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Digestion

What are enzymes and why are they so important?

Enzymes are energized protein molecules. They are the human body’s life force and are involved in every function of the body. Vitamins, minerals and hormones must have enzymes to work properly. Life cannot exist without enzymes. Individuals who are enzyme deficient are subject to physical problems, disease and degeneration. Studies indicate that decreased enzymes levels are found in a number of chronic ailments, such as arthritis, diabetes, allergies, skin diseases, cancer, immune deficiencies and much more. In other words.

When enzyme reserves become depleted, we place large amounts of unnecessary stress on body organs like the pancreas, liver and lymph system. Enzyme deficiency contributes greatly to acidification of the body. Without sufficient enzymes, foods and proteins go undigested, and eventually ferment in the body, causing toxicity and acid overload. Research studies strongly suggest that significant numbers of people with liver disease, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, tuberculosis and even obesity have low tissue enzyme levels.

The immune system's function is to fight off all foreign invaders in the body such as bacteria, viruses, carcinogens and other chemicals. It relies almost totally on enzymes to do its job. A weakened immune system has a diminished volume of enzymes which includes those that are defective or worn out. Enzymes have a limited life and must be replaced regularly.

In today’s world, digestive enzymes are the most important health product a person can take. A person not taking digestive enzymes with meals and on an empty stomach is aging faster and getting older quicker... because they are using up their own enzyme reserves and more of the body’s energy to help with digestion. Digestive enzymes help conserve the human body’s enzyme reserves. Without digestive enzymes the protectors and repairers of the human body can be called into action to help digest food and to clean up the undigested food particles in the bloodstream. When the protectors and repairers are cleaning up the blood they are being distracted away from doing the job they are suppose to do.

How Do Digestive Enzymes Work?

When a person eats proteins, carbohydrates, and fat, the pancreas responds by secreting the proper amounts and concentrations of protease, amylase, and lipase enzymes to digest the foods and transport their nutrients into the bloodstream. Organic raw foods contain the proper types and concentrations of enzymes in their cells to digest themselves (enzymes are responsible for aged fruit to rot or self-digest. Cooking or heating food kills the enzymes found in live foods. Nature intended for the enzymes within rot foods to assist the body in digestion). Eating organic produce adds little or no stress to the pancreas. Our bodies do not make the enzyme cellulose, which breaks down plant fiber, however, a plant-source cellulose enzyme supplement is appropriate therapy for certain conditions, such as green leafy vegetables intact in stools.

How Does The Body Become Depleted Of Enzymes?

The body’s ability to make pancreatic enzymes can be exhausted by eating a diet devoid of naturally occurring enzymes. This includes eating all types of cooked foods (enzymes are killed at 118 degrees), highly processed foods, and commercially grown produce. Each of us is born with a pancreatic enzyme “reserve”, a reserve that may be built up or depleted, but should not become depleted or overdrawn. Every time a person consumes cooked or processed food (devoid of enzymes) and the pancreas can not keep up with the enzyme demand placed on it, the digestive system recruits the enzyme supply from white blood cells (immune cells) to assist in completing digestion. These are the same enzymes the white blood cells used to ‘kill’ invading viruses and bacteria. Mobilizing the body’s immune system every time enzyme deficient food s eaten is known as “digestive leukocytosis”. This constant abuse can fatigue immune defense capabilities and lay the groundwork for degenerative conditions in the body.

How Do I Know If I Am Enzyme Deficient?

General fatigue and chronic, degenerative conditions (every day aches and pains) are the only outward evidence of enzyme deficiencies. Because the body donates enzymes from other areas of the body to meet existing needs (such as the immune system), deficiencies do not become apparent until these reserves can no longer meet the demand. It is extremely important then, to ensure that the body receives a dequate supply of enzymes, either through the consumption of raw food or concentrated plant enzyme supplementation.

What Causes Gastritis and Ulcers?

In dealing with gastritis (stomach inflammation) and ulcerative conditions in the gastrointestinal tract, I have found that poor digestion and mental/emotional stress factors are often contributing factors. When food is not broken down (digested) well it ferments, putrefies (becomes rotten) and creates an acidic environment. This acidity irritates the lining of the digestive tract. Many over-the-counter and pharmaceutical drugs irritate the lining of the digestive tract and can contribute to ulcers forming. In dealing with ulcerative conditions you must rule out a Helicobacter bacterial infection, an abnormal microorganism or parasitic infection.

Why Can’t Antacids Prevent Or Cure Acid Indigestion?

A basic review of how the stomach works and an understanding how antacids help create the problem are all most people need, along with some digestive enzymes, to stop the problem. The problem is the body producing too much acid in the stomach. The stomach makes acid to break down proteins. If there is poor digestion, or if a person eats large meals or excessive proteins, the body can often make too much acid. To counteract the acid, people take antacids. This makes the stomach very alkaline. In order to create an acid environment again in the stomach the body has to make more- you guessed it- acid, which was the problem in the first place. This cycle of poor chewing (50% of digestion should take place in the mouth), poor digestion, and the acid/alkaline roller coaster can be reduced or avoided by chewing food well, and taking digestive enzymes with your meal. Many people think antacids are a good source of calcium. Unfortunately, this is not true. In order for calcium to be fully absorbed into the body, it must be assimilated in an acidic environment. Antacids, like their name says, provide a very alkaline environment, which would prevent the proper uptake of calcium.

Poor digestion is simply the lack of nutrient absorption. Allowed, this can lead to much more serious health problems, such as:

- Diabetes and Hypoglycemia
- High Cholesterol Issues
- Colon problems - Colitis, IBS and Crone's Disease
- Chronic Fatigue
- Over or Under Optimum Weight
- Severe bloating and Pain
- High Blood Pressure
- Circulatory Problems (protein and fat metabolism, blood clumping and oxygenation, and the removal of necrotic debris)

Stop Digestive Disorders With Digestive Enzymes

With our busy lifestyles, we all seek convenience in packaged foods and quick meals. Unfortunately, all packaged, frozen, processed, and cooked foods are devoid of natural enzymes. During digestion, your body compensates by redirecting your energy and physical resources to produce these missing enzymes. This places tremendous stress on your body. As you age, you are less capable of producing enzymes. This results in incomplete digestion, digestive disorders and leads to mal-absorption of the nutrients you do need to maintain good health. Over the years, your enzyme deficiency can reach chronic levels and leads to a weakened immune system. This degrades thousands of other processes directly related to aging. It is a scientific fact that the higher the supply of enzymes you have in your body, the slower you will age and the more resistant you are against metabolic diseases and digestive disorders.

Mega Digest is all natural and is the highest grade digestive enzyme available on the market today. Relatively inexpensive, it contains a proprietary blend of enzymes, herbs and probiotics that works to balanceS chronic enzyme deficiency and improve digestion. Mega Digest immediately goes to work to help you digest the foods you eat, relieving you of pain and discomfort immediately. Your body now is getting the full nutrients critical to obtaining and maintaining good health. You have more energy and your body is telling you to eat less.

Of equal importance, the natural digestive supplement Mega Digest contains ingredients that completely break down food to promote waste elimination. Waste left in the body for too long is poisonous and weakens you. You now have regular bowel movements again. Mega Digest contains ingredients to provide nutrients to strengthen your key digestive organs: the liver, kidney, and pancreas. Your entire digestive system will be at full strength.

Mega Digest works well against enzyme deficiency and improve digestion. It not only works at the root level to improve digestion and eliminate waste, but strengthens the entire digestive system. This is what makes natural digestive supplement Mega Digest an effective solution to digestive disorders.

Dr. Z says

“the use of digestive enzymes can improve digestion in many people, including those who may experience occasional indigestion, heartburn and IBS problems”

Hydrochloric acid, produced by the stomach, plays an important role in the first phase of digestion. Optimal digestion begins with a pH (a measure of acid/alkaline balance) between 1 and 2, which is as strong as the acid used in car batteries. In addition to initiating the proper digestion of protein, fat, and carbohydrate, strong stomach acid also creates a barrier against foreign bacteria, fungi, and parasites that may be on food that we eat.

The stomach lining is designed to withstand the strong acid generated during and after eating; however, the esophagus is not. Various factors may cause one to have occasional heartburn. Antacids and acid blocking agents provide relief, however natural methods for minimizing incidences of occasional heartburn may be better in the long term.

These include weight loss, proper breathing, and avoiding certain foods. Frequent small meals, not eating 4-5 hours before bedtime, elevating the head of the bed by six inches, and sleeping on the left side can also be helpful. Foods, such as chocolate, mints and other spices with strong aromatic oils, coffee, tea, alcohol, tobacco, and carbonated drinks have been shown to increase occasional heartburn.

Use of Digestive Formula can help improve digestion in many people, including those who may experience occasional indigestion or heartburn. The whole process of digestion requires virtually more energy from the body than any other process. Hydrochloric acid production diminishes easily under stress and also decreases as we grow older.

Among other things, adequate levels of stomach acid are needed for optimal absorption of minerals and vitamin B-12, as well as for complete digestion of dietary proteins. These functions may be needed in order to maintain the ability to make adequate amounts of stomach acid.

Secreted bicarbonate neutralizes the stomach acids, and raises the pH in the small intestine to just slightly acidic (about 5.5), which is the chemical environment in which the pancreatic enzymes work best. The gallbladder simultaneously secretes bile into the small intestine, which helps to emulsify dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins so that they can be well absorbed from the intestine.

Paradoxically, if the material coming from the stomach is not acidic enough, a weak signal to the pancreas is generated. This prevents enough bicarbonate from being produced, resulting in a pH that is not alkaline enough for optimal pancreatic enzyme function.

When you take MegaDigest, you receive the added benefit of many natural phytochemicals. Each formula contains these synergistic nutrients for the natural health supporting phytonutrients and other micronutrients they contain.

Summary of the plant and plant-based enzymes included in Mega Digest

• Alpha-Galactosidase: Breaks down carbohydrates, such as raffinose, and stachyose.
  Especially helpful with the digestion of raw vegetables and beans.
• Amylase (Carbohydrase): Breaks down carbohydrates such as starch and glycogen, and polysaccarides into smaller units. Zast Nutraceuticals uses high activity level of Amylase in its formulations like Mega Digest.
• Bromelain: Breaks down protein.Beneficial for reducing normal inflammation in the body.
• Cellulase: Breaks down cellulose and chitin (chitin is cellulose like fiber found in the cell wall of Candida). It helps free nutrients in both fruits and vegetables.
• Lactase:Breaks down lactose (milk sugar).Used for lactose intolerance.
• Lipase: Breaks down lipids and improves fat utilization.Supports gallbladder function.
• Papain: Breaks down protein.For reducing normal inflammation in the body.
• Protease: Breaks down protein.
  Bonds with alpha 2-macroglobulin to support immune function when taken on an empty stomach.
• ASAP (Acid-Stable Protease): helps balance the natural pH (acid-alkali) level of the digestive tract. This is important against heartburn and over acidic environment of the stomach.
• Proprietary Blend consisting of Picroliv® (root) Extract (4% kutkin, 8% bitter principles), Milk Thistle (seed) Extract (80% silymarin), Ginger (root) Extract, Slippery Elm (bark), Lactospore® (lactobacillus sporogenes), Licorice (root) (deglycyrrhizinated) Extract, and Bioperine® (piper nigrum (fruit)) Extract

MegaDigest™ contains no preservatives, sugar, starch, salt, wheat, yeast, corn, milk, soy derivatives, artificial flavoring or coloring agents.

A Summary of Enzyme Attributes

• ENZYMES are needed for every chemical reaction that takes place in the body.
• ENZYMES are catalysts.
• ENZYMES are connected to every working organ in our body and run our life's processes.
• ENZYMES are needed by vitamins and minerals to accomplish their delivery within the body.
• ENZYMES are required by all food for digestion.
• ENZYMES are destroyed by cooking and processing food.
• ENZYMES can prevent partially digested proteins from putrefying, carbohydrates from fermenting, and fats from turning rancid within your system.
• ENZYMES from a plant based source become active as soon as they enter the body.
• ENZYMES from an animal source are only active within the small intestine in an alkaline setting of 8.0 pH.

Facts About Enzymes
Cooked Food Kills Enzymes! 

The enzymes in foods that have been cooked have been destroyed or changed into a different compound ( amino acid ). Cooked food can only be used as food and not as enzymes, for it has no life. Many enzymes are destroyed at 107º F and almost all are destroyed at 140º F, this may overwork the pancreas. When all the pancreatic enzymes are used up, there are none left in the blood to destroy cancer cells. So you must obtain enzymes from raw foods or special enzyme supplements. The majority of all food is processed, so people get very few enzymes in their diets.

Aging Reduces Enzyme Production!

Tests have shown that 70 year old people have about half the enzymes of 20 year olds. Once illness or infection have invaded, the older body works overtime struggling to produce enzymes the immune system needs to overcome the problem. Often it cannot produce enough and chronic disease sets in, such as cancer, heart disease, arthritis, etc. Over 200 other diseases result from worn out or defective gene controlled enzymes such as: high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, circulatory problems, diabetes, tuberculosis, psoriasis, dermatitis, prostatitis, cirrhosis, hepatitis, pruritis, cholecystitis, rheumatism, edema, varicose veins, sores, pancreatitis, etc.

No Side Effects!

Over 15,000 people in Europe and Japan have been given enzyme supplementation or therapy with enormous success, all with no important side effects! The reason there are no side effects is because enzymes are food forms, not drugs. Much of the serious scientific interest began with Dr. Ernst Freund noticed that most cancer patients get thrombolysis (blood clots that cause heart attacks), and most thrombolysis patients get cancer. He suspected that the common connection might be enzymes. On testing their blood, he found both patient groups to be lacking in three important enzymes. Recently researchers found that two of those enzymes destroy blood clots and the other creates macrophages which break down fibrin. Cancer cells hide under a coating of fibrin. Once the cover is removed, our bodies' killer cells destroy the cancer cells.

Everyone Has Cancer Cells -- Normally!

Normally, in our bodies there are 100 to 10,000 cancer cells floating around at all times, according to medical school professor and well-known immunologist, Dr. Michael Williams. But if your immune system weakens sufficiently, the cancer cells attach themselves to an organ, build a covering of fibrin so antibodies can't find them -- and you are in trouble!

The good news is that Dr. A.E. Leskovar reported that supplementation with enzymes increases the macrophages by 700% and killer cells by 1,300% in a short time. That's why people with healthy immune systems don't get cancer.

European doctors have had significant success in stopping early onset cancer by oral supplementation of enzymes and by injecting enzymes directly into the tumor.

Circulatory and Heart Disorders!

Vascular and circulatory disorders also respond well to enzyme supplementation. This includes arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, coronary heart disease, phlebitis, and other circulatory problems that affect the brain, lung, kidneys and liver.

Former Fordham University Professor of Medicine, Dr. Max Wolf reported that tests of 347 patients with circulatory disorders showed 87% completely free or almost free of symptoms after taking enzymes. Dr. H. Dench, Austrian Professor of Medicine, conducted similar tests of patients who had problems with blood clots. 93% of the patients significantly improved after enzyme treatments.

When I go to the bathroom, my stool sinks. Is that bad?

When your stool sinks... it is heavy... because there are still nutrients or undigested foods within it. It also shows that we are having a problem digesting food properly. When the nutrients within the food are completely digested... the stool will be light and fluffy and will float. With "Enzymes" most people will see their stool float within a couple of weeks to a month. It may take a little longer for some. Floating stool is a good sign!

Does stool with a foul odor indicate improper digestion?

Yes, in the intestinal track and colon undigested proteins putrefy, undigested carbohydrates ferment and undigested fats turn rancid. When the stool has a foul odor, we are having digestive problems.

I take antacids for heartburn and indigestion. How can enzymes help?

Enzymes will help heartburn and indigestion almost immediately. Antacids provide only temporary relief by neutralizing the acidity in the stomach, but will cause a much greater problem. Antacids stop the body from doing its digestive job... while enzymes help the body to do its digestive job. Enzymes are safe and effective... antacids are not!

Athletes Use Enzymes!

Injury is a common problem with all those that are athletic -- especially professionals and Olympians. Sports medicine doctors know they can't prevent injuries, so they look for methods to heal players as quickly as possible.

Karate fighters experience considerable injuries so doctors chose them as a test group for a double blind study using oral enzymes and placebos. Those taking enzymes 3 times a day in advance of the events healed 50% quicker.

The German Olympic team doctors conducted similar tests with all types of athletes. The results were comparable for 82% of the players, and soreness from strenuous events was considerably less.

Heal Faster From Injury or Surgery!

Professor Raas of the University of Innsbruck, who is responsible for the health of Austrian athletes in the Winter Olympic games, also confirmed those findings. He stated that, "A good portion of the success achieved by the athletes under his care would not have been possible without enzymes".

He advises even casual athletes to take enzymes daily to lessen the effects of potential injury. Another benefit of enzymes is that they regulate your metabolism. The fewer enzymes in your body the lower your energy level. Those with chronic fatigue can improve with enzymes. Doctors elsewhere have found that oral enzymes taken prior to surgery accelerates healing, allowing patients to leave the hospital quicker and resume normal routines sooner.

Weight Loss and A Cause Of Obesity!

Lipase is an enzyme that aids the body in breaking down fats and removing fats from storage. Without this enzyme, fat stagnates and accumulates not only in the obvious places, but in the arteries. The fats in the arteries contribute to cholesterol and arteriosclerosis.

Dr. David Galton at the School of Medicine of Tufts University tested people weighing an average of 230 pounds. He found that every one of them was lacking enzymes in their fatty tissue.

Veterinarians conducted an experiment with hogs. One group of hogs was fed only raw potatoes, the other cooked. The group eating raw lost weight; the group eating cooked gained weight. This clearly shows the effect of enzymes on weight because even though potatoes are high in enzyme content, cooking destroys the enzymes.

What are the benefits of taking “Enzymes” on an empty stomach?

Enzymes may support all of the following:

- Digest proteins
- Stimulate the Immune System
- Assimilate fats
- Shatter Crystalline Deposits
- Increase energy
- Breaking up Cholesterol Deposits
- Reduce bacteria
- Assimilate and Eliminate Toxins
- Making it possible to carry more oxygen to all parts of the body.
- Eliminate Yeast
- Break up and dissolve Uric Acid Crystals

Six Critical facts for Proper Digestion, Absorption, and Assimilation

1. Researchers now believe that 90% of ALL DISORDERS and DISEASES begin in the digestive tract due to improper digestion, absorption, and assimilation of nutrients. In short, proper digestion, absorption, and assimilation of nutrition equals = Optimum Prevention.

2. Every cell, tissue, bone, gland, and organ of the body needs to be fueled and nourished by nutrients. Without proper assimilation of nutrients, all components of the body will deteriorate prematurely and potentially become diseased.

3. Disorders and diseases of the digestive tract must not be left untreated. Proper digestion, absorption, and assimilation of nutrients must be assured in order to recover from present disease in the digestive tract, or anywhere throughout the body.

4. It is common knowledge among many researchers that the body's natural defense mechanism against disease ( the immune system ) is highly dependent upon the absorption of nutrition to fuel it's function. Without proper absorption of essential nutrients, the immune system is unable to ward off potential disease or to effectively battle against existing conditions. Therefore, the body's ability to fight disease, or to recover from disease without significant essential nutrients is for the most part, impossible. Nutrients are a "Vital Key" and the body must be in a position to absorb them.

5. If you have a health problem, most likely you are acidic. Research shows that unless the body's pH level is slightly alkaline, the body cannot heal itself. So, no matter what type of modality you choose to use to take care of your health problem, it won't be effective until the pH level is up. If your body's pH is not balanced, you cannot effectively assimilate vitamins, minerals and food supplements.