The Ultimate Enzymes

Charles Stewart Richey asked:


There are many people who suffer from acid reflux and want to get off the proton pump inhibitor drugs (PPI drugs). The main action of this group of pharmaceuticals is the long acting reduction of gastric acid production. These include Prevacid, Prilosec, Nexium and Protonix.

These drugs are convenient to use and can be initially useful, but many find that the side effects outweigh the benefits. When it comes to quitting them, one will find that it is not so easy.

PPI drugs are supposed to be used for a restricted period of time, however most patients continue their use indefinitely. Not only do patients abuse these drugs, but also the physicians who prescribe them. Unfortunately, there are no studies regarding the effects of the long term use of these drugs. One has to question whether the prolonged use of PPI drugs is really safe.

We do know that by reducing the production of stomach acid, the proper digestion and assimilation of food is restricted. Are chronic users of these drugs suffering from a form of malnutrition? It is important to keep in mind that stomach acid also keeps potentially dangerous intestinal bacteria in check. So what may seem to be acid reflux utopia, in reality may be acid reflux hell.

When one stops these drugs, after prolonged use, the acid pumps turn on again and come back with a vengeance producing more acid than they did before. This is referred to as “acid reflux rebound”. This is often such a terrible and frightening experience that most people become quickly discouraged and immediately get back on the drugs. This “catch 22” situation has proven to be a virtual gold mine for the pharmaceutical companies, who make billions of dollars in profits each year.

It is a horrible position to be in. You know you want to quite these drugs. They stop working and you are instructed to double the dose. You make an effort to stop, but it all backfires on you. Your throat burns like its on fire and your doctor tells you that if you don’t take the drugs you may develop esophageal cancer. Who wouldn’t be frightened?

Now for the good news; there are non-pharmaceutical things that one can do to survive “acid reflux rebound” and get back on the right track.

At this point there is most likely damage to the esophagus. One cannot hope to improve until the esophagus is well again.

In order to heal the esophageal damage, there are a few things to be considered. First and foremost one must temporarily change their diet. By now everyone should be aware of what foods and beverages trigger their acid reflux. Replace these offending foods with mild, easy to digest foods.

Instead of a slice of pizza with acidic tomato sauce, have a salad. Substitute that morning cup of coffee with a cup of tea. Have a glass of white instead of red wine with dinner. It’s just a matter of common sense, but these changes are necessary during the acid reflux recovery period.

In order to defeat the acid reflux syndrome, one must attempt to become as alkaline as possible. Anything which has an acidic effect on the body should be eliminated. Smoking is perhaps the most acidic thing one can do. Eating too much at one time causes an over production of stomach acid. Aerobic exercise actually causes the body to become more alkaline in nature.

Drinking copious amounts of clean fresh water will help flush out the acidic toxins which accumulate in the body. A body which is properly hydrated is rarely acidic in nature. A glass of water after a meal is a good idea, but drinking much of anything with meals is counter productive. This dilutes the digestive fluids, causing the stomach to produce more acid.

Believe it or not, chewing gum between meals is beneficial. Chewing produces saliva which is very alkaline. Chewing gum after meals puts more alkalinity in the stomach to counteract the over production of acid.

There are many natural ingredients found in grocery and health food stores, which can help during the acid reflux recovery period. Herbs, such as marshmallow and slippery elm have wonderful healing properties. Licorice, natural honey and aloe vera juice can sooth the esophageal lining and assist in the healing process.

There are very few cases of acid reflux which can’t be successfully treated if one understands what causes this condition. Simple things like eating slowly and chewing food thoroughly, in a pleasant relaxed atmosphere, can reduce ones chances of having acid reflux.

We do not have to be prisoners of this drug oriented “acid reflux rebound” effect. It is unfortunate that most doctors rely on pharmaceuticals as the only solution to the acid reflux condition.

With a little education regarding the causes of acid reflux and the knowledge of natural medicine, one can survive “acid reflux rebound” and go on to live a normal life. We are at the brink of a new era where the patient must sometimes also be the healer.

© 2007 Wind Publishing

For free recipes, articles and information about acid reflux, please visit: http://www.refluxgoneforever.com

Groshan Fabiola asked:


Acid reflux is a condition that you can have no matter what age you are. Moreover, acid reflux is quite common in babies that are up to one year old. When suffering from acid reflux, there are symptoms which can tell you that something is wrong, but some people and especially children have acid reflux symptoms that are harder to recognize.

Heartburn is the main symptom for acid reflux in both adults and adolescents. When it comes to children, things rend to get a little more complicated. Spitting or vomiting is the main acid reflux symptom in babies and older children. But you see, vomiting can be cause by many other conditions, besides acid reflux. To make a difference between the vomiting that happens when your baby has a flu and the vomiting that is caused by acid reflux you have to know that in the second case, the vomiting will last more than four months in a row. Furthermore, if vomiting actually indicates an acid reflux case, then this symptoms will be severe at times and mostly accompanied by crying.

Children who are between 4 and 6 years old and suffer from acid reflux will also have other symptoms as well. Besides vomiting, which is intermittent, those children suffer from abdominal pain and also have gas as acid reflux signs. As they grow older, so do the acid reflux symptoms start to get worse. Many of them may actually suffer from heartburn that can last up to a couple of hours. Chest pain may also be a sign of acid reflux. All these acid reflux symptoms will actually get worse after meals and then decrease in intensity.

However, there are many other acid reflux symptoms that a child can have. Furthermore, not all children will have the same signs of acid reflux. When in some the loss of weight indicates acid refuse, in other gaining a few extra pounds will actually be an acid reflux symptom. Some children will eat more when having acid reflux, because having their stomach full seems to ameliorate the acid reflux symptoms, whereas other will not eat very much and be picky, because eating will only agravate their acid reflux symptoms.

So, as you can see there are many symptoms that can indicate acid reflux, many of them being different from a person to another. No matter the symptoms, if you think that you or your child suffers from acid reflux, the best thing to do is see a doctor.

For more resources about many acid reflux subjects like acid reflux symptoms, acid reflux treatment or many more please visit us at http://www.acid-reflux-info-guide.com .

Steve P Smith asked:


Anti-oxidant enzymes are the body’s first line of defense in the battle against the premature aging effects of free radicals.

Free radicals are a normal and natural by-product of the energy producing biochemical reactions in the mitochondria of each and every cell in the body. Like other waste products, however, free radicals can cause problems if they’re produced in excessive quantities which cannot be safely disposed of. In the case of excessive free radicals, the problems caused are damage to the very cells and molecules of the body; damage which spreads rapidly through chain reactions as the damaged cells and molecules themselves become free radicals. Left unchecked, these chain reactions can accelerate the process of aging within the body and even contribute to the development of the characteristic diseases of degeneration - heart and circulatory problems, age-related cognitive and visual impairment, and even cancer.

The so-called superoxide free radicals are a particularly pernicious example and are released upon the metabolism of oxygen within cells, literally with breath we take Superoxide free radicals react with other by-products of energy production to form hydroxyl, the most damaging free radical of all, and to attack the mitochondria of the cells themselves.

Since it is the mitochondria which ultimately produce the energy for all the body’s vital reactions, mitochondrial damage due to free radicals can only mean the production of less and less energy and the gradual deterioration and degeneration of the entire organism. It has even been argued that the rate of mitochondrial damage is the key to the rate of ageing itself.

The antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione, are the body’s first line of defence against superoxide free radicals and work in a closely complementary fashion. It is dismutase that first breaks down the superoxide free radicals into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, but catalase is then required to break down that hydrogen peroxide into plain oxygen and water. Further free radical attack would otherwise turn the hydrogen peroxide into the dreaded hydroxyl which once formed cannot be neutralized by any enzyme.

So far, so good, but the problem is that catalase is water and not fat soluble and is therefore ineffective at protecting those vital parts of the cell, such as the membranes, which are actually formed of fat. For this the body also needs glutathione to soak up and neutralise any rogue hydrogen peroxide molecules in these areas. Glutathione also acts directly against any free radicals attacking the fatty membranes themselves.

Each of these enzymes is formed by the body from the amino acids in the proteins in your diet and each is needed for the others to function correctly. This holistic functioning of the body is also reflected in the dietary requirements for the successful production of the enzymes. As well as a good supply of first-class protein, ie that containing each of the eight essential amino acids, a wide variety of vitamins and minerals are required to allow optimal levels of enzyme manufacture.

In particular, vitamin C and those of the B complex, together with trace minerals such as manganese, zinc, copper, sulfur and selenium appear particularly important. But it can never be stressed too strongly that the body functions holistically and a deficiency or malfunction of any one of its myriad of incredibly complex and interdependent systems is almost invariably part of a more general malaise.

Damage to cells once done appears to be irreversible. That’s why although there may be ways to slow down the aging process, nobody’s yet figured out how to reverse it. By the time you see the visible evidence of nutritional deficiencies it’s probably already too late.

So in seeking to ensure an adequate supply of anti-oxidant enzymes, the only sensible policy to pursue is to ensure that the diet is rich in all essential nutrients.

Unfortunately that’s easier said than done in our “advanced” Western civilisation of these days. Intensive over exploitation of farm soils, the modern prevalence of highly refined grains, and the treatment of fruits and vegetables with preservatives, dyes, pesticides and even radiation is a proven disaster for vitamin and mineral retention in food.

This does not for a moment mean that it’s not worth trying to eat a diet rich in anti-oxidants - that’s to say a diet which includes lavish servings of fresh fruit and vegetables. But it does mean that a regime of sensible anti-oxidant supplements may be a wise precaution, and its one increasingly adopted by many well informed individuals, including physicians, as a sensible and cost effective form of health insurance.