Allopathic doctors and naturopathic doctors alike face troubles with minor to serious digestive problems in their patients daily such as irritable bowel movement. Doctors are finding there may be steps that can be taken to aid in digestion other than taking medications, one of which is using digestion aids like digestive plant enzymes.
What is Digestion and What are Indigestion Symptoms?
Digestion is the act of breaking down food into smaller particles in order to deliver all the nutrients in the food to the parts of the human body that need them. Digestion begins in the mouth, continues in the stomach, and goes on to the small and large intestines. Each part of the digestive tract has a role to play.
When indigestion occurs, it means those foods are not broken down into usable forms, leaving the body with undigested food in the system. The human body views undigested food as an enemy that it must remove.
Everyone has felt the effects of indigestion: bloating, excess gas, constipation, acidic taste, and even diarrhea. These are all signs of digestive problems in which digestive plant enzymes may help.
The Problems with Undigested Food in the Digestive Tract
The Merck Manual states, “Undigested food fragments may mean that food passes through the intestine too rapidly.” It goes on to say, “Digestion can be affected by disorders that prevent adequate mixing of food with digestive enzymes and acid from the stomach.”
The body is not receiving the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other nutrients it needs from the food ingested. The person then suffers greatly because of it. No matter how much healthy food is eaten, if the body is not able to break it down into the necessary nutrients, at the least, indigestion is experienced. Serious malabsorption issues can follow.
Digestive Support Using a Digestive Supplement
Without digestive enzymes, the necessary nutrients for life will be lacking. But how can a person remedy this situation using digestion aids?
DicQie Fuller, Ph.D, D.Sc. says in her book, The Healing Power of Enzymes, “Plant enzymes will work on the protein, carbohydrates, and fat during the hour or so that the food remains in the upper part of the stomach. The supplemental plant enzymes will break down the food, thus saving the stomach from having to release as many of its own enzymes.”
Enzymes come from three sources: the human body makes them, raw foods contain them, and they come in capsule form as a digestive support. Digestive stress can wreak havoc on the rest of the body if the person is unable to make enough enzymes to digest food.
Proteases – Proteolytic Enzymes Used in Alternative Cancer Treatment
Some doctors use proteolytic enzymes for cancer treatment among other diseases.
Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez uses pancreatic proteolytic enzymes for cancer therapy. He has written two books on the subject, One Man Alone: An Investigation of Nutrition, Cancer, and William Donald Kelley and The Trophoblast and the Origins of Cancer: One Solution to the Medical Enigma of Our Time.
In this day and age, many are going to allopathic doctors as well as naturopathic doctors searching for natural treatments for cancer. Finding one who uses proteolytic enzyme therapy is one answer for some.
Restoring Digestive Health is Key
Taking care of digestive health is more than consideration of digestive enzymes. But many do find an improvement in digestion simply by adding these supplements to their diet.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is intended for educational purposes. It is not medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat. It is suggested that readers who have health concerns contact a health physician.
Sources:
Merck Manual, Digestive Disorders, Malabsorption (Accessed August 20, 2010)
The Healing Power of Enzymes, DicQie Fuller, Ph.D, D.Sc., pgs. 173, 174
Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez, Pancreatic Cancer, Proteolytic Enzyme Therapy and Detoxification(Accessed August 28, 2010)
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