April 2010
Welcome to the monthly Ask Dr. Marty Newsletter. In response to several requests, I have decided to share some information based on questions that I frequently receive regarding natural health topics. I promise to keep the newsletter short. But if at any time you get overwhelmed with emails, please let me know and I’ll be glad to take you off of the mailing list. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the newsletter and hope that you will forward any questions you may have as well. Even if they don’t make it into the newsletter, I promise to answer all questions. All questions will be anonymous.
Question: I hear a lot about digestive enzymes. How do I know whether I need them? If I do, what kind of enzymes do I need?
Answer: For the purposes of this newsletter, I won’t personalize a plan for this individual. Instead, I will give some general guidelines and information regarding enzymes and hydrochloric acid, which is the digestive juice in your stomach. So…let’s start with a few questions.
Are you over 35?
Do you have burping, indigestion or heartburn more than once a week?
Are you hungry all the time?
Do you (or those around you!) suffer from your excessive flatulence? (Sorry, everyone, I’m sure this is not your favorite topic!)
Do you wish you had more energy?
Do you have brittle, soft, ridged, or yellowed nails?
A yes answer to any of the above questions could mean you need enzymes. The older we get, the fewer enzymes our bodies produce. So it’s even more important as we age, that we eat more raw foods since they contain their own enzymes.
Any signs of digestive difficulties might not make us popular at dinner parties, but more than that, they are warning signals. We shouldn’t tape over the “Check Engine” light on the dashboard. Why would we ignore our bodies’ signals? Our bodies deserve more care than our cars…
If we don’t have enough enzymes and hydrochloric acid to digest our food, we can’t break down that food into small enough pieces to be absorbed by the body. If we can’t absorb the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients out of our food, our poor bodies send out emergency signals for us to eat more, so that they can get more nutrients and have more energy. If we can’t absorb our food as fuel, it can deposit itself in unpleasant places as fat, like in thighs and stomachs. Bad spiral. Bad news.
I hear so many people say that they just pop the little purple pill, take an antacid, or use other over-the-counter or prescription medications. I never tell anyone they should discontinue medication since I am not qualified to make that suggestion. But you should know that when you take a hydrochloric acid blocker, reducer, neutralizer, or preventer, you are, of course, severely lessening your ability to digest your food. It’s not unusual to see someone gain 40 or 50 pounds within six to nine months of starting to take such medication.
So how do we avoid needing medication? First of all, prevention is the key. Acidic foods and beverages such as soda, coffee, sugar and excessive meat can erode the protective sodium lining of the stomach. Without that protective lining, the acids and enzymes would digest our own stomachs. Not a pleasant thought, but none-the-less true.
Another solution is to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables and supplement your diet with enzymes, like Food Enzymes or Papaya Mint. For more information on acidic foods, check out last month’s newsletter.
Hot Tip: Instead of three large meals a day, you may to try five smaller meals a day to ease the burden on that digestive system.
Next month …. The downside of MSG
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Maureen (Marty) Kernion is not a physician and does not diagnose nor prescribe. She received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Louisiana State University, and a Master of Science degree and Doctorate of Natural Health degree from Clayton College of Natural Health. She is the author of Going Natural with Herbs. Marty lectures on natural health topics across the country and has been featured at 78 Barnes and Noble book stores since her book was published. She is also a retired adjunct professor with Clayton College of Natural Health where she authored 39 courses in nutrition and herbal remedies.
It is always wise to advise your pharmacist or health care practitioner about any change in diet or supplements you plan to take, especially if you take any prescription medication.
“Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.” Ezekiel 47:12
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