Digestion/Assimilation

Plant enzymes are important because they are capable of digesting food before the body’s own digestive process begins. In other words, plant enzymes can enhance the digestion of food and the delivery of nutrients to the blood even if you have a compromised digestive system.

Most Americans have an issue with proper digestion and elimination! Furthermore, as we age, the body loses approximately 10% of its enzymes reserve for every 10 years of age.

Three very broad classifications of enzymes are:

1. Plant enzymes (Proactazyme) - occur in raw food and, when present in the diet, begin the process of digestion
2. Digestive enzymes (Food Enzymes) - produced by the body to break food into particles small enough to be carried across the gut wall.
3. Metabolic enzymes - produced by the body to perform various complex biochemical reactions
   
   

Start with Proactazyme Plant Enzymes     Benefits: Assists with the body's natural digestion process (except dairy). Powerful, yet gentle plant-based enzyme formula May help with gas-related gastrointestinal discomfort Recommended Use: Take 1–3 capsules with or between meals daily.

or Food Enzymes For people over 30     People over 30 often have less digestive HCI and fewer pancreatic digestive enzymes. Benefits: Supplements the body’s production of important enzymes. Provides a blend of enzymes to digest proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Provides hydrochloric acid and bile salts to help digest (animal) proteins and fats. Helps relieve occasional indigestion. Recommended Use: Take 1–3 capsules with a meal three times daily.

Note from Four Winds Nutrition
If you eat a salad made of vegetables only... take 1 capsule
If you eat a heavy meal with meat/poultry/fish etc. take 3 or 4 capsules before your meal.

More Info about the digestive system & specific digestive issues

II. The Gut: starting place for building health

Points to remember

Your GI (gastrointestinal) tract is foundational to your health. It is the starting place for building health and no other organ or system can fully heal until the gastrointestinal tract is supported. If you want to regain your magnificent energy, feel good allover and achieve long term health then start by fully understand the "Gut Connections".

Your GI tract is responsible for 70% of your ability to resist disease (Immunity is responsible to prevent diseases!).

The "Gut" is also being considered as a key player in regulating inflammation (as we all know, inflammation is the common factor for virtually all diseases in the body)

Your intestines also serve as one of the major pathways of elimination. They quite literally help the body get rid of crap it does not need.

Your intestines produce numerous neurotransmitters that influence your mood, which is why some researchers have referred to them as the gut brain or second brain.

What To Do
Improving gut flora enhances immune resistance to infection, reduces allergic and autoimmune reactions, improves digestive function, and can even enhance mood.

How?
Simply by taking a probiotic formula morning and night. I prefer to recommend taking those first thing in the morning in a glass of room temperature water and at night just before retiring (1 capsule A.M. and 2 caps at night).
Product recommended: Eleven Elevated (for the first month then switch to Probiotic Eleven).

Start with Eleven Elevated for the first month Provides 30 billion CFU of 11 strains of beneficial bacteria per serving     Benefits: Provides 30 billion CFU of 11 strains of beneficial bacteria per serving Helps support repopulation and optimization of beneficial bacteria in the gut More potent than Probiotic Eleven formula Featuring delayed-release vegetarian capsules Recommended Use: Take two capsules daily with a meal.

Then switch to Probiotic Eleven Probiotic Eleven contains a total of 18 billion friendly bacteria     Benefits: Supports Repopulation of Beneficial Bacteria in the Gut Provides 18 billion of 11 strains of beneficial bacteria Supports digestive health Recommended Use: Take 3 capsules daily with a meal. Keep refrigerated or frozen.

Note from Four Winds Nutrition
When beginning a probiotic regimen, start with Eleven Elevated for 30 days then transition to Probiotic Eleven as a daily use probiotic. You may also use Eleven Elevated periodically to boost or strengthen your daily regimen or under times of increased stress

More Info about the "Gut" & intestinal issues