactase prior to dairy consumption in order to avoid GI disturbances. Well, there are a broad spectrum of enzymes that have specific functions for breaking down certain nutrients. Here are some examples.
Protese breaks down protein
Amylase breaks down carbohydrates
Lipase breaks down fats
Glucoamylase breaks down starchy foods
Cellulase breaks down cellulose
Maltase breaks down simple sugars
and so on and so on....
I am taking a supplement right now that has a very broad spectrum of these enzymes...and Heck, I don't know which one I was deficient in, but I'm sure that getting an extra dose of each one can't hurt.
I am super happy right now to think that I may have FINALLY found a cure to my digestive woes. I honestly don't think I have a specific food allergy. I think my body is just lacking in the abundance of certain enzymes.
One day I hope to make it to a naturopath who can help me find this out for sure.
In the meantime, I'll be sticking to my new favoritist supplement. Digestive enzymes!
Here's what I'm taking with a link to their website underneath the picture
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| http://www.enzymedica.com/index.php |
Digestive Enzymes Benefits
Digestive Enzymes can be beneficial for more things than most people think. They have been shown to benefit people with:
- Acne rosacea
- GERD
- Indigestion
- Candidiasis
- Crohn's disease
- Eczema and other skin problems
- Food allergies
- Low back pain
- Sinusitis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Unexplained weight gain
Here is an in depth article on the matter.
http://www.yourbodycanheal.com/enzymes.html
Enzymes are energized protein molecules essential for the digestion of food, brain stimulation, tissue, cell and organ repairing and generating cellular energy. Even though they are a catalyst for many biochemical reactions they do not change or get consumed in the process.
There are three types: metabolic, digestive and food.
Digestive
Digestive enzymes are secreted along the gastrointestinal tract and break down the food in the body so that the nutrients can be absorbed. Enzymes are present in the food you eat which is why there is great importance placed upon having plenty of raw foods in the diet. The enzymes in raw food help start the process of digestion which reduces the body's need to secret digestive enzymes.
Food enzymes are destroyed when cooking at moderate or high temperatures. They are "turned off" at a dry-heat temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit and a wet-heat temperature of 118 degrees Fahrenheit.
If your body has to rely too much on its own digestive enzymes the result is more stress is placed on your system and organs leaving less time and energy for other jobs such as rebuilding and replacing damaged cells and tissue and keeping your immune system strong.
A diet that consists mainly of cooked food requires the pancreas to "work overtime" and the extra effort leaves it exhausted. If the pancreas is always having to produce enzymes that could come from food it will eventually cease to function properly. The late Dr. Edward Howell suggested that when a person eats an enzyme-poor diet consisting of lots of cooked food, the result is illness, lowered resistance to stress and a shortened life span.
Eating lots of raw foods and taking a high-quality enzyme supplement can help avoid depletion of the body's own enzymes thereby reducing stress.
In the book, The Healing Power of Enzymes, Dr. DicQie Fuller talks about the importance of enzymes and says:
"Eighty percent of our body’s energy is expended by the digestive process. If you are run down, under stress, living in a very hot or very cold climate, pregnant or a frequent traveler, then enormous quantities of extra enzymes are required by your body. Because our entire system functions through enzymatic action, we must supplement our enzymes. Aging deprives us of our ability to produce necessary enzymes. The medical profession tells us that all disease is due to a lack or imbalance of enzymes. Our very lives are dependent upon them!"
Importance of Digestive Enzymes
There are approximately 45 essential nutrients that the body needs to carry out normal bodily functions. Essential means that the body cannot manufacture them and they must come from outside sources.
There are at least 13 kinds of vitamins and 20 kinds of minerals, in addition to fats, carbohydrates and water that are required for proper metabolic function. When food is consumed it gets broken down for absorption and transported by the blood stream.
Nutrients, including enzymes, work synergistically which means they cooperate with each other acting as catalysts. This promotes absorption and assimilation. The importance of digestive enzymes resides in the fact that the human body cannot absorb nutrients in food unless digestive enzymes break them down.
The body progressively loses its ability to produce enzymes with major drops occurring roughly every ten years of life. At the beginning it may not be that noticeable, however, later on you will discover that you cannot tolerate or enjoy certain foods like you did before. This may also be accompanied by a feeling of reduced stamina. Yes, you're running low of enzymes.
How Do You Know if You Are Lacking Enzymes?
Heartburn, gas, constipation, bloating, allergies, ulcers, lack of energy and reduced functioning of the immune system may occur when there are not enough enzymes.
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