You Aren't What You Eat?

 You are what you digest (and what you don't eliminate - but we'll save that important topic for another time).  What's the difference between eating and digesting you ask?  Think about it.  If you eat broccoli, but your body can't digest it, are you getting all of the amazing benefits of the broccoli?  The answer is a resounding, "No."  Many people are actually malnourished despite eating their three squares a day because they aren't digesting their food.

There are many reasons people are not able to digest their foods.  First, we need to understand that our bodies produce natural enzymes to help us digest our food and absorb the nutrients, but the amount of enzymes we can produce are limited and greatly diminish as we age. However, when we eat foods that have live enzymes, it is much easier for the body to absorb the nutrients.  Live enzymes are found in raw foods such as vegetables and fruit and even raw fish and meat.  On the other hand, eating processed foods from boxes or bags are not alive.  The body isn't quite sure what to do with it.  Even cooked food is more difficult to absorb without having live enzymes and nutrients.

Enzymes aren't the only thing we need to break down food.  We also need HCl or stomach acid.  Without enough acid, our food doesn't break down and sits in our stomach and actually ferments which can cause uncomfortable gas and bloating.  Then, we end up popping antacids and reduce our acid even more,  inadvertently reducing the ability to digest further.

Many of my clients have digestion issues.  One had a hiatal hernia (an extremely uncomfortable and painful condition caused by frequent gas expansions in stomach due to low acid), and experienced major gas and heartburn resulting in difficulty breathing.  One would think the solution would be an antacid due to the burning. However, it is just the opposite.  The gas is due to not enough acid in the stomach to break down the food.  This causes the food to be undigested and "ferment" or rot in the stomach resulting in gas. This can be common in high protein diets with difficulty breaking down protein.  In fact, we used High Quality Enzymes with HCl to help break down the protein.

Another client had lost weight when we discovered his intolerance to wheat.  When he eliminated the wheat, he ate more protein.  He felt great and many of his wheat allergy-related symptoms dissipated.  However, he couldn't gain any muscle.  We discovered the problem was that he wasn't able to digest his proteins.  I gave him high quality Vitamin B6 to help break down protein as well as High Quality Enzymes  to help break down protein and other food.  Now, he is gaining weight and building muscle. 

As you can see, there is a lot more to what your body absorbs than meets the eye.  For optimal absorption of good nutrients, try to eat at least one raw food at each meal and cut out as much processed foods as possible.  If you have questions concerning supplemental enzymes, I am happy to help you select what is appropriate for you.

         What do you think?  Let's have a conversation on