When Food Becomes Your Enemy – Your Health Detective

Additionally, when food we consume requires too much energy to digest, that energy is withdrawn from energy reserves, causing added fatigue. Cooking, heating and food-processing destroy ALL enzymes – accounting for the increased rate of digestive disorders within developed countries. When a food is processed, it’s been heated. This processing doesn’t take into account the food additives and preservatives that also may breakdown enzymatic activity among other health disorders that may result.

Since most additives do not “benefit” the human organism, even if their toxicity to humans has not been established, they still require metabolism by the liver which involves using up energy and enzyme reserves and placing an overall burden on the digestive processes.

Modern Day Cannibalism

Major consequences of poor digestion and absorption, particularly proteins and essential fats, can become self-cannibalism. Yes, cannibalism! Because when your body’s need for protein and fats exceeds its supply, it will literally use its own muscle tissue to provide energy for the brain and other vital functions. If this cannibalism continues, it can deteriorate organ muscle tissue in the liver, heart and kidneys, compromising immune functions that lead to reduced resistance to infections from opportunistic microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, fungal infections and parasites.

I’ve personally experienced, as have many of my patients with multiple allergic response syndromes, my body using its muscle because of severe malnutrition caused by a condition known as leaky gut syndrome. These syndromes lead to what is called multiple chemical sensitivities. And because everything you consume or are exposed to become an enemy, malnutrition sets in until the intestinal ecology is repaired.

Antacids: Quick-fixes, Long-term Consequences

Antacids are formulated to inhibit the body’s natural production of hydrochloric acid (HCI). Yes, HCI is important, not only to initiate the digestive processes but also to sterilize the food. The problem arises when we expect quick-fixes from antacids rather than supplementing with a natural full-spectrum professional plant formula digestive enzyme blend. Antacids alkalize the lower stomach, releasing more acid, and requiring more antacids – a vicious cycle of too much or not enough acid, eventually exhausting stomach cells making them unable to produce stomach acid of their own.

Cellular Stress and Digestion

Approximately 54.9 million annual visits to ambulatory care facilities are due to diseases of the digestive system. If health professionals were educated in natural methods of assisting digestive disorders, that number would surely be significantly lower…not to mention healthier. In addition to properly chewing food (20-30 times), we should restrict intake of fluids with meals, over-consumption of liquids with meals dilutes digestive enzymes and Hydrochloric Acid (HCI), thus compromising complete digestion.

When the overall cell integrity is assisted by adequate nutrients (enzymes), avoidance of toxic materials (food, water, heavy metals, environmental factors), and reserves of energy, the cellular structure is strong enough to mount a defense against health-depleting organisms as well as get us through the extraordinary stresses of life (emotional, physical and nutritional).

When cells are deprived of adequate enzymes through emotional stress, processed and overcooked foods, lack of digestive enzymes, polluted air, food, water (especially chlorinated and fluoridated) and the use of many prescription medications, our natural defences’ are threatened as is our health and overall quality of life.

Consuming a low digestive stress diet of fresh, natural foods is the best way to avoid digestive illnesses and the disorders that develop because of it. Many health issues are actually caused by the lack of bioavailable nutrition in our diet. When food is baked, broiled, microwaved, or laden with additives, our digestive system attempts to absorb nutrients from the food but cannot. When this occurs, our digestive stress accelerates because the liver cannot metabolize what we’ve eaten. We need to remember that the more processed foods we consume, the more the liver must process and the more enzymes are required to properly deal with the digestion of those processed foods.

Discomfort Matters

Discomfort (heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, constipation) should not be the only reasons for supplementing with digestive enzymes; at that juncture we are merely reacting to the body’s warning system that something is wrong. Considering that antacids are the number-one over-the-counter supplements in North America, our country is in serious digestive distress.

Enzyme Matters

Using a full-spectrum vegetarian blend of enzymatic support equates to a blend of enzymes for each specific phase of digestion known to soothe the gastrointestinal tract, support nutrient absorption, aid elimination, and perform their work in a broad pH range.

When you take the digestive enzymes is also VERY important. The following protocol is what I find works best as the enzymes never hit an empty stomach and it forces a time-released type action.

1. Swallow a couple mouthfuls of food and then take one enzyme capsule but not with too much liquid.

2. At the end of your meal swallow an additional enzyme.

NOTE: For those who are chronically constipated or are experiencing symptoms of digestive distress, you may want to take two enzymes at the end of each meal. Also, keep in mind that after the age of 40 our natural aging processes produce less stomach acid – equating to more digestive disorders because food is not properly broken-down, absorbed and eliminated.

Quality of Life Matters

We’re living longer, and to that end, we must use a variety of measures to enhance our physical fitness and promote longevity – fitness has many faces, intestinal digestive fitness being one of the most vital. Using the “right” professional enzyme blend is your assurance the road you build to health is paved with good digestion for what matters…your quality of life, naturally.

The Way I See It…

Why would you supplement with an over-the-counter digestive enzyme when the cost for a professional blend is comparable? All Enzymes are NOT created equal; you get what you pay for. The one I use and recommend most in my practice is Plant Enzyme Blend…your body will be able to tell the difference after just a few days of taking them as recommended in the article above.

Your Health Detective:

Uncovering Clues to Add LIFE to Your Years…NOT Merely Years to Your Life, Naturally

Dr. Gloria Gilbère (aka Dr. G), N.D., D.A.Hom., Ph.D., D.S.C., EcoErgonomist, Wholistic Rejuvenist

Dr. Gilbère is renowned worldwide for her work in identifying and finding natural solutions to chemically-induced and inflammatory disorders, multiple chemical sensitivities, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, Gulf War Syndrome, and digestive disorders that defy conventional diagnosis and treatment. She consults worldwide via telephone and at her Institute in north Idaho. Visit her website at www.gloriagilbere.com for details about consulting with her.

Creator of certificated courses to become a Wholistic Rejuvenist™ (CWR) and for post-graduate education for health and spa professionals. Go to www.gloriagilbere.com and click on Wholistic Skin & Body Rejuvenation (WSBR™) for course outline. Available on-site at worldwide locations, and via distance-learning at your convenience globally.

Information in this newsletter is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by medical professionals, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent a disease or disorder. The FDA has not reviewed or endorsed the contents of this educational publication.

Copyright is held by Gloria E. Gilbère, to which all rights are reserved. Other than personal, non-commercial use or forwarding, no material in this newsletter may be copied, distributed, or published without the expressed written permission of its author and copyright holder.

Resources:

National Center for Health Statistics; Advance Data 320, 321, 322.