| Our digestive systems are certainly challenged this | | | | combination; catnip, fennel, anise, ginger, peppermint and |
| time of year. Those with impaired digestion must | | | | papaya. A multiple digestive enzyme may be taken in |
| struggle with the desire to eat all the delicious holiday | | | | capsule or tablet form with meals. It provides all the |
| foods knowing the suffering that will follow. Even with | | | | enzymes needed to digest all the food groups. It should |
| a good digestive system, eating too much and too | | | | contain at least the top four enzymes; protease for |
| many different things at one meal can cause problems. | | | | digesting proteins, amylase for digesting carbohydrates, |
| A key nutrient that most everybody is lacking to some | | | | lipase for digesting fats and hydrochloric acid (HCI) for |
| degree is enzymes. This is due to the over processing | | | | digesting animal proteins. Our body's production of HCI |
| and refining of foods. | | | | starts to diminish at age 25 or so. With all the high |
| Our bodies manufacture some of its own enzymes | | | | protein diets that have gained popularity, hypochlorhidria |
| and others are to be obtained by eating enzyme rich | | | | (HCI deficiency) is on the rise. Those that don't digest |
| foods, mostly raw. Cooking foods over 118 degrees F | | | | dairy well may want to add a separate lactase |
| destroys the enzyme content. Food growers and | | | | digesting enzyme, for there may not be enough in an |
| manufactures destroy the enzymes in our food by | | | | enzyme multiple. Another popular way to enhance |
| treating it with certain chemicals that retard spoilage in | | | | digestion is to chew papaya enzyme tablets after a |
| order to give it a longer shelf life. If they didn't do this, | | | | meal. Papaya contains papain that is an enzyme |
| the fruits and vegetables would be rotten before it hit | | | | effective in digesting proteins. Amylase is usually |
| the supermarket shelves. Pasteurization is another | | | | added to help digest the carbohydrates. As expensive |
| modern day necessary evil for extended shelf life that | | | | as it is to buy fresh papayas, I'm amazed how |
| leaves our foods nutrient and enzyme depleted. | | | | inexpensive the chewable papaya enzymes are. They |
| The first and step to improve digestion is to chew the | | | | taste good too. True vegetarians may want to use a |
| food until it is completely smooth. This will require a little | | | | product that doesn't contain HCI, since they don't eat |
| extra time for each bite will be chewed on an average | | | | animal proteins. |
| of 100 times. It is supposed to be in a pureed state | | | | Note: supplementing HCI for those with acid reflux may |
| before swallowing. I know people who only chew their | | | | be contraindicated while esophageal inflammation |
| food a few times before gulping it down. While | | | | persists. My final digestion tip is: charcoal capsules. |
| chewing, saliva releases the enzyme amylase that | | | | They are handy to have on hand and should not be |
| starts to breakdown starch into smaller glucose | | | | taken on a regular basis, for it may deplete the body |
| molecules. There are foods that can be added to the | | | | of nutrients. They are great to use for extreme cases |
| diet that contain enzymes and also stimulate the | | | | of gas, bloating, nausea, diarrhea and upset stomach |
| formation of more enzymes such as raw papaya, raw | | | | which occur frequently this time of year. The charcoal |
| pineapple, raw un-pasteurized apple cider vinegar (one | | | | will absorb excess acids and relief is usually within a |
| teaspoon in water three times a day) and fermented | | | | half hour. Charcoal is approved by the poison control |
| foods that are high in pro-biotics like sour yogurt (sorry, | | | | center and I never go anywhere without it. |
| not the sweet kind), sauerkraut or kim-chi. For some, a | | | | I wish you all a blessed and happy holiday season with |
| probiotic supplement may be needed due to the | | | | your loved ones. And remember... work less, play |
| overuse of antibiotics and diets high in sugar and | | | | more...hate less love more... talk less, say more... eat |
| refined carbohydrates. It may be consumed in powder | | | | less, CHEW MORE... and all good things will be yours. |
| or capsule form upon awakening and at bedtime. | | | | Please feel free to read more of this article by visiting |
| Some people may only need a cup of digestive tea | | | | my link in the resource box below. I always enjoy |
| after meals. | | | | getting emails pertaining to my articles or my site. Your |
| The following teas may be found individually or in | | | | feedback is important to me. |