The bodily process of digestion and absorption is one of the most important to our health. Hippocrates made this statement over two thousand years ago and it is truer today than ever.
What are the signs of unhealthy digestion?
Acid reflux
Throat and nose issues (clearing throat, runny nose, etc.)
Gas/bloating
Inflammation anywhere in the body
Skin disorders anywhere on the body
Negative reactions to food
Loose stools or constipation
Our bodies rely on proper enzymes and healthy microbes to work with pathogenic bacteria and to produce anti-bacterial cultures in order to strengthen the intestinal walls and to support our immune system.
Today we are challenged on many fronts: lifestyle and diet, deficient intestinal flora, stress, toxic chemicals in our food/water/environment, consumption of alcohol, and frequent use of antibiotics all deplete our healthy supply of beneficial enzymes and bacteria. This allows disease to take hold beginning with yeast strains. Supplementing with friendly bacteria help keep harmful bacteria from multiplying in our intestines
Poor digestion will eventually cause one's health to break down. Some examples of this breakdown are listed below:
Autoimmune disorders
Food and general allergies
Autism
Chronic viral infections
Genital infections
Hepatitis
Liver cirrhosis and biliary disease
Tuberculosis
Meningitis
Malignancy
Arthritis
Diabetes
Eczema
Mental illness
Clinical infections
The trend of mental illness is particularly disturbing and related to enzyme deficiencies.
One study found that enzyme loss is connected to a specific familiar neurological disease.
Another study examined the effects of lifestyle--including diet--on mental health, and found that diet is a crucial factor in synaptic plasticity and overall mental health.
An article on the Verge listed several studies, including one in which switching gut bacteria in mice caused behavior alterations.
To safeguard our bodies, enzymes must be incorporated into the diet and unless you are vegan, it should be full spectrum and include the following, ox bile (bovine bile), pancreatic enzymes, protease, betaine hydrochloride, and even kale and l-lysine. To be sure of quality the enzyme source is critical look for those produced and sourced in Canada or from the US. And the ox bile be ensured it is from USDA certified beef cattle, this will ensure that the gall bladder was removed at the slaughterhouse, and that the bile was then lyophilized and safe to be used for supplements. All quality measures should be in place by attestation to ensure that the material is BSE and TSE free.