I’ve been searching everywhere for information!

On what you ask?

Well you probably guessed by the title, I’ve been trying to find information about administering a baby with digestive enzymes.

Unfortunately we have had to put our little man on formula (at 5 weeks of age) as a result of his silent reflux.

I read in an old forum how a mother used enzymes with her child who suffered from very bad silent reflux. She had amazing results!

What did she do? Unfortunately her answer was somewhat SHORT and not very helpful! And I couldn’t contact her!

I searched and searched everywhere for an answer as to whether it would be safe to give my son digestive enzymes with his powdered milk and also any guidance as to dosage, timings etc.

I found very little to no information – I spoke to qualified dieticians, nutritionists, paediatricians, just about everyone you can imagine, all resulting with some form of disparity in their answers – though somehow I managed to piece everything together to come to my own conclusion.

Why digestive enzymes?

Breast milk contains many natural enzymes which help the baby digestive and assimilate the food quickly and easily.

However, with powdered milk, there are NO enzymes at all (unless you have a hydrolysed version – and this is only for the milk protein in the milk which is “pre-digested”, therefore there are no real enzymes present in the actual milk), as a result the baby’s system is overwhelmed with having to produce and utilise its owns enzymes to digest the food.

I wanted to say this in my own words, however Jon Barron summed it up so well, I just had to quote him:

After a few weeks of running about (mentally as well as physically) searching for any information, I received a surprise reply from someone at enzymedica (company specialising in enzymes), they told me that it would be safe to give the baby approximately 1/4 to 1/2 a capsule before each feed.

This is exactly what I did!

I was also happy to learn that their capsules were Vegan friendly – not that it would make much difference to my son.

At first, I was a bit apprehensive, as you can probably imagine, however I really wanted my son to take the enzymes as I personally knew the benefits of having them in my own diet.

My experience

I first started taking digestive enzymes back in 2004, when I read an article propounding their benefits.

At the time, I had acne and I was trying to solve this dilemma!

I had tried so many different pills, diets, skin care regimes…the list goes on!

When I read about digestive enzymes and how they help an overburdened system digest food, it seemed to make sense to try them.

Just before I started taking the enzymes, I was on quite a restricted diet to figure out what was causing my acne, hence I was in a long process of elimination.

From one extreme to another!

The same day I received my enzymes (in the morning), I had to go up north to visit some family too.

This was BAD news!

Some of my family eat quite unhealthy food, very processed and high in fat!

I knew this would be a big test for the enzymes so I decided to eat everything and not stress too much.

I was tired of restricting my diet!

I also wanted to see how far I could push it! Would these enzymes allow me to eat everything without getting acne?

The enzymes worked very well and my acne didn’t reappear unless I really overate and had very high fat meals.

I was pleasantly surprised and somewhat excited!

Anyway back to the topic…

My son’s results

After the first day all seemed well, his stools were normal and there was no sign of any disturbance.

He has been on the enzymes for nearly two months now and no problems at all!

I spoke to two paediatricians who didn’t object to the enzyme supplementation.

After initially giving my son a ¼ to ½ a capsule before each feed, I ended up mixing the enzymes with his actual milk as it was proving to be too difficult to give the enzymes in a little water via a syringe (especially when we travel!).

My advice

If you want to give your infant some form of digestive enzyme to ease the burden put on their system, I advise you speak to a paediatrician/specialist before going ahead.

If you’re given the green light, then great!  It’s probably one of the best decisions you’ll make for your child(ren).

In terms of taking enzymes for breast fed babies, this is something that I would not emphasize as much, though it is still good to do so.  However, from my “fact finding mission” I did learn that undigested proteins in the mother’s diet can seep into the breast milk, thereby causing the baby problems (this has been especially noticed with dairy products in the mother’s diet).

• Further reading:

(1) Foods matter article on Digestive Enzymes

(2) Jon Barron – Enzymes, Part 3 (You’ll also find parts 1 & 2 there too, I highly recommend you read them!)

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In yet another study showing the benefits of consuming foods high in Omega-3, Akira Sekikawa (MD) and colleagues found that rather than genetic factors contributing to the lower heart disease risk in Japan’s population, the actual Omega-3 content of Japanese diets may be responsible instead.

The study, cited in the August edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, involved 281 men living in Japan, 306 Caucasian American men and 281 Japanese-American men living in Hawaii.

The researchers conducted blood tests to measure total fatty acids and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Although the total fatty acid levels were similar amongst all three groups, the amount of fatty acids from fish consumption was twice as high among the Japanese men group as compared to both American groups.

The study also indicated that men living in Japan had significantly less atherosclerosis (plaque build up inside the arteries).

Dr. Sekikawa concluded that increasing the intake of Omega-3 fatty acids could “…have a very substantial impact on heart disease.”

Source: Sekikawa A., Curb J.D., Ueshima H., et al. Marine-derived n-3 fatty acids and atherosclerosis in Japanese, Japanese-American and white men: a cross-sectional study. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2008 Aug., 52(6):417-424

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Who would’ve thought that “The Health People” might advocate the consumption of cookies, huh?Ok there’s a slight catch, these aren’t ordinary cookies, they are enriched with CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid).

As a result of eating these enriched cookies, researchers found these healthy fatty acids to be present in breast milk at a higher level (46% ~ higher) than those who only consumed normal biscuits.

This doesn’t mean necessarily that all women have been given the green light to consume large amounts of biscuits and hence overdose on saturated fat and sugars.

The study aims to show how CLA supplementation can make its way into the breast milk and therefore benefit the child – I think it’s fair to surmise that

CLA is a group of fatty acids that has potential anti-cancer and antioxidant effects.

The study doesn’t show where you can buy these biscuits though!

Maybe you could get a CLA pill and put it in between two cookies, somewhat like a sandwich?!

Or on the other hand, just get rid of the biscuits and take the supplement by itself – yeah…that makes more sense!

Source

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This is usually as a result of people suffering from hay fever also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis. A condition which is caused by an allergy to grass or hay pollens.

Common symptoms are a runny and itchy nose, sometimes a blocked nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes.

I started suffering from hay fever when I was 10 years old. Every year the same symptoms would occur!

For those of you who do suffer from hay fever, you only know too well how annoying and frustrating it can be! Most doctors prescribe antihistamine pills which don’t actually combat the source of the problem. They only suppress the symptoms.

	Hay fever is an allergy?

YES! Hay fever is a result of an allergenic reaction in the body.

Most allergies, if not all, are a result of foreign proteins in the blood (due to them not being digested properly).

The body considers these proteins as foreign invaders and as a result, it releases amongst other things, histamine. Hence, this causes the aforementioned symptoms. ANTI- histamines therefore…I know you know but I’m still going to tell you…yes they block histamine receptors thereby stopping the SYMPTOMS and not the actual CAUSE.

Cure?

Most people don’t know that you can usually be cured from most allergies.

So you’re wondering what the cure is?

Simple, get rid of those foreign protein molecules in your system. The best and only way (that I know of) is by using proteolytic enzymes. I’m assuming you know what enzymes are, if not, just google it! Not my fault you weren’t listening in biology class

What these enzymes do is amazing! Not only do they digest the foreign protein in your blood and soft tissue, they also have an array of other possible health benefits (depending on which enzyme strands you take) including:

• Reduce inflammation for: Increased heart health, Cancer prevention and recovery, Alzheimer’s prevention, Fibromyalgia, Chronic fatigue, and more
• Cleanse the blood of debris
• Break down and remove Circulating Immune Complexes
• Dissolve arterial plaque
• Dissolve fibrin in the blood, reducing the risk of clots
• Eliminating the risk of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
• Raise the immune system
• Kill bacteria and viruses
• Improve circulation
• Eliminate autoimmune diseases
• Speed up recovery from sprains, strains, fractures, bruises, contusions, and surgery
• Speed up recovery time from workouts
• Help with MS
• Help with arthritis
• Remove plaque from teeth
• Help with sinusitis and asthma
• Dissolve scar tissue
• Aid in detoxing
• Improved body alkalinity
• Reduced risk of osteoporosis

(Source: http://www.jonbarron.org/baseline-health-program/08-26-2006.php)

Amazing huh?

I started taking proteolytic enzymes a few years ago and ever since I have not suffered from hay fever.

So where can I get these enzymes?

I buy them from Jon Barron’s Baseline Nutritionals company in the USA (it takes approximately a week to arrive in the UK – definitely worth the wait!)

They come in capsule form and are easy to take.

Best taken in-between meals (preferably an hour before or an hour after a meal at least).

Check out this in-depth article on proteolytic enzymes by Jon Barron:

http://www.jonbarron.org/baseline-health-program/08-26-2006.php

Just a side note: Many people wrongly self-diagnose themselves as having an allergy to a certain food or foods, when in actuality it is more of an intolerance to that food as a result of over indulgence in consuming processed foods and not having a varied diet. I read somewhere (don’t ask me where, I forgot, but it stuck in my head so it must’ve been a journal) that only 1% of all allergy claims are true allergies!

Let me know if any of you have had any experience with digestive or proteolytic enzymes with your hay fever, allergies or just your general experience with this supplement.

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Read: Acne – Part 1: Introduction, Acne – Part 2: Skincare

After having tried the myriad of products for my skin and not getting the results I wanted – i.e. clear skin – I was told by a friend that she had known someone who had really bad acne and had been prescribed some tablets by the doctor which worked wonders. She didn’t say anything else, probably because she didn’t know anymore, lol!

• Antibiotics

At this point in time, my knowledge on health, nutrition & exercise was next to nothing. So I didn’t realise that what I was actually being advised was antibiotics. Anyway, I booked an appointment with the doctor and told him my problem and how I was told about “some tablet” that can get rid of my acne. He was more than happy to prescribe the antibiotics, maybe he was getting a kickback from the pharmaceutical company, who knows? Imagine, even at this point I still didn’t know I was taking antibiotics, until I actually got the medicine from the pharmacist and even then I didn’t know the harmful effects of antibiotics, especially with long-term use!

So I started taking these tablets, hoping for the best and what did I get? The BEST! My skin returned to how it used to be! I was ecstatic! I was so incredibly happy! Everyone started complimenting me again, telling me how my skin had gone back to normal again and asking me what I was doing etc. At this time I was also using the Clinique skin care range.

I was so happy, back to the days where I didn’t have a care in the world!

And then…WHACK!

I started to put on weight (which is very abnormal for me!), my skin started to slowly deteriorate and I started to lose my clear skin! Ahhhhh!

I was so confused! Though at the time I didn’t know it, this was a blessing in disguise. As a result of this, I started to research and read heavily into acne, diet, nutrition and health! I wanted to know more about the tablets I was taking. I wanted to know what they were doing to combat the acne and whether what I was eating had any effect on my skin.

I was told quite categorically that acne and diet are not linked. Even now, if you go to some well established websites or doctors, they will regurgitate the same information. I’m telling you from first-hand experience that what you eat in most cases, if not all, has an effect on your skin!

What you put in your system has to come out some how, and if your internal processes are not functioning optimally then your skin is the largest organ, what better place to dump the rubbish.

I later learnt that not only do antibiotics kill the bad bacteria in your body, but also the good. That’s why alot of people are advised to take probiotics after a course of antibiotics, to help replenish the good bacteria in the gut.

Continually taking these antibiotics (doxycycline) resulted in my body becoming used to them and therefore it started to become resistant to its effects

• Vitamins

I started taking some multi-vitamins during my acne phase. At first, I had a skin reaction with one of them (Solgar VM-75), so I dropped that one. Than I tried the multi-vitamin by Dr. Murad which was VERY good. It also had some essential fatty acids and aminos as well as cleansing herbs in the formula. It was really good and probably had the most benefit to my skin.

After all my years of reading, researching and testing, I came to the conclusion that getting your nutrients and vitamins from food is the best source. Contrary to what many nutritionists and dieticians and supplement companies would advise. Unless you are severely deficient in a certain nutrient/vitamin, in which case take a supplement, I advise eating healthily. It doesn’t make any sense that every human being NEEDS 100% of every vitamin or nutrient every single day!

I know by making that statement, many will argue this point (i.e. supplemental vs whole food), but that’s their opinion, that’s right…OPINION, not FACT! Imagine, just 1 teeny weeny ounce of broccoli (approx. 28g) has 42% of ones RDI of Vitamin C! And that’s not taking into account the bioavailability and the co-factors of that vitamin C compared to synthetic Vitamin C (i.e. ascorbic acid) which is also very acidic! If you really want to take vitamin C, then take magnesium ascorbate, it is more gentle on the stomach and not acidic like ascorbic acid.

• Herbs

Yes I even tried the legitimate herbs! I went to a Chinese herbalist and after a brief consultation where I had to stick my tongue out so that my lung’s could be seen (JOKE!), I was prescribed several different herbs – all written in Chinese – hence I can’t really tell what they were. Though it is fair to surmise that one of the herbs was dandelion – the only reason I can tell you that is because of its EXTREMELY bitter taste!!! So what was the verdict? Did it work? Well it helped a little, but after spending £25 (approximately $50) per week, it didn’t seem very cost-effective, I’m trying to be very diplomatic in case you hadn’t realised!

I later tried drinking some dandelion tea (with a lot of honey) and it seemed to help my skin! Dandelion is one of the strongest lipotropics known to man. I first learnt about dandelion when I was taking a product called AcnEase, this product really helped my skin but again it was too expensive! As a student, one has to be very careful with expenditure!

Other herbs which cleanse the blood, liver and the kidneys were also very helpful (e.g. artichoke leaf, milk thistle – see below)

I was getting extremely frustrated, some things worked to an extent and some things didn’t work at all!

My cupboard was well on its way to becoming a small pharmacy!

• Other tablets

When I went to Malaysia in 2005, I was taking digestive enzymes (one capsule with each meal, containing protease, amylase, lipase, lactase and some other enzymes) and milk thistle (3x day, each capsule containing 175mg – 80% Silymarin). This combination proved to be amazingly…well…amazing! My skin was 99.9% clear – I guess not 100% clear because I was the only one looking at my skin with a microscope! And I wasn’t eating healthily. I was eating burgers, ice cream, all the bad food (from a health perspective) you can imagine, I was eating it! I first came across digestive enzymes and their incredible benefits to health when I was reading Jon Barron’s ‘Lessons From The Miracle Doctors’ (a free eBook which I advise EVERYONE to download, all you have to do is provide your name and email address, download here!).

Milk thistle is a herb which cleanses the liver and re-builds liver cells. It is an amazing herb with many benefits. If you want to know more about this herb, you know what to do…google it!

I remember reading on the acne.org forum about the benefits some people had with using cruciferous extract supplements, in particular, broccoli and broccoli sprout extracts. I never got round to using these, but the benefits I have gained from eating cruciferous vegetables since has been immeasurable!!! More about this in the ‘Acne & Nutrition’ article.
I remember when I went into the Himalaya Skin care shop in Malaysia and the sales assistant asked me what I was using for my skin, I told her what I was using…which was nothing! Just water. She asked me again, assuming that I hadn’t heard her correctly. I answered the same! She was totally shocked! I felt quite good! Even after that, she tried selling me some products, true sales person!

I guess after hearing this you would think that I had found my solution, right? Well you’re wrong! I wanted the perfect solution, which was to use nothing on my skin, be care-free like most of the other people I used to see everyday (that coupled with being lazy too!). Again, digestive enzymes and milk thistle were not cheap at the time.

• Summary

So what can you learn from this? Beware of what people advise you, always do your research! If something doesn’t work for you, move on and try something else – trial and improvement! Though I don’t take any supplements now, the use of a few of them (e.g. milk thistle, dandelion and digestive enzymes) has benefited me in the long-term by cleansing and rejuvenating my system.

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It sometimes confusing when one is bombarded with disparate views on various health topics. For example, one minute we are told that coffee is good for us, the next we are told that it is bad. What the…!? Okay, confusing is not the right word…maybe frustrating? Annoying? Sort it out Mr. Scientist? You get my point.

I’m about to present to you a fascinating way to discover the benefits of foods catered specifically for you (soon), yes you the individual! Well, it’s nothing really to do with me. I came across an interview conducted by Dr. John Berardi where he interviewed Dr. El-Sohemy in regards to ‘Nutrigenomics’. I found it so interesting I had to publish the article here.

Here’s an extract from the email I received from Dr.Berardi:

For example, what if I were to tell you that:

- Coffee reduces your risk of heart disease by 3x,
if you have one very specific gene

- However, if you have the opposite gene, your risk
goes up 10x

Also, what if I were to tell you that:

- Fish oil lowers blood lipids (like triglycerides),
if you have one very specific gene

- However, if you have the opposite gene, you don’t
get the same benefits

In addition, what if I were to tell you that:

- 3-5 cups of green tea per day is highly
beneficial, if you have one very specific gene

- However, if you have the opposite gene, you’ll
only need 1-2 cups for the same benefits

Well, I’m going to be telling you all of these things – and
more – in the following interview, an interview that
promises to change the way you view nutrition.

So without further to do, here’s the link:

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/members/showthread.php?t=10829

or alternatively:

http://www.t-nation.com/article/diet_and_nutrition/applied_nutrigenomics&cr=

P.S. I highly recommend Dr. Berardi’s ‘Precision Nutrition’ programme for weight loss/gain and healthier eating recipes.

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A new study from the Journal of Nutrition shows that caffeine has a positive effect on productivity. The study involved testing the efficacy of two antifatigue substances, caffeine and d-ribose.

Seventeen healthy volunteers were randomised to oral caffeine (200 mg/d), D-ribose (2000 mg/d), or placebo for 8 d.

The candidates were subjected to fatigue-inducing mental tasks: subjects performed a 30-min Uchida-Kraepelin psychodiagnostic test and a 30-min advanced trail-making test on four occasions.

During the tasks, the caffeine supplemented group was better than that of the placebo group. However, post-task fatigue was somewhat different. Though the perceived “…fatigue, motivation, or sleepiness was not significantly different…”, the actual amount of “…plasma branched-chain amino acid levels in the caffeine group were lower than those of the placebo group. Administration of D-ribose had no effect.”

When we get tired due to mental fatigue, plasma branched-chain amino acid (amino acid is protein in its lowest form, e.g. carbohydrate in its lowest form is glucose, fructose etc.) levels decrease.

The results show that the administration of caffeine improved task performance through the enhancement of central nervous system activity without increasing the sensation of fatigue. “However, further decreases in branched-chain amino acid levels indicate that caffeine might promote deeper fatigue than placebo.”

“In contrast, long-term fatigue is sometimes irreversible, and the compensation mechanisms that are useful in reducing acute fatigue are no longer effective. In this view, administration of caffeine might introduce unfavourable situations.”

Source:

Ataka, S., Tanaka, M., Nozaki, S., Mizuma, H., Mizuno, K., Tahara, T., Sugino, T., Shirai, T., Kajimoto, Y., Kuratsune, H., Kajimoto, O., Watanabe, Y. (2008) ‘ Effects of oral administration of caffeine and D-ribose on mental fatigue’, Nutrition, 24(3), pp. 233-238.

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Yet another study and benefit on the use of probiotic cultures has emerged. This time the study focuses on the positive results derived from the use of probiotics by those who suffer from HIV/AIDS.

The study (a joint project by African and Canadian researchers) suggests that taking gut-friendly bacteria may ease suffering from diarrhoea and nausea.

Twenty four participants (from the sub-Saharan region of Africa, all female) with HIV/AIDS were recruited, aged between 18 and 44 and with clinical signs of moderate diarrhoea.

The researchers (University of Benin, Benson Idahosa University, and the Canadian Research and Development Centre for Probiotics at the University of Western Ontario) assigned the subjects either a normal or probiotic yoghurt (approx. 100ml) for fifteen days.

At the end of the study, it was reported that the occurrence of diarrhoea, flatulence, and nausea was resolved in all 12 subjects receiving the probiotic yoghurt, compared to only two out of the 12 in the normal (control) yoghurt.

Before treatment, the average CD4 T-lymphocyte count (the immune system cells that the virus attacks) was over 200. After treatment, the average CD4 count remained the same in 92 per cent of the subjects in the probiotic group, while the level only remained the same in 25 per cent receiving the control yoghurt (i.e. without the probiotics).

Again, before treatment, the white blood cells count of the probiotic – supplemented group was 5.8 billion cells per litre and 6.0 billion cells per litre after. Fifteen days after the study and supplementation had stopped, the white blood cells count dropped to 5.4 billions cells per litre.

Although the study was somewhat small in terms of duration and number of participants, it shows promising signs of probiotic supplementation and its benefits amongst some of the poorest regions in the world affected by these diseases.

Source:

Anukam, K.C., Osazuwa, E.O., Osadolor, H.B., Bruce, A.W., Reid, G. (January 2008) Yogurt Containing Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri RC-14 Helps Resolve Moderate Diarrhoea and Increases CD4 Count in HIV/AIDS Patients, Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, Published online ahead of print.

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According to new data, the risk of having a premature baby could be halved if women supplement with folic acid for at least one year before conception.

The study on folate supplementation was conducted at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. 38,033 women participated in the first and largest U.S. study on folate supplementation prior to conception.

Other links to folate deficiency include early pregnancy and increased risk of neural tube defects.

That’s why nearly all grain products (especially breakfast cereals geared towards a predominantly female audience) are fortified with folic acid.

Women of childbearing age are currently recommended a daily dose of 400 micrograms, starting before conception.

At the 28th Annual Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) meeting, lead researcher Radek Bukowski told attendees that the benefits were of particular significance against very early premature births, those babies who are at the greatest risk of complications such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, chronic lung disease, and blindness.

The study is an observational analysis based on data from an earlier trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Bukowski continued stating “This evidence enabled us to determine that folate supplementation for at least one year is linked to a 70 per cent decrease in very early preterm deliveries (20 to 28 weeks in gestational age) and up to a 50 per cent reduction in early preterm deliveries of 28 to 32 weeks.”

Another recent study purported that folic acid supplementation during early pregnancy could also reduce the risk of cleft lip in infants by 33%.

Source(s):

R. Bukowski et al., 28th Annual Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) meeting, “Preconceptional Folate Prevents Preterm Delivery.

Wilcox, A.J., Lie, R.T., Solvoll, K., Taylor, J., McConnaughey, D.R., Åbyholm, F., Vindenes, H., Vollset, S.E., Drevon, C.A., Folic acid supplements and risk of facial clefts: national population based case-control study, British Medical Journal, 26 January 2007.

Decisionnewsmedia

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In the last week this story has been quite shocking, though many have yet to understand the whole story and full implications of what actually happend.

Twenty-four patients with acute pancreatitis (a rare and very serious disease) were taking part in a trial procedure to treat their condition.

The study was conducted as a result of smaller tests that had shown probiotics could help reduce the rate of infection in the pancreas.

In total thirty-three participants died, twenty-four in the study group and nine in the control group.

The experiment was a double-blind study, hence neither the patients nor researchers knew whether they were in the control or experimental group. Therefore the results could and did only emerge at the end of the trial.

The actual cause of death has yet to be identified, but researchers have narrowed it down to three possible causes:

1. The use of probiotics on intensive-care patients
2. Administering probiotics through feeding tubes into the intestine
3. Using the friendly bacteria in the acute phase of the disease

The European Food and Feed Cultures Association (EFFCA), which represents manufacturers of probiotic strains, said it is paying “serious attention” to the study and is awaiting the official publication of the findings. It also emphasized and reiterated the fact that acute pancreatitis sufferers have a high mortality rate and said the study had “no implications” for the ordinary use of probiotics in food, beverage or dietary supplements.

So contrary to the dubious headlines you may have seen or may see, the use of probiotic cultures in this study was on a group of people who had a serious and rare condition, where-in the mortality rate is high and the probiotic cultures administered in the study were done via a tube directly to the intestines (therefore this treatment was used as a drug as opposed to a nutritional supplement).

So what went wrong? Well we have to wait until the results of the investigation into the study are conducted and released. Until then, don’t be put off this valuable nutritional commodity.

Source: Decision News Media SAS

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