Has anyone used "digestive enzymes" and what, if anything, did they do!
Question:
Has anyone used "digestive enzymes" and what, if anything, did they do? Did they cause any type of diarrhea?
My problem is severe abdominal pain. I have not found a GI doctor who can find a cause. I have been reading about all kinds of "natural" remedies and the enzymes sound the best. I am looking for anyones personal experiences and related relief.
Answers:
Enzymes are essential chemicals that are the foundation of human bodily functions. They are catalysts (activators) in the chemical reactions that are continually taking place within the body.
Usually secreted by the pancreas into the small intestine, digestive enzymes are those which help to breakdown the food we eat, continuing the digestive process which began in the stomach.
It is a misconception among some doctors that you do not need enzyme supplements because your body makes its own. While it is true that your body does produce digestive enzymes, if they are not in the right place at the right time then they will not do you much good. Furthermore, when stomach acid is low, the output of digestive enzymes may be reduced once the food reaches the small intestine. Some people need to take a good digestive enzyme along with their meals so that the food will be thoroughly digested/absorbed and their liver will get the nutrition it needs to produce other enzymes on its own.
Plant enzymes help food to be broken down and assimilated. When a body is functioning properly, food is digested into tiny particles that go into the blood and from there into cells. If one lacks any of the necessary digestive enzymes, this does not happen. Plant enzymes work well with your own natural pancreatic enzyme activity and some people need to eat right as well as take supplemental enzymes in order to experience improved health.
Signs & Symptoms
People who lack sugar-digesting enzymes may have problems such as diarrhea or asthma, while those who are deficient in protease, the protein-digesting enzyme, tend to be more anxious, toxic and have low blood sugar. They may also have edema (abnormally large amounts of fluid in the tissue) and suppressed immune systems.