Food Allergies and Digestive Enzymes

Food allergies and intolerances are commonplace in today’s world, and cause a great deal of discomfort and frustration for those living with them. However, many people who deal with the challenge of eating around forbidden foods may find life a little easier when incorporating digestive enzymes into their daily routine.

Digestive enzymes provide the catalysts which break down foods into absorbable nutrients like fatty acids, amino acids (building blocks of proteins), and simple sugars. Sometimes, a food sensitivity is simply the result of a person’s body not providing all of the digestive enzymes necessary to break down that food. In instances like this, supplementation can provide great results.

What Causes a Lack of Digestive Enzymes?

There are various reasons why a person might not be able to produce enough digestive enzymes on their own. Anything from diseases like pancreatitis, Crohn’s disease, and IBS, to inflammatory conditions like fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis can cause problems with the body’s ability to make enough digestive enzymes for complete digestion. Even every-day stress and aging can contribute to deficient enzyme production.

Further, the systems through which we acquire our foods often result in the delivery of “fresh,” raw foods that aren’t as fresh as we’d hope. When several days or even weeks pass between harvesting and eating, much of the natural digestive enzymes in that food have become inactive.

Shoppers will find a variety of digestive enzyme supplements on the market today, but not all of them are created alike. Once you’re aware of what you should be looking for in a high-quality supplement, the market becomes much smaller.

Enzyme Types & Sources

Proteins, fats, and carbohydrates all need different kinds of enzymes in order to be broken down into the micro-nutrients that our bodies are able to absorb. Knowing what kinds of foods give you difficulty is the first step to finding the right supplement for you. You may be able to find a supplement that is an all-in-one product, but you’ll find better results if you choose the right enzyme formula for the specific foods that troubles you.

Once you know the type you’re looking for, you want to find the right enzyme source. There are supplements on the market with enzymes derived from both plant and animal sources.  For most digestive concerns, plant enzymes are sufficient. You’ll want to take these before a meal. If you have more difficult issues and you know taking digestive enzymes at the beginning of a meal isn’t enough, you’ll want additional support following a  meal, which you will get from something like Premier HCL and Activator.

Thera-zyme Pan: Relief for a Common Problem

If you’re trying enzymes for the first time, a good place to start is with a multi-enzyme formula like Thera-zyme Pan (now renamed Loomis Enzymes Pan), formulated by Dr. Howard Loomis, a pioneer and leader in the therapeutic creation and application of enzymes.

Loomis Pan is a multi-enzyme formula great for those who have trouble digesting sugars such as sucrose, maltose, and lactose, as well as those with digestive issues related to grains and gluten. It contains 11 plant enzymes that are part of a specific formulation that will assist in the complete digestion of these foods as well as proteins and fats.

Some (but not all) of the indications that a person is in need of digestive support with regards to sugars, grains, or gluten are abdominal discomfort under left rib cage after eating, especially sugar, grains (gluten) or fruit; sensitive to air pollutants (perfumes, smog, smoke, etc.); craving for cold liquids and foods; history of asthma or bronchitis.

Anyone suffering from the frustration and irritation of these types of food allergies and intolerances owes it to themselves to give Loomis Pan a try. Whether you’re looking for protection against accidental ingestion at a restaurant or dinner party, or simply want to enjoy your favorite food you gave up years ago, you’ll be doing yourself and your body a favor by taking these digestive enzymes before that meal.

To learn more about the entire line of Loomis Enzymes, click here.