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Frequently Asked Questions - Orthomolecular
What are enzymes?
Enzymes are energized protein molecules. They are the human body’s life force and are involved in every function of the body. Vitamins, minerals and hormones must have enzymes to work properly. Life cannot exist without enzymes. Individuals who are enzyme deficient are subject to physical problems, disease and degeneration. Studies indicate that decreased enzymes levels are found in a number of chronic ailments, such as arthritis, diabetes, allergies, skin diseases, cancer, immune deficiencies and much more.
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What is a good digestive enzyme formulation and why?
A great digestive enzyme product should be designed to improve digestion of foods (raw or cooked) and to help clean up the blood. Approximately 95% of the food we eat is composed of protein, carbohydrates and fats. A great enzyme formulation will have substantial amounts of protease, amylase and lipase with high activity & potency. Protease digests proteins, amylase digests carbohydrates and lipase digest fats. These are the three key ingredients in a great digestive enzyme formulation.
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When taking enzymes with meals is it OK to take them before you eat?
No! If you take digestive enzymes before you eat and your stomach is empty - the digestive enzymes can be absorbed into the blood stream very quickly (in less than 3 minutes). To help digest the meal you’re eating - its best to take the enzymes during or immediately after the meal.
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How quickly can results be realized?
Most people having acid indigestion, upset stomach, bloating or problems with digestion will usually see immediate results. People having problems with bowel movements will usually see improvement within a week or two. Many people will see increased energy within a couple of weeks to a month. The people that see the best results, are the people that continue to take digestive enzymes daily with food and on an empty stomach.
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What is a high potency digestive enzyme formula do?
High potency digestive enzyme product’s should be designed to enhance digestion and assimilation of food while reducing the body’s need to produce digestive enzymes; the higher potency formula contains additional enzymes and averages about three times the potency of the basic digestive formula. Approximately 95% of the food we eat is composed of protein, carbohydrates and fats, a high potency enzyme formulation will have substantial amounts of protease, amylase and lipase with high activity & potency. Protease digests proteins, amylase digests carbohydrates and lipase digest fats. These are the three key ingredients in a high potency digestive enzyme formulation.
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What is the difference between plant based vs animal source enzymes.
Plant-based enzymes taken from fungi and bacteria currently represent about 80 percent of all of the enzymes sold in health food stores. The remaining 20 percent is made up of a combination of animal-sourced enzymes, such as pancreatin and trypsin, and plant-sourced enzymes such as bromelain and papain. Plant-based enzymes most often originate from a fungus called aspergillus. This fungus produces a large amount of enzymes, including protease, lipases, amylases, and cellulases, naturally active in a broad pH range. The enzymes are often called fungal or microbial enzymes. However, most people in the nutrition industry refer to them as plant-based, since the aspergillus is grown in a lab on different plants that serve as its food source. One of the benefits of using aspergillus is that it can be manipulated to manufacture different types of enzymes by changing the type of aspergillus used, the plant food source, or the temperature, humidity, pH, or environment.
There are a number of benefits inherent in plant based enzyme therapy:
• The enzymes are vegetarian and vegan and can thus be consumed by everyone.
• They are the most potent source of enzymes, between ten and one hundred times more effective at digesting proteins, fats, carbohydrates, per milligram than animal enzymes.
• Unlike animal sources, the health of the source is never questionable.
• The Ph range is broad, making them active in stomach acid and through-out the rest of the body.
For all of the above reasons, plant-based enzymes are often the first choice in addressing health issues and or enzyme deficiencies.
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How long does it take to digest a meal?
Completely digesting the average meal, from the time the food enters the body until the waste leaves, can take hours or days depending on the type and quantity of the food (for example, pork is more difficult to digest then chicken, and chicken is more difficult to digest then watermelon). For all practical purposes, if we are eating two or three meals a day, everyday, then we are in a constant state of digestion. That is, every minute of every day our digestive system is working hard at breaking down foods, delivering nutrients, and expelling waste.
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When I go to the bathroom, my stool sinks. Is that bad?
When your stool sinks...it is heavy...because there are still nutrients or undigested foods within it. It also shows that we are having a problem digesting food properly. When the nutrients within the food are completely digested...the stool will be light and fluffy and will float.
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What is probiotics?
Probiotics are a class of beneficial bacteria that promote health, balance and efficient functioning of the digestive system. These friendly bacteria are normal inhabitants of the intestines and help to digest foods by breaking them down into their individual component parts, such as fats, amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals for absorption into the body. Another function of these normal bacteria is to prevent or limit the growth of unwanted bacterial pathogens including salmonella, clostridia and E.coli that can prevent proper nutrient absorption, create intestinal disturbances and eventually cause more serious illness. Prevention of illness by a well-maintained microflora balance is accomplished by a method referred to as “competitive exclusion”. That is, the good bacteria take up positions known as enteric sites therefore preventing the pathogenic bacteria from establishing itself and proliferating to become predominant bacteria.
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Why take probiotics?
Bacterial infections, stress, antibiotic treatment, poor diet and a number of other factors can and do disturb the balance in our intestinal tract, decreasing the number of beneficial bacteria while allowing an increase in pathogenic bacteria. This increase in pathogenic bacteria can result in gas, diarrhoea, constipation, and other intestinal symptoms. A viable probiotic supplement acts to maintain and replenish the balance of microflora in the intestinal tract. A regular maintenance dose acts as a preventive against intestinal diseases, and aid in the absorption of nutrients. A healthy intestinal tract with a balanced microflora can boost the immune system, keep pathogenic diseases of the intestinal tract in check, maintain normal bowel movements, prevent indigestion and bloating. Away from home, probiotic supplements act as a barrier to the strains of unwanted bacteria encountered and prevents the intestinal disruptions often associated with travelling.
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Are we born with ‘good’ bacteria?
At birth, babies have a very weak immune system. That system needs to be developed for survival of the infant. Fortunately, nature has provided a very effective means to strengthen the immune system - breast milk, which contains nearly all the constituents necessary to for growth and enhancement of the immune system. Breast milk contains beneficial bacteria that attach to the baby’s intestinal wall and enable digestion. As the child grows, additional microflora is ingested from other food sources. By the age of 2 or 3 most children have developed some degree of intestinal balance and a fairly effective immune system. As we age, environmental and nutritional factors very often disturb this balance and create the need for probiotic supplementation.
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Is it possible to overdose on probiotics?
No, even if you have a relatively healthy intestinal tract with balanced good bacteria, you can still safely take probiotics for preventive purposes.
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As a bodybuilder; will probiotics help me absorb protein?
Yes! Probiotics improve the functioning of the intestines and increase our ability to break down and absorb nutrients including protein, vitamins and minerals. Our formula is an effective and appropriate probiotic supplement to help bodybuilders and other athletes digest and absorb higher percentages of protein.
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