Probiotics vs. enzymes—do you need both?

Current estimates show that about 100 million Americans suffer from some type of digestive problem. 

For some people, GI problems are merely annoying and uncomfortable.  For others, they may dramatically impact their lifestyle and cause frequent absences from work or school.

And still for others, their conditions may be extremely crippling and even in some instances fatal.

But there's one common emotion among ALL digestive misery sufferers:

THEY WANT RELIEF!

The typical options for relief are acid reducers, antacids and/or laxatives. 

But these solutions are temporary at best, and many times cause side effects to boot.  So naturally, people become frustrated and begin looking for other answers.

The great news is there are two very effective types of supplements that can give your body some welcome assistance, help dramatically improve your digestion and leave you feeling tremendously better, without medication side effects!

Digestive enzymes and probiotic supplements.   

Many of my clients ask which product is right for them—Digestizol Max digestive enzyme formula or Super Shield multi-strain probiotic formula.  Although they can both be very helpful, they have two distinct and different functions in your body.

Let's take a look at these two types of supplements and see how they can help YOU feel better.

How they differ

Digestive enzymes

Digestizol Max is a dose of natural, plant-derived enzymes which mimic the actions of the digestive enzymes that your body produces.  It works to break down your foods while you are eating, thereby helping to encourage more complete digestion. 

Digestizol Max does its work in the stomach and small intestine.  The enzymes in the formula are activated when they come into contact with their particular "target food" and reach the proper pH environment of the stomach or small intestine.   

Once your foods are broken down, Digestizol Max's primary work is done.  Then your (more thoroughly broken down) food completes its journey through the intestinal tract…and you likely will have a much easier time when Nature calls as a result!

Digestive enzymes can also help from a general therapeutic perspective as well.

ALL of your body's functions--not just digestion--depend on the actions of enzymes.  Your other major type of enzyme--metabolic enzymes—orchestrate all of your body’s processes and repair damage. 

Your body manufactures both metabolic and digestive enzymes, depending on what your specific needs are.

But your body’s ability to produce enzymes is limited, and conserving in one area (such as by supplementing with digestive enzymes) can help allow for more resources for another area. 

Probiotics

Super Shield, on the other hand, is not an enzyme but a dose of 13 strains of the same type of beneficial bacteria that you (ideally) should have a strong population of in your intestines. 

These friendly bacteria do help to break down certain starches and fibers in your intestines, so in that respect probiotics do share some of that responsibility with digestive enzymes.

However, the functions of your intestinal flora go WAY beyond digestion-with the most significant being your immune system. 

70 percent of your immune system resides in those friendly little inhabitants of your intestines.  So when their numbers are low and they're "outweighed" by harmful bacteria, that can have a tremendous impact on your immune system functioning.

This leaves you susceptible to every bug, virus and infection around.   

It also makes you more susceptible to "mixed up" immune responses --leading to flare-ups or worsening in autoimmune conditions such as Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as allergies.

Do you need both?

Both a healthy supply of digestive enzymes and properly balanced intestinal flora are extremely important.

To determine what your needs might be, you only have to do two things.

LOOK at yourself and LISTEN to your body.

LOOK at yourself

It’s time to face the music and be honest here:

Has your diet been "less than stellar?" 

Are your 4 food groups Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Burger King and Dunkin Donuts?

Would you not know a fresh fruit or vegetable if it jumped up and bit you in the derriere?

Was Jimmy Carter president the last time you ate a tossed salad? 

Or do you frequently use antacids or acid reducers? 

If so, you're putting a tremendous amount of stress on your body to digest what you've eaten.  And chances are excellent that you've impacted your body's ability to product adequate digestive enzymes and could benefit from a boost with Digestizol Max.

On the other hand, if you're more of a carb lover, you drink lots of soda and your 4 food groups are bread, pasta, bagels and cookies, chances are excellent that you may have some harmful bacteria overgrowth (dysbiosis) going on in your gut.

Refined carbs such as these turn to pure sugar upon digestion and act as nourishment for your harmful gut inhabitants, so they can grow out of control and overcome your friendly flora.

That means you may need to help repopulate your army of helpful bacteria with Super Shield.

In addition, other factors also destroy your helpful bacteria--these include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, not getting enough sleep, taking medications and stress. 

So if any of those are part of your daily life, your gut flora could be paying the price.

LISTEN to your body

Your body is constantly talking to you.  You just need to listen to it.

Here are some signs that something is awry and what it could be caused by:

Problem	Low digestive enzymes	Imbalanced intestinal flora
Gas, bloating and cramps	X	X
Heartburn; acid reflux	X
Diarrhea	X	X
Constipation	X	X
Autoimmune flare-ups		X
Frequent colds, flu, infections		X
Nutritional deficiencies	X	X
Low energy	X	X
New or worsening allergies		X
New or worsening skin conditions		X
High cholesterol or triglycerides	X	X
Headaches	X
Anxiety; depression		X
Body aches and pains	X	X

In our world filled with dietary temptations, convenience foods, long work hours and stress, it's very rare that someone does NOT need a little help now and then.

So it's essential to honestly examine how you're feeling…and give your body whatever help it might need so you can stay on a path of great health into your golden years!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia

PS: Always be sure to let your doctor or healthcare provider know what supplements you are taking.