240 Diet Wise
Enzyme multi-formulas
A simpler answer may be to take a multi-enzyme preparation. There are
several of these on the market. Look for the FCC activity index. This is a far
more important guide to the activity of enzymes than weight alone.
Formulas should contain the enzymes required to break down and
metabolize the full range of food types. Look for:
- proteases and proteinases (which digest protein)
- lipase (digests fats)
- amylase (digests carbohydrates/starches)
- cellulase, pectinase and phytase (which digest fiber)
- lactase (milk sugar)
- other complex sugar enzymes, such as glucoamylase, invertase, and
malt diastase. - xylanase – breaks down the xylan sugars found in most plants
(works well with grains such as corn. - actinidin – a protease from the kiwi fruit that shows significant
activity on wheat products.
Most products will contain bromelain – a broad spectrum enzyme that
hydrolizes most soluble proteins, and papain – a proteolytic enzyme
characterized by its ability to hydrolyze large proteins into smaller peptides
and amino acids. Look out also for Alpha galactosidase, which breaks
melibose, raffinose, and stachyose – sugars that are responsible for excess
gas in the digestive system.
Malabsorption
It is a mystery to me how serious doctors can acknowledge that food allergy
may cause malabsorption syndrome, as in the case of gluten allergy leading
to celiac disease, and yet refuse to even consider the possibility that other
food reactions may do the same, in greater or lesser degree!
My work over the years has made it pretty clear to me that
malabsorption is common, almost the norm. This is partly caused by toxins
in food, especially those chemicals added to processed foods. Foods are
refined and vitiated until they have become quite alien to our digestive