Let’s play an “imagine” game for a moment...

Let’s say you went to the doctor because you’ve been having symptoms like indigestion, bloating, heartburn and gas.

After going through the typical routine of stepping on the scale and having your vitals taken, the doctor comes in and asks what the issue is.

And most times within 10 minutes or less, you’ll walk out with one or more prescriptions which will probably include an acid reducer.

Will you feel better? Maybe. But it’s very likely that you’ll eventually suffer side effects from the meds while the underlying cause of your symptoms continues to be completely ignored.

Here’s what I mean:

Your essential enzymes

Every single process in your body depends on enzymes--breathing, digestion, circulation, thinking, immune system functioning, your ability to read this email--everything.

We have 2,700 known enzymes in our bodies, and each one binds to a certain substance and has a very specific job. Plus, enzymes facilitate more than 150,000 biochemical reactions and empower every cell in your body to function.

So, when you're low in one or more of them, it can compromise your body’s ability to function and eventually make you extremely sick.

And the fact that enzyme deficiencies are largely ignored by modern medicine means there are a whole lot of people suffering that shouldn’t be, and that’s a bloody disservice.

Let’s look at just how important enzymes are to your body, a few ways you can tell if you might be running low and how you can help turn that around.

The three types of enzymes

There are three types of enzymes your body uses—metabolic, digestive and food enzymes.

Metabolic enzymes run and heal your body, give structure to macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates and fats) and repair damage.

Digestive enzymes, as you would expect, break down the food you eat.

Food enzymes are not made by your body—instead, they are a naturally occurring part of the food you eat, and they actually help the digestion process along too.

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

Note that your ability to produce enzymes is limited, and conserving in one area allows for more resources for another.

So, for example, if you eat a healthy diet and require fewer digestive enzymes to break down your meals than someone whose four food groups are Taco Bell, Dunkin Donuts, KFC and Burger King, your body will have more “enzyme resources” to produce the metabolic enzymes you need.

The many faces of an enzyme deficiency

Since enzymes are the catalysts behind all your body’s processes, the health symptoms of having too few of them can run the gamut.

Here are just some of the conditions that are caused or worsened by enzyme deficiencies:

• Headaches

• Frequent sinus infections or bronchitis

• Glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration

• Skin rashes, hives, breakouts

• Psoriasis

• Irregular heartbeats, palpitations

• Chest pain

• High cholesterol or triglycerides

• Shortness of breath, asthma, wheezing

• Gallbladder problems

• Acid reflux

• Constipation, diarrhea

• IBS, diverticulosis/diverticulitis, colitis

• Joint pain, arthritis

• Osteoporosis

• Panic attacks

• Insomnia

• Painful menses

• Low libido

...and many, many more.

How will I know?

Typically, doctors don't think about questioning someone's enzyme levels unless there is an obvious sign of a problem like serious digestive problems. Then they may test for deficiencies in bile or hydrochloric acid production. 

But more often than not, a symptom-based solution is simply offered--including acid reducing medications (which only make the real problem worse--not better).

Plus, if any of the other enzyme-related issues above pop up, chances are good you’ll be given symptomatic solutions for those too, whether it’s pain relievers, laxatives, statins, antibiotics, bronchodilators, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, anti-inflammatories, you-name-it.

And a lack of enzymes probably won’t even be suspected as the culprit.

Fortunately, there are a few self-evaluation exercises you can do to see if you might have a certain enzyme problem brewing inside of you:

1. The liver questionnaire

Here is a quiz to help detect issues with your liver’s bile production—see how many apply to you: 

Have you had or do you have:

• Your gallbladder removed or have gallbladder issues

• Liver disease

• Thyroid issues (hypothyroid or hyperthyroid)

• Ileostomy surgery

• Incomplete digestion of fats (a telltale sign is either belching after eating fat or BMs that float)

• Light-colored, smelly or frothy stools

• Diarrhea

• Abdominal discomfort, gas and bloating on a regular basis

• Weakness, fatigue

• Nutrient deficiencies, especially vitamins A, D, E and K

• Water retention

• Low serum albumin levels

• A tendency to bleed easily

• Unexplained weight loss

Your total score: ______________

As you might guess, the more yes responses you have, the greater the chance of decreased bile output.

2. The stomach questionnaire

Have you had or do you have:

• Bloating, belching, burning and flatulence immediately after meals

• Indigestion, diarrhea or constipation

• Food allergies

• Rectal itching

• Nausea after taking supplements

• Brittle fingernails

• Acne

• Iron deficiency

• Dilated blood vessels in the cheeks and nose

• Undigested food remnants in the stool

• Chronic candida infections

Your total score: ______________

In this case, the more yes responses you have, the greater the likelihood of hypoacidity (low stomach acid secretion).

3. The “fess up” test

This is an excellent indicator of how many food enzymes you’re taking in, as well as how many digestive enzymes you may be using to break down your meals.

Take a piece of paper and draw a vertical line down the middle. Label the column on the left "Enzyme Foods" and the column on the right "Non-Enzyme/Dead Foods."

Then write down every single thing you eat and drink for the next three days in the appropriate column using these guidelines:

ENZYME FOODS

Enzyme Foods ARE:

• Fresh (raw) fruits 

• Fresh vegetables that are either raw or lightly cooked 

• Tossed salads--fresh greens and raw vegetables only

• Fresh squeezed vegetable or fruit juices

• Raw nuts and seeds

Enzyme Foods are NOT:

• Fruit cocktail or other canned, frozen, cooked or processed fruit

• Canned or frozen vegetables, or vegetables that have been cooked until soft or mushy

• Salads toppings like cheese, meat, croutons, bacon bits and dressing

• Juices that have been made from concentrate, pasteurized or processed in any other way

• Roasted nuts or seeds

NON-ENZYME FOODS (aka "Dead" foods)

• Anything that is NOT an Enzyme Food (see list above)

• Meats

• Dairy products 

• Eggs

• Processed, packaged foods

• Fast food including burgers, hot dogs, pizza, tacos, fried chicken or fish, fries, onion rings, etc. 

• Soda

• Alcohol

• Cooked or processed carbohydrates such as pasta, bread, rolls, pastries, cookies and rice

After the three days are up, look at your lists. If your Non-Enzyme Food column is spilling over onto multiple pages and your Enzyme Food column is practically non-existent, chances are excellent that you've been depleting your enzyme capability with lots of "dead" foods and may have a deficiency brewing.

Where do you go from here?

Now you might be thinking, "OK, what am I supposed to do now? Become a raw foodie?"

Of course not.

This exercise was meant to enlighten you--not to tell you never eat another cooked piece of food again.

What you do need to do is make sure to incorporate MORE enzyme foods into your diet to get the natural food sources of enzymes, plus help your body’s enzyme resource capabilities as needed with enzyme supplementation.

I can help you achieve both of those.

First of all, my Great Taste No Pain health system shows you how to create easier to digest meals featuring delicious enzyme foods.

You won't feel like you're eating "rabbit food" when you taste the Great Taste No Pain recipes!

Plus, you'll be combining all of your meals in a way that supports more efficient digestion, which will also help conserve your precious enzyme resources.

As far as enzyme supplementation goes, Digestizol Max is the way to go!

Digestizol Max provides a variety of 15 plant-based enzymes that each have their own specialty and target the different types of foods you eat, plus a blend of soothing herbs like peppermint, ginger and fennel.

Studies show that supplements that have a wide array of enzymes are the most effective and help the most people!

When you give your body the help and resources it needs to manufacture your enzyme requirements, you are helping it to stay strong, healthy and work just like Nature intended it to.

To your health,

Sherry Brescia