As a reflexologist, I adopt a holistic approach to patient management. I am always interested in learning about patients' food choices and their perception of healthy food.
Unfortunately, the majority of patients lack knowledge of how our food is processed and the harmful, unseen effects this has on their gut and overall health.
What are digestive enzymes and why are they so important for our health?
Enzymes are molecules that facilitate biochemical reactions. They unlock the benefits of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and hormones and allow them to work in the body.
If you don't get sufficient digestive enzymes, your food cannot be completely broken down and cannot be fully absorbed. Food arrives in your blood in a complex form. The white blood cells have to work hard to destroy it, and this negatively affects your immune system.
Unfortunately, the fresh fruit and vegetables we eat undergo irradiation in order to kill any bacteria, fungi, or pathogens present. Fruit gets waxed or dipped in preservatives. This process increases shelf life but also damages the natural enzymes.
We get very few enzymes from a diet predominantly of cooked and processed foods. If your food is fried, boiled, steamed or microwaved, you need extra enzymes to help your body digest food. This means the pancreas is put under greater stress to secrete digestive enzymes.
What can be done to counteract this situation?
Studies suggest that digestive enzymes can improve digestion, decrease inflammation, ease arthritis pain, and possibly reduce symptoms of IBS.
I do not diagnose, prescribe or treat a specific condition, but knowledge is power, so do your own due diligence.
Supplementing with oral digestive enzymes from vegetable sources before eating will ease the load on the pancreas and aid in the breaking down of food while still in the stomach.
The bottom line is that your diet choices are key to your health and well-being.
Eat fresh organic produce, eat nuts and seeds, grass fed beef, free range chicken (without hormones and brine), gluten free, choose herbs and spices that have not been irradiated (check the bottle) Eat raw honey (not irradiated).