What Is Digestion?

The human body is an amazing piece of machinery, and an understanding of what it means to digest food will help you understand why you need the best digestive enzyme supplement. As soon as you place food in your mouth, the digestive system begins initiates a plethora of complex biochemical processes that turn food into useful nutrients. Digestive enzymes play a critical roll in this process, as they break down larger food molecules into a form of nutrients that is absorbable.

The digestive process has very distinct stages that are carried out by the system of the digestive tract. If any of the processes carried out at each stage is defective, it will unbalance the entire digestive system, causing many uncomfortable, and degenerative condition such as indigestion, burping, gas, reflux, GERD, IBS, etc.

What Are Enzymes?

Enzymes are energized protein molecules, found in all living cells. The are the “regulators” of every biochemcial reaction that occurs within the human body. In terms of digestion, they break down protein, fats, and carbohydrates into usable nutrients.

There are three categories of enzymes: metabolic enzymes, digestive enzymes, and food enzymes. The human body can produce both metabolic enzymes and digestive enzymes, while food enzymes must be consumed by ingestion.

Metabolic Enzymes regulate the chemical reactions within the cells that allow for detoxification and energy production. These amazing enzymes enable such actions such as thought, movement, smell, and hearing. Every cell in our body, from your feet to the tip of your head depend on metabolic enzymes for energy. While metabolic enzymes are produced in every cell, the majority of these enzymes are produced by the pancreas, gallbladder, and liver.

Digestive Enzymes are secreted in the digestive tract in order to break food down into usable nutrients, and to separate waste. The usable nutrients are absorbed into the blood stream, and you know what happens to the waste. Digestive enzymes the body is capable fo creating are ptyalin, pepsin, trypsin, lipase, protease, and amylase. The body does not make cellulase, meaning the body can not digest dietary fiber on it’s on. You must ingest Food Enzymes in order to get the cellulase necessary to digest fiber.

Food Enzymes (which is what we’re talking about when we talk about enzyme supplements) come from eating raw food. Raw foods contain enough naturally occurring enzymes, including just enough digestive enzymes to digest that particular food. The process of cooking food (to over 118 degrees) destroys all of its enzymes. This is the reason why some many people are now enzyme deficient, as almost all food is cooked or processed in some why, and is the reason everybody should be using an enzyme supplement.

How Do Digestive Enzymes Work?

During each stage of digestion, a specific enzyme which functions best in that particular environment works to break down food into usable nutrients. Below is a simplified view of the process:

Mouth: As soon as you place food in your mouth, your salivary glands begin excreting salivary amylase which begins breaking down polysaccharides, which are large starchy food molecules. When amylase enzymes complete their task, these starches are broken down into maltose and dextrin.

The Esophagus: The food is then swallowed which takes the food from the mouth to the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. Food moves through the esophagus by peristalsis, which is a wave of muscle contractions that pushes the food down the tube. At the end of the esophagus is the lower esophageal sphincter(LES), which closes to prevent food from re-entering the esophagus.

Stomach: After you swallow, food travels into the stomach where hydrochloric acid mixes with pesinogen to create pepsin. Pepsin, a proteolytic (protein-breaking) enzyme, begins to break down proteins into amino acids. Hydrochloric acid also  kills many microorganisms and pathogens, and creates chyme, a fluid / food mixture which stimulates the pancrease to excrete the digestive enzymes necessary to further break down protein, fat, and carbohydrates.

Small Intestine: Once the partially broken down food leaves the stomach, it enters the upper section of the small intestine called the duodenum. At this stage, most of the proteins and carbohydrates are still in tact, as well as 100% of the fats. As chyme (Assuming that enough hydrochloric acid and sodium bicarbonate is present: see hypochlorhydia) passes the pancreas, it produces the pancreatic enzymes trypsin and chymotrypsin. These particular enzymes function best in the alkaline environment of the intestine, and digest additional types of proteins. Pancreatic amlyase finishes the job of converting starches into maltose, and lipase begins transforming fat into glycerol and fatty acids.

As food leaves the duodenum, it enters the jejunum, where most absorption takes place. The jejunum contains villi, which are small, finger-like projections that massively increase the surface area of the jejunum. Amino acids, sugar, fatty acid particles, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes and water are small enough to soak into the villi of the jejunum and drop into the blood stream. The blood takes all these nutrients to all the other parts of the body to provide fuel to do their jobs.

Large Intestine

All remaining particles move into the large intestine, also known as the colon. Many important processes take place in the colon, including absorption of water and sodium, and maintenance of fluid balance throughout the body.

The large intestine also contains about 700 species of healthy bacteria that perform a variety of functions. Undigested polysaccharides (fiber) are metablized by bacteria. The bacteria also produce large amounts of vitamins, particularly vitamin K and biotin, for absorption into the blood.

At this point, all digestive enzymes have performed their function. It is important to note that the entire process requires incredible synergy, all they way from chewing, until food waste exits the body. It’s common sense that eating slower, and taking proper care of our digestive tract, will ultimately lead to improved health. I

If you suffer from frequent bloating, gas, upset stomach, cramping, diarrhea, or vomiting, it is likely that a digestive enzyme supplement will make a big difference in your health.

What is the Best Digestive Enzyme Supplement To Take?

The perfect enzyme blend must help your body properly break down a wide variety of nutrients into an absorbable form. For this purpose, it is important to understand what each enzyme helps your body to digest:

• Amylase – Converts starch into sugars
• Bromelain – A multiple protease enzyme (see below) that breaks down protein into amino acids
• Glycoamylase – Starches / Polysaccharides
• Invertase -  Converts sucrose (table sugar) into fructose and glucose
• Lactase – Breaks down lactose (mlik)
  
• Lipase – Fats
• Maltase (acid maltase) – Converts Maltose (what amylase breaks polysaccharides into) to glucose
• Papain – breaks down proteins
• Peptidase – breaks down proteins
• Protease -breaks down Protein

As you can see, it takes several enzymes to begin and complete the digestion of food into usable nutrients. There are many more enzymes, but I believe this list of enzymes in the right activity levels will properly break down all of the food we eat from their macronutrient (carbs, fat, protein), into there usable components. Since protein, particularly animal protein, is the hardest food to digest, I believe a variety of enzymes provide the best approach to proper digestion.

Another thing to consider when choosing the best digestive supplement for you, is the activity level of the enzymes in the supplement. The label should show, or the company should offer the activity levels of their ingredients following the National Standard for Evaluation of Plant Enzymes, which are as follows:

1. Alpha-Galactosidase – GALU (Galactosidase Units)
2. Amylase – DU (Dextrinizing Units)
3. Bromelain – GDU (Gelatin Digesting Units) or FCCPU
4. Catalase – Baker Units (Named after the Author)
5. Cellulase – CU (Cellulase Unit)
6. Glucoamylase – AG (Amyloglucosidase Units)
7. Hemicellulase – HCU (Hemicellulase Units)
8. Invertase – INVU (Invertase Activity Unit)
9. Lactase – LacU (Lactase Unit)
10. Lipase – FCCFIP (Federation Internationale Pharmceutique)
11. Maltase – DP (Degrees of Diastatic Power)
12. Nattokinase – FU (Fibrinolytic Units)
13. Pectinase – AJDU (Apple Juice Depectinizing Units)
14. Phytase – PU Phytase Units
15. Protease-HUT (Hemoglobin Unit Tyrosine base)
16. Xylanase – XU (Xylanase Units)

The definitions of these units is some pretty complex science. For the extra inquisitive person, here’s a link to what they mean: http://www.pcflabs.com/products/pdf/EnzymeActivityUnitDefinitions.pdf

Watch Out for Watered Down Formulas

Many times you will see an enzyme product that has 30 ingredients packed into a 300 – 500 mg capsule. Sadly, these formulas are designed by people who get their expertise from books and not real world experience. On paper this ingredient list looks like a great thing, but, unfortunatley it means there isn’t enough of each ingredient to be useful.

The Best Digestive Enzyme Supplement Must Contain Prebiotcs and Probiotics

Prebiotics – As I explained the large intestine, I mentioned that over 700 species of bacteria that are present there. Prebiotics are nondigestible food ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth and/or activity of beneficial microorganisms already in your colon. I think I digestive supplement that does not include these in their formula isn’t supporting the body maximally.

Probiotics – Probiotics are “live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.” (Microorganisms are tiny living organisms—such as bacteria, viruses, and yeasts—that can be seen only under a microscope.) Modern scientific research has suggested the probiotics may be beneficial in treating:

• To treat diarrhea (this is the strongest area of evidence, especially for diarrhea from rotavirus)
• lactose intolerance
• preventing colon cancer
• reduce recurrence of bladder cancer
• lowering cholesterol
• lowering blood pressure
• improving immune function and preventing infections of the urinary tract or female genital tract
• reducing inflammation
• improving mineral absorption
• treating irritable bowel syndrome
• Treat atopic dermatitis (eczema) in children

The Best Digestive Enzyme Supplement

When used as I recommend in my article “Why Everyone Needs Digestion Plus“, I believe Arbonne Essentials Digestion Plus provides all of the enzymes, prebiotics, and probiotics necessary to achieve optimal digestive health, and get all the related benefits. Its super convenient powder form makes it stable enough to be carried around in your purse, or pocket. The product will not be effected by sunlight, or reasonable temperature fluctuations.

Further, many digestive enzyme products come in a gelatin capsule, which is not hypo-allergenic, and not vegan certified.

Finally, the taste of the product is somewhat sweet, and super mild. It’s incredibly easy to take, you just add to water, a meal, or into your protein shake!

One thing to note is that Arbonne doesn’t list the enzyme activity label on the package, so I contacted nutrition product management, and got the information:

• Amylase – 5000 DU
• Invertase 500 SU
• Bromelain 500,000 PU
• Protease 4.5 – 20,000 HUT
• Papain 500,000 PU
• Acid Maltase – 14 MaltU
• Protease 3.0 – 50 SAPU
• Glycoamylase – 10 AGU
• Lactase – 1200 ALU
• Alpha-galactosidase (controls gas and bloating) – 175 GaIU
• Peptidase – 2500 HUT
• Neutral Bacterial Protease – 5,000 PC
• Protease 6.0 – 2500 HUT
• Lipase – 900 FIP (enough to digest 72 grams of FAT!)

Retail Price: $49.00

-Steve Warshaw
Nutritionist – Personal Trainer
steve@energiefitness.net

Originally Posted by Energie Fitness: The Best Digestive Enzyme Supplement

Experts do have knowledge of green tea filled with at least two kinds of antioxidants, polyphenols and catechins, each of which are beneficial. Antioxidants work within the body by fighting the free radicals which induce so much damage to the cells. Certainly the many constructive and healthy effects on the body are made likely by these antioxidants. The same as in Asia where tea is provided every day, the protection offered by these compounds will only take place with frequent use.

Green tea is made differently from others such as black tea, and it is this fundamental preparation after harvesting that makes the difference. The initial manufacturing of the raw tea leaves is completely unique compared to other teas. Various other teas are fermented during the initial step, and that’s not the same as green tea. However the leaves of green tea will be steamed right after they are dried. That preparation approach creates tea with more substantial antioxidants in addition to other valuable properties.

You could possibly have read about fat reduction benefits conferred by sipping green tea. Caffeine can be properly called a fat burner, and green tea has mild amounts of it but you will find other properties involved, as well. So it is the presence of factors not related to caffeine that make green tea be a more efficient fat burner. So it is clear there’s more than one aspect involved with metabolism increase. What is more significant for most is that green tea can be successful for helping to shed weight.

Additional benefits discovered in green tea consist of properties that help to counteract tooth decay. Green tea will enhance your defense system and supply all around healthy support to make it stronger. A healthy and robust immune system is obviously desirable because it will minimize infections. Green tea has also been proven to have positive results on bringing down blood pressure. Additionally, asthma sufferers can gain from drinking green tea mainly because of a substance that stimulates the relaxation of the muscles near the bronchial tubes. So what that can do is permit the asthmatic to breathe with less work and difficulty.

If you’d like more information on supplements and the positive effects
that they have to offer, check out health supplements review. There are a lot of articles there
that will teach you what to take and when to take it, including this one on the best muscle building supplement that you can take!

Originally Posted by Energie Fitness: Robust Effects of Green Tea for Your Overall Wellness

One problem a lot of people have is they continue to be sedentary because they are not interested in doing a grueling fitness routine. If that describes you, then you are an excellent choice to start a walking fitness program. Any time you start walking, you will exercise many of your important muscle groups, and that will begin toning them right away. Needless to say walking is fantastic for consuming calories, and that is the important thing to dropping excess fat. After a short while, based upon your efforts, you will see that you are getting stronger and can do more. Once you achieve that milestone, then you may walk for more distance and faster which will cause increased calorie burning.

If you want to burn fat and slim down, then you will have to exercise for a longer time which will normally mean at decreased levels of intensity. That is what cardio and aerobic exercising will accomplish, and they are extremely effective methods. Taking walks will offer you the same types of results, but it will just take a little longer. However, a solid walk at a brisk pace for around thirty minutes to an hour will do wonders for your body. Do be careful about starting if it has been a very long time since you exercised, and it may be a good idea to check with your doctor, first.

If you participate in walking on a regular basis, then you will likely be in a position to savor the rewards. You can achieve a greater capability to metabolize more calories when you are resting because your muscles will be toned and in better shape. There is more, though, and improving your general blood circulation will also happen through walking. Elevated circulation will allow you to feel more stimulated because your metabolism and quantity of oxygen in your body will be higher. But it isn’t going to stop there, the elevated amount of oxygen will even promote a heightened sense of mental wellness and overall more attentive feeling.

You should think about getting other persons to walk with you, and that way it can be a lot more pleasurable. It isn’t really like you are all heading out for a ten mile jog, and it is one thing nearly anyone can do. The only piece of accessories needed, or desired, for walking are a decent and suitable pair of shoes. For the best experience without having overuse problems, then you’ll want to get trainers that have great cushion and enough support for your ankles.

For more free health tips and tricks, check out these health tips. If you’d like more information on walking to shed fat, there are some awesome tips on the site as well!
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Originally Posted by Energie Fitness: Exactly How To Lose fat And Get In Shape With Walking

Originally Posted by Energie Fitness: Trigger Foods

What does a Detoxification Diet Really Do?

Before I explain what makes the ideal protein powder for a detoxification diet, it is important that you understand the goals any detox should achieve.

In today’s world, we are exposed to increasing numbers of toxins in the air, water, and food we consume. When combined with improper diet, lack of exercise, and an over abundance of stress, your body’s primary detoxification systems (liver,kidneys, lungs, lymphatic system) become over taxed. When this occurs, toxins begin to be stored in our cells, particularly in fat cells, where they can linger for decades.

A detoxification diet should:

• Eliminate as many toxins and allergens as possible.
• Increase intake of clean water
• Focus on consuming organic, nutritionally dense foods
• Encourage elimination through walking and resistance exercise
• Provide for the gentle elimination of toxins from the liver, and kidneys
• Nutritionally support these organs to improve their overall function
• Cleanse the and support the digestive system in order to kill candida yeast, balance stomach HCL levels, restore positive flora balance.
• Support the production of endogenous antioxidantsSuperoxide dismutase, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and Glutathione
• Normalize insulin levels and sensitivity.

As you can see, a detoxification diet has quite a bit of work to do!

The Best Protein for a Detoxification Diet

The first step in determining the best protein for your detoxification diet, is understanding the concept of protein bioavailability. Bioavailability is the measure of how much a protein is utilized by the body to build muscle and repair tissues. Proteins from different sources have different structures, which make them more or less amenable to being broken down.

Amino Acids

Every protein is made up from an array of 20 different amino acids that are put together in varying order, amounts, and combinations. As you can see, this means there are almost limitless combinations of amino acids and hence, proteins. As the amino acids chain together and branch (proteins contain from approximately 300 all the way up to 30,000 amino acids total), they form unique structures. The shape of this structure, combined with the amino acid profile, determine the bioavailability of protein, and it’s propensity to cause allergic response!

There are two classifications of amino acids that you should be aware of when choosing a protein supplement:

1. Indispensable Amino Acids (sometimes called essential amino acids) – This amino acids must be supplied from food or supplementation
2. Dispensable Amino Acids – The body can synthesize these from other amino acids.

Overall protein quality is determined by the ratio of IAA to DAA, as well as the contents of the IAA. Generally speaking, you want to get the maximum amount of glutamine, leucine, isoleucine, and valine (the last three are called Branch Chain Amino Acids) as possible.

More information about amino acids

Measuring Protein Utilization

There are 5 accepted methods of measuring protein bioavailability. Each one has its pluses and minuses, and provide useful information, but none of them tell the complete picture.

The Kjedahl Method – This is the standard method for determining how much protein is in food. This is the method that provides the information you see on product nutrition labels, but unfortunately it says nothing about how much of the protein gets used by the body.

Biological Value – BV measures how much of the protein that you eat gets into your body tissue. It does so by measuring the net effect of nitrogen absorption and exretion. The weakness of BV is that it is varies greatly depending on other foods eaten with the protein being measured.

Net Protein Utilization (NPU) – NPU is tthe ratio of amino acids converted into protein to the ratio of amino acids supplied in the protein source.

PRotein Efficiency Ratio (PER) – PER is based on the weight gain of a test subject divided by its intake of a particular fod protein during the test.

Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) PDCAAS evaluates protein quality based on the amino acid requirements of humans, and is now the preferred standard.

Protein Source Comparison

Biological Value and Net Protein Utilization Comparison

Indispensable Amino Acid Profile Comparison

Looking at the above tables, the best protein a detoxification diet has to be Whey or Egg right? Wrong!

Protein, Detoxification Diet, and Allergens

Whey Protein

Whey is indeed an excellent source of protein, but unfortunately it is also highly allergenic, even in isolate form. The problem isn’t lactose or casein which is the common belief, but rather the protein components of way (beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, and bovine serum albumin) are all highly allergenic in terms of a detoxification diet.

The FDA would disagree with this statement, concluding that less than 3% of the population is allergic to whey. However, when you consider certain responses such as increased mucous production, constipation, bloating, and gas, the number is probably closer to 60%!

Further, whey has been linked to Aminoacidemia and Intestinal Toxemia

All of that said, for healthy people with balanced digestive systems and good exercise habits, whey is an excellent source of protein.

Egg Protein

Not long ago, egg protein was considered to be the optimum protein supplement. Indeed the biological value scale is bbased on egg protein with a benchmark rating of 100. However, it is arguable that eggs are the most allergenic of all proteins. To top things off, the FDA has people so scared about cholesterol that people are now mainly eating egg whites, which is where the allergenic proteins in eggs are concentrated!

The Best Protein for a Detoxification Diet

With all of protein sources available, it turns out that the pea protein + rice protein combination yields the best combination of BV, NPU, IAAs, all while being 100% hypoallergenic! Rice protein is high in cysteine and methionine, but tends to be low in lysine, and pea protein is low in cysteine and methionine, but is high in lysine. By combining the two, you get a protein source that yields a protein with a PER that is on par with whey and eggs.

For my money, Arbonne Fit Essentials Protein is the best protein for daily use, and for a detoxification diet. It contains the aforementioned pea / rice protein combination, along with the addition of cranberry protein. Cranberry protein is a fantastic addition to this formula because it is a complete protein source, and is antioxidant rich!

Fit Essentials protein is 100% vegan, is vegan certified, and is 100% hypoallergenic.

It also contains a powerful blend of Coenzyme Q10. CoQ10 is a fantastic vitamin like supplement that has powerful effects on the cardiovascular system, including the ability to lower blood pressure and prevent congestive heart failure. IT has also shown a positive effect on increased HDL cholesterol, and alleviating migraine headaches!

In addition (or subtraction really), this protein contains absolutely no fat.

Finally, unlike most protein supplements available today, Arbonne Fit Essentials protein contains 0 maltodextrin. In fact, it is sweetened with all natural Stevia and sugar cane!

But what about the taste?

The first thing you will notice when you open the lid is that this protein smells delicious. Both the vanilla and the chocolate have very natural vanilla and chocolate aromas. The next thing is the texture. This protein mixes easily in a shaker cup, and is as smooth as silk. In fact, I mix it with almond milk and it has the consistency of a recently melted milk shake! Also, the flavors are really good. I usually don’t drink my protein plain, but, I do serve the vanilla protein to my 18 month old twins, and they LOVE it!

As a nutritionist and personal trainer, my wife and I have developed our detoxification diet, the Energie Fitness Body Transformation Plan, using this protein in our meal replacement shakes. I have 100% confidence that you will both love this protein and feel it’s benefits almost immediately. Get started on your detoxification diet right away!

Originally Posted by Energie Fitness: The Best Protein for a Detoxification Diet, and How to Take It