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Ailments : A-Z |
Digestion is of first importance. An underactive digestive system does not absorb
the nutrients the body needs, neither from food nor from supplements. Many conditions
improve simply by supporting digestion — by enabling the body to break down
and absorb nutrients that it formerly could not utilize. If an underlying
digestive weakness is not corrected, then dietary supplements will be largely
wasted and results will be disappointing. Most people over age 40 require
some kind of digestive support. [Suggested reading: Digestion: Inner Pathway to
Health]
UltraGest™ Rowland Formula 35 UltraGest™ is a broad spectrum digestive enzyme supplement. Its hydrochloric acid content improves digestion in the stomach. Its bile content emulsifies fats so that lipase enzymes can go to work on them (a must for those with no gallbladder). Hydrochloric acid and bile also destroy gastrointestinal parasites. Pancreatin provides protease, lipase and amylase enzymes — to break down proteins, fats and starches. Papain and Bromelain are vegetable enzymes (from raw papaya and pineapple) that help break down proteins. Peppermint and ginger soothe the digestive tract and reduce flatulence. ULTRAGEST's hydrochloric acid (from betaine HC1) and pepsin go to work immediately on food in the stomach. Its bile and pancreatin work minimally in the stomach and become fully active when they reach the small intestine. The acidity of ULTRAGEST assures that the body makes the most productive use of its own enzymes. Low stomach pH triggers the conversion of pepsinogen (in stomach cells) into pepsin. Low stomach pH also triggers the pancreas to release bicarbonate and pancreatin. Thus, the enzymes in ULTRAGEST add to the body's own enzymes rather than substitute for them. This product does not create dependence. It makes up the difference between what the body is able to produce itself and what it needs for optimal digestion. Suggested Use: 1 to 4 tablets per meal, depending on its content of protein and/or fat, and how weak the person's digestion is (usually a function of age). Take ULTRAGEST immediately after a meal. Experiment to find the least number of tablets necessary to eliminate all digestive discomfort.
Self Test: First thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, take 1 ULTRAGEST tablet. Next morning take 2. On the 3rd morning take 3 – and so on. Keep increasing the number of tablets until you feel a slight burning sensation in the stomach. Then, back off by 1 tablet and that is your optimum daily intake (e.g., if a burn on 5 tablets, then 4 is your daily amount). Apportion this amount according to difficulty of digesting meals (e.g., 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 2 supper). Vege-Zym Rowland Formula 2 Vege-Zym™ is a broad spectrum digestive enzyme supplement – without hydrochloric acid or bile – making it ideal digestive support for those who have gastric ulcers. [Note: Stomach ulcers are ultimately caused by insufficient hydrochloric acid, as explained in Digestion: Inner Pathway to Health. The long term solution to prevent the recurrence of ulcers is to ensure adequate levels of stomach acid – however, if an actual ulcer is present, it is important to avoid taking external sources of HCI, which would only irritate it.] VEGE-ZYM is also from entirely plant sources (including the gel capsule) – making it ideal digestive support for strict vegetarians (vegans). Suggested Use: One or more capsules immediately after each meal. Experiment to find the least number of capsules that provide digestive relief from various kinds of meals.
Digestive Enzymes Hydrochloric acid is not an enzyme. It provides the acid medium needed for digestion to take place in the stomach. Hydrochloric acid helps to convert pepsinogen (an inactive enzyme precursor) into the active enzyme, pepsin. It is the pepsin which starts the breakdown of proteins in the stomach. Without adequate hydrochloric acid and pepsin, the body cannot break down proteins into their constituent amino acids. These amino acids, in turn, are the building blocks from which bodily cells, antibodies, hormones and enzymes are built. Here we have a "catch 22" situation. If the body does not produce enough enzymes, it cannot break down protein sufficiently to manufacture more enzymes. Supplementary enzymes can help to break this vicious cycle. Amino acids are also needed to surround or "chelate" the mineral ions liberated from our food and supplements during digestion. Without an adequate supply of amino acids, some minerals tend to stick against the intestinal wall rather than pass through it — because of opposing electromagnetic charges. The amino acids that surround a mineral ion neutralize its charge, enabling it to be absorbed. Thus a poor supply of hydrochloric acid and pepsin impairs the ability to absorb and utilize minerals. When food leaves the stomach, it is only partially digested. In the duodenum it is mixed with pancreatin, contained in the juice secreted by the pancreas. Pancreatin is a complex enzyme that contains proteases (for digesting proteins), amylases (for digesting starches), and lipases (for digesting fats). Also in the duodenum, fatty foods are mixed with bile, which is produced in the liver and stored (and concentrated) in the gall bladder. Bile is not an enzyme. It is an emulsifier that breaks down fat globules into droplets tiny enough for the lipase enzymes to work on them. Without sufficient bile, undigested fats enter the intestines where they combine with minerals to form insoluble soaps, which are constipating. During constipation, dangerous free radicals are formed. Those who produce insufficient bile — and especially those who have had their gallbladders removed — are at increased risk for colon cancer and degenerative conditions caused by poor mineral absorption. |
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