Digestive Enzymes And The Best Kind To Use:

A digestive enzyme is a specific enzyme or enzyme formula that is designed for the purposes of digesting food. It is more common to see fruit based enzymes used in digestive enzyme formulas because most fruit and vegetable based enzymes do well in both acid and alkaline environments whereas most pancreatic based enzymes are easily destroyed by stomach acid and must be protected by enteric coating. Some vegetable source enzymes such as Natto-Kinase may not do well in an acid environment, but Natto-Kinase is typically employed as a systemic enzyme and not typically used as a digestive aid unless it is used in a two Phase digestive aid.

Two Phase Digestive Aids:

Although they are not very common, the best type of digestive enzyme supplements are ones that are designed as two phase digestive aids. This is done by producing a tablet that contains enzymes and other nutrients that aid digestion in the stomach and combining them with other digestive nutritive compounds and enzymes that have been enteric coated with a ph sensitive coating and pressing the formula into one tablet. Once the two phase digestive aid lands in the stomach the digestive compounds designed to aid digestion in the stomach go to work, but the second phase of the tablet is protected and remains unchanged. Once the food is moved to the alkaline rich duodenum for the second phase of digestion and where the nutrients are ultimately absorbed, the alkaline (ph) sensitive enteric coating comes off the digestive nutrients in the second phase of the tablet and they begin to go to work to aid in the second phase of digestion in the duodenum.

There are two basic types of two phase digestive aids. Ones without hydrochloric acid (HCL) like our Gestall and ones with hydrochloric acid like our Gestall HCL. Most people (over 85%) are actually hydrochloric acid deficient, rather than producing an excess as the media would have you believe. Unfortunately it is very difficult to tell by symptoms alone since the symptoms of too much acid are nearly identical to those of too little acid. The older you are the more likely it is that you need the hydrochloric acid (HCL), but that is not to say that teenagers , young adults, and even young children cannot be HCL deficient. There are nutritional practitioners who believe that many hyper-active children are actually suffering from food allergies due to poor digestion. Those physicians are claiming success by merely suggesting digestive aids be added with meals . Quite often, they have found that even young children need hydrochloric acid supplementation. The best way to tell whether you need the HCL is to take a supplement that contains it. If it makes the problem slightly worse or simply does not help, then you need a supplement without hydrochloric acid. If you did not respond well to HCL, simply take an antacid to neutralize the acid and don't take any supplement that contains hydrochloric acid (HCL) anymore. Then switch to a digestive aid that contains none. A two phase digestive aid that does not contain HCL will help whether you need the supplemented acid or not. However, if you do need the HCL, it is more efficient to supplement it, and it is less expensive because the supplement designed for those who do not need HCL relies more heavily on digestive enzymes to aid digestion which is what makes it more expensive.

WHY ANTACIDS WORK WHEN HYDROCHLORIC ACID LEVELS ARE ALREADY LOW:

The reason antacids work when there is too little acid as well as when there is too much acid is this: When an antacid is taken when the acid level is too high, the antacid works to neutralize the acid and it soothes the stomach. When there are digestive issues because of a lack of HCL in the stomach, an antacid will neutralize what little acid is there. This signals the stomach that there is too little acid, and it will produce hydrochloric acid (HCL) to help digest the food. However, it has to over produce it because it now has to fight an already low acid level AND overcome the antacid. This over works and puts a stress on the acid producing mechanism of the stomach which in turn will eventually make it much more difficult for the stomach to produce much acid at all. Remember, your stomach is supposed to produce acid so that you can efficiently break down your food before it reaches the duodenum for further digestion and assimilation. You don't want too much HCL in your stomach, but you also don't want to create an environment where you have none at all. You must have proper digestion in the stomach to properly prepare it for the duodenum. If either phase of digestion is interrupted or depressed it makes for poor digestion across the board. This can result in multiple digestive disorders. Researchers believe that poor digestion can lead to a host of digestive tract disorders and other issues such as weight gain, allergies, etc.

ACID REFLUX (GERD):

Don't make the mistake of confusing acid reflux or Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) with having too much stomach acid. Acid reflux or GERD is when stomach acid splashes back into the esophagus. This can occur whether you have high stomach acid levels, normal stomach acid levels, or even low stomach acid levels. The symptoms of acid reflux and GERD are actually signs of having a problem with the valve that separates the stomach and esophagus. If the valve does not close properly, it can allow stomach acid to splash back into the esophagus, even if you have lower than normal levels of acid. The symptoms of GERD and acid reflux can be helped a great deal with an extract of orange peel that is known both as Orange Peel Extract and/or D-Limonene. However, if you experience symptoms of acid reflux or GERD, you should consult a physician immediately. Continuing irritation of stomach acid washing back into the esophagus can not only create a great deal of discomfort, it can lead to serious health issues including esophageal cancer.

WHY ENZYMES ARE IMPORTANT AND WHAT FUNCTIONS THEY PERFORM:

While it is fairly self-explanatory what the functions are of digestive enzymes, explaining the functions and uses of systemic enzymes is much more involved and much more complicated (see our "Enzymes" section). Although digestive enzymes and systemic enzymes typically have different functions, there are some situations where they can complement each other. There is evidence that systemic enzymes help the body: fight inflammation, help to break down certain proteins and fats that make up arterial plaque and more. Because of the anti-inflammatory properties of systemic pancreatic and vegetable sourced enzymes, there is evidence that they can aid the body in dealing with virtually all inflammatory situations or symptoms such as: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), diverticulitis, arthritis, sprains, strains and other injuries. Although their functions are different, in situations such as IBS and IBD, and other digestive tract issues, systemic enzymes can complement digestive enzymes quite well. Breaking food down properly in the digestive tract can ease much of the resulting inflammation that results when the body attempts to process poorly digested foods. In turn, the anti-inflammatory action of systemic enzymes can further aid in easing remaining inflammation.

D-LIMONENE 1000 mg

Super-Limonene is an extract of orange peel. Our Super-Limonene is 1053 mg of a 95% extract, yielding 1000 mg of D-Limonene. Compare this product with some on the market at only 250 mg. Only one of our 1000 mg softgels will do the job of four of those products and usually for a lot less than the lower potency D-Limonene. Most dosages suggest 1000 mg is what most people require to get the job done.

Many of you are looking for natural support or a low-cost alternative for heartburn and/or GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease). If you are one of the millions who suffer from one of these this might be just what you are looking for. How does it work? That's currently the focus of several studies. There is some research that indicates that D-Limonene, which is less dense than water and floats on top of material in the stomach, may help coat the esophagus and soothe the burning of GERD and protecting the tissues. D-Limonene may also have the effect of promoting a faster movement of material in the stomach down into the gut by causing valves to open and close more normally. Along this line of thinking, some have reported help with low-motility and constipation. Whatever the mechanism of action, this might be something that could support your body in combatting the ravages of heartburn, GERD, Constipation or low-motility.

However, if you experience symptoms of acid reflux or GERD, you should consult a physician immediately. Continuing irritation of stomach acid washing back into the esophagus can not only create a great deal of discomfort, it can lead to serious health issues including esophageal cancer.

GESTALL HCL- Two phase digestive aid with Hydrochloric Acid (HCL)

This two phase tablet might be chosen by individuals that know they have insufficient acid production. The first phase of this tablet contains Betaine HCL and glutamic acid HCL along with synergistic herbal and enzymes capable of thriving in an acid environment. The second phase contains micro encapsulated pH sensitive enteric coated proteolytic enzymes along with other synergistic factors to aid the second phase of digestion in the duodenum. By using a two phase tablet, the digestive system is given full support which is more efficient and brings the most comfort. Those who have sufficient acid production or too much might choose our other two-phase digestive aid called Gestall

GESTALL- Two phase digestive aid (Without HCL)

This two-phase enzyme product might be chosen by those individuals who have sufficient or too much hydrochloric acid production and would like to aid their digestion with digestive enzymes and other nutrients that have been shown to work synergistically with enzymes. The first phase contains enzymes capable of thriving in an acid environment, along with other nutrients that have been used for years by nutritional minded physicians to aid digestion and soothe the stomach. The second phase contains micro-encapsulated pH sensitive enteric coated enzymes and other synergistic factors to aid in the second phase of digestion that takes place in the duodenum. This supplement is helpful no matter what the cause is for your indigestion. Support for both phases of digestion is more efficient and brings the most comfort.

GESTALL- T – food allergy and intolerance formula

This specially designed and powerful digestive aid is a modified version of the Gestall formula with additional nutrients designed specifically for sufferers of food allergies and intolerances.

These statements have not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and none of the supplements or ingredients mentioned above is intended to treat, cure, diagnose, or mitigate any disease.