This compilation of information is Copyright 2005 by http://www.organicgreens.us and Loring Windblad. The references for this series of articles is the author's personal knowledge and experience, the book "Enzymes for Autism and other Nurological Conditions. This article may be freely copied and used on other web sites only if it is copied complete with all links and text, including this header, intact and unchanged except for minor improvements such as misspellings and typos.

Why would you want an enzyme product as a nutritional dietary supplement?

There are many reasons for wanting and seeking an enzyme supplement. These include restoration of the proper enzyme balance in our "gut" to ensure proper digestion, vitamin and mineral supplement for our health, and insuring proper nutrition to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Proper and complete digestion is essential for good health. Digestive enzymes, used properly, can provide a substantial benefit to most everyone, especially those consuming a great deal of cooked or processed food. Enzymes may ease bloating, gas and heaviness with meals. Proteases may be beneficial between meals if you have an autoimmune condition or are recovering from an injury or illness. Enzyme-based products are one of the least utilized dietary aids, despite the fact that their use dates back thousands of years.

Many manufacturers may avoid the use of enzyme products because their mode of action can be complex, and requires specific scientific knowledge and expertise. Such is actually the case in the manufacture of Bio88+ (Plus), produced in a government controlled laboratory, under stringent conditions, and using a "double fermentation" process that takes four months from start to finished product. There are other considerations in your enzyme supplement including (see below) whether or not it contains enzymes made from animal sources.

If I can just eat raw foods to replenish my stomach enzymes, why would I want to take an enzyme supplement?

You could, except that raw food diets are difficult to maintain. Eating raw meat, with the danger of bacterial toxins, is not advisable as a means of obtaining food enzymes. Also, the amount of enzymes present in raw food is such that it would take many hours to adequately digest the food, and raw food does not necessarily contain all the enzymes needed. Enzyme supplements are a concentrated form of food enzymes that you may add to any diet so breakdown of food will occur at a faster rate.

When I take enzymes orally, aren't they destroyed by either my stomach acid or by my own store of stomach and intestinal enzymes?

Some enzymes taken orally, including those made from animal pancreas extracts, become inactive in the low pH of stomach acid. Microbial derived enzymes are acid resistant, and can maintain activity at pH as low as 2.0 and as high as 10.0. Microorganisms use their enzymes to break down and digest the plant material that they grow upon. Since the site of fungal growth in nature can vary, fungi have evolved enzyme systems that allow the plant to grow under a variety of conditions, including differences in pH and temperature. Pancreatic enzymes work under a much narrower range of pH in the animal, since their environment is more controlled. Manufacturers often enterically coat pancreatic enzymes to provide resistance to acidity. Some of these coatings contain ingredients considered unhealthful.

The producers of Bio88+ (Plus) use only the very finest "certified" organic, 100% vegetarian-based components in the making of their highly nutritious food product. There are no animal based products associated with Bio 88+ (Plus). Feel free to contact the author by email for additional information.

Based upon our final questions above, "aren't they destroyed by my stomach acid.", our next article, Part V, will deal with the possible downside of enzymes and dietary enzyme supplements.

Disclaimer: These articles in no way should be taken as medical advice on any product or condition, nor do they constitute in any way medical advice endorsing any specific product, specific result, nor any possible cure for any condition or problem. They are meant as a source of information upon which you may base your decision as to whether or not you should begin using a greens product as a dietary supplement. If in doubt, or if you have questions, you should consult your physician and, if possible, consult a second physician for a possible different opinion. The author bears no responsibility for your decisions nor for the outcome of your actions based upon those decisions.

About the Author
Loring Windblad has studied nutrition and exercise for more than 40 years, is a published author and freelance writer. His latest business endeavor is at
http://www.organicgreens.us