Leonlem’s Weblog

“Enzymes are not just for digestion”.

 ”You are what you eat only” paints part of the nutritional picture. Nutrition occurs when the food you eat is digested efficiently so that the body can use the nutrients to build and maintain health at the cellular level. Efficient digestion can only take place in the presence of plentiful amounts of enzymes.

Conditions such as joint pain and gout can be a result of indigested proteins, fats and minerals that form uric acid crystals and get caught in the joints. Yeast or fungal growth can start with indigestion of food in the blood stream and can be compounded by white flour and sugar. Extreme fatigue may also be caused by the inability to digest proteins and fats, which cause blood to have improper circulation.

Enzymes like amylase, protease and lipase will digest carbohydrate, protein and fats respectively. Enzymes like bromelain, betaine hydrochloride, papain and pancreatin help to maintain healthy joints and circulation, besides the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients.

When food is not completely broken down in the intestines, it stays in the intestines to the colon where it feeds the bacteria. Bacteria digestion of food particles then causes gas, abdominal pain, and rumbling of the stomach and the production of haarmful toxins in the colon.

Eating raw fruits and vegetables are encouraged to help digestion. A descrease in intake of processed foods is recommended. Alternatively, enzyme supplements like a multi-enzyme formula or a bromelain, papain, betaine hydrochloride supplement should be used to prevent depletion of the body’s own enzymes.

Everyone can consume the best foods and take the most well balanced nutritional supplement, but if do not digest and absorb well, a less than optimal health will be enjoyed. More and more experts now agree that it’s not what you eat that counts, it is what you absorb!

Can bacteria possibly be friendly when all lives that have been told they cause disease? Well, bad bacteria do cause problems, but there are many good strains that are essential to health. Of the numerous friendly bacteria that live in intestine, the most mentioned and discussed about are the Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium infantis bacteria.

The beneficial actions of these friendly bacteria, also known as Probiotics (the opposite of “antibiotics”) include

- manufacturing B vitamins

- providing the enzyme lactase which allow digestion of milk or milk products

- enhancing digestion and nutrient absorption

- acting as an anti-carcinogenic factor with anti-tumor potential

- controlling and deactivating growth and activity if bad bacteria and viruses

- maintaining bowel function and elimination

- reducing ill effects of antibiotic and radiation therapies

- maintaining immune function

- helping in the development of young children’s gastrointestinal health

Increasing the population of friendly bacteria deters the growth and colonisation of potentially dangerous bacteria by blocking them attaching themselves in gut, effectively thwarting their existence.

There are many probiotics on the market, can choose between powdered and capsule forms. Check the label though to see that the product contain prominent bacteria, namely Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus bulgaricus.

Health professionals normally suggest taking one to two billin colony-forming units per dose. And it is better to take probiotic supplement before meal since stomach acid is usually lowest at that time. This aids the friendly bacteria in passing through the stomach and implanting in the intenstine.

Eating commerically-made yoghurt may not be an effective mean of obtaining friendly bacteria, due to the difficulty of ensuring bacterial stability and count.

Human liver is the most complex and important organ that metabolises and detoxifies everything that is consumed, breathed and absorbed through skin. It is often the “brain” of the physical body and oversees many of the other organs and glands.

Besides emtional stress, many scientists now consider modern stress hamrful to the nerves and immune systems, and especially the liver. This stress comes from an avalanche of toxins – pollutants, X-rays and all other forms of radiation, medications, alcohol, tobacco smoke, toxins in water or vapour absorbed during showering or bathing, excessive intake or poor quality fats, sweets and protein and many more. Most of these toxins produce cumulative side effects to the liver and liver functions.

Studies show that living in an industrial/technological society severely stresses the liver, and almost everyone has liver damage to some extent. As the symptoms of impaired liver function are very general, e.g. fatigue, digestive problems, constipation and allergies, liver damage is often quite severe before it is discovered. This is why it is best to regularly regenerate and strengthen the liver.

Some important nutrients for liver health include the essential amino acids, blood forming elements like vitamin B-12 and liver hydrolysate yielding important nucleosides and nucleotides which act directly on cell metabolism and act together with the essential amino acids to protect liver. Choline and inositol reduce fatty buildup in the liver. Cysteine has detoxifying properties and is useful for liver protection against alcohol abuse.

There is a difference between arthritis and rheumatism. Inflammatory pain from joint(s) is arthritis; and from tissues around the joints such as tendon, liagament, muscle or bone is rheumatism. These conditions have long been considered to be chronic, degenerative and incurable. Standard medical treatment consists of aspirin, corticosteroidsand other non-steroidal anti-flammatory drugs which alleviate pain. Unfortunately, long term use of these drugs cause side effects like risk of liver and kidney damage, and they exacerbate cartilage breakdown and inhibit the body’s natural repair mechanisms.

There are now several natural substances that may just change all these. While these natural substance sometimes takes lone to show results, but in the long run, they may be just as effective as conventional treatments without the side effects.

Glucosamine & Chondroitin : Both glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate belong to a class of compounds called glycosaminoglycans. Glucosamine furnishes the basic building block of mucopolysaccharides which is the integral components of synovial fluid that form the framework of bones, cartilage, nails, hair and skin. Increased amounts of glucosamine stimulates the activity of specialised cells called chondrocytes. These cells then build the framework of bone cartilage with mucopolysaccharides.

Chondroitin sulfate acts as bait, attracting fluid into the weblike cartilage that covers the bones of the joint. The fluid attracted into the cartilage provides shock absorption for surrounding bones and supplies nutrients to the cartilage, thus supporting  its regeneration and growth. Joint cartilage does not possess a blood supply, so its nutritional needs must be met by the fluid surrounding the joint.

Supplemental sources of glucosamine is available in 3 forms : sulfate, hydrochloride and n-acetyl, but glucosamine sulfate has been studied the most. Chondroitin is available in animal tissues such as gristles around joints. Chondroitin works synergistically with glucosamine to prevent premature breakdown of cartilage and stimulate production of new cartilage.

MSM (mehylsulfonylmethane) : This has become popular as a pain reliever for those suffering from arthritis.

MSM is a highly bioavailable source of sulfur, which is one of the prevalent minerals in the body’s physical structure, including protein, collagen, glucosamine, hair, skin and nails. MSM is also the basis of many essential biochemicals and important enzymatic functions. MSM helps to ease inflammation and pain associated with arthritis. Sulfur makes cells more permeable which allows fluid and nutrients to flow more freely through the cell wall, removing toxins in the cell, reducing pain and inflammation and promoting tissue healing.

Besides relief of joint and muscle pain, allegy, parasitic and other inflammatory conditions also respond well to the addition of MSM.

CM (cetyl myristoleate) : It has 3 function capacities. It lubricates joints and muscles, making them soft and pliable. It also acts as an immune system modulator. This may be the reason it has been found to be effective in managing autoimmune diseases such as rheumatiod arthritis, systemic lupus and multiple sclerosis. It mediates inflammatory processes.

Bromelain : This enzyme is a mainstay for treating muscle injuries, but its anti-inflammatory actions also ease arthritic pain. Bromelain breaks down scar tissue, reduces water retention and blocks inflammation.

Bamboosil : This is well known for its high content in silica which helps support and remineralises the bones.

Antioxidants : These are nutrients that stabilise free radials. Free radicals are highly unstable molecules that attack tissues, including joint tissues. Antioxidants prevent free-radical induced tissue damage and resulting inflammation.

Antioxiadnts include OPCs (oligomeric proanthocyanidins), vitamins A, C, E, Zinc, Selemium, etc.

Essential Fatty Acids : The joint inflammation is regulated in large part by essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6. While omega-3 fatty acids prevent the production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), omega-6 fatty acids help produce the beneficial prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). A balance intake of both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is necessary.

While many of the supplements mentioned above are beneficial in easing the pain and inflammation often associated with arthritis or rheumatism, their most important role lies in preventing these conditions. Neither arthritis nor rheumatism is inevitable. Daily supplementation of essential nutrients, as well as regular exercise and a healthy diet are integral to overall bone, joint and ligaments health.