A-Z digestion support Articles

One of the three major categories of digestive enzymes in the human body are amylases. Amylase is produced by the pancreas and released into the small intestine during digestion. It is also produced in our saliva so some food can begin to be broken down in our mouths. In general, amylase is an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of starch into simple sugars. It is these sugar subunits that can be absorbed by the lining of our gut and passed into the bloodstream.

What is Starch?

Starch is a broad term used to describe a varied group of complex carbohydrates that share one underlying feature: they are chains made up of sugar subunits.

Each subunit is a single simple sugar (monosaccharide), such as: glucose, fructose, galactose, xylose, or ribose. They are all connected in long chains that take time to break down. Examples of starches in our food are: pasta, rice, bread, potato, sweet potato, and corn.

Amylase and Digestion

Amylase is an enzyme that breaks the bonds between each sugar subunit in a starch chain. The resulting simple sugar subunits are then absorbed into our blood stream and used by the cells in our body for energy. Amylase is first exposed to our food via the saliva in our mouths. Because of this, it is important to chew your food well to allow full exposure to amylase prior to swallowing. This digestion of starch to sugar in the mouth is what makes starches taste more and more sweet the longer you chew.

Types of Amylase

There are three major types of amylase: alpha, beta, and gamma. The form most useful to our everyday digestion is alpha amylase and this is the type most often found in supplements.

Signs of Amylase Deficiency

When there isn't sufficient amylase production by the pancreas, the body is unable to properly digest any starches that are eaten. This limits the amount of energy received from food, and leaves the remaining molecules to continue down the digestive tract where they can be acted on by the gut microbes. Having a healthy gut flora, that can produce amylase enzymes of their own, can help your body to properly digest these remnants. Abnormal gut flora will use these undigested starches as a food source and break them up using different reactions that produce toxins and gas. Because of this, improper carbohydrate digestion results in gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and any number of inflammatory symptoms such as: skin rashes, arthritic symptoms, and fatigue.

Alpha Amylase Inhibitors for Dieting

Interestingly, there is one type of diet pill that targets amylase and inhibits its function. This prevents the digestion and absorption of a large percentage of dietary starch. Thus, one can eat whatever starches they want without absorbing those calories from the food. Superficially, this seems like a great idea, but if you read the complications of amylase deficiency above, you can see how this could quickly result in a negative change in gut flora, and symptoms such as bloating, gas, and toxic buildup.

How Can I Get More Amylase?

Amylase can be found in any number of digestive aid supplements, often in combination with other digestive enzymes such as lipase and protease. In general, alpha amylase is the form found in these formulas. The recommended dosage varies depending on your body chemistry and the starch content of the food you are taking it for. It also depends on the source and activity of the enzyme preparation. A dose of between 75,000 and 300,000 USP is a general guideline, based on recommendations for pancreatin supplementation. Please note that the dosing on many of these supplements is intentionally confusing and the amount per gram may be listed, when the actual dose is a fraction of that. In general, because of the lack of standardization, dosing your amylase supplement will require a bit of trial and error on your part.

Important Information

It is not known if supplementation of digestive enzymes during pregnancy or breastfeeding can cause harm to the baby so avoid supplementation during these times. Taking too much amylase at one time may cause diarrhea or stomach pain.

Gentian is a natural herb or botanical used in natural medicine. It can be found under various names such as Bitter Root, Bitterwort, Gall Weed, and many other names. It is from the family of herbs called Gentianaceae and offers a bitter flavour, making the Gentian herb beneficial for proper digestion. 

The Medicinal Properties Found In The Gentian Herb

The root, rhizome and less commonly the bark are used for their medicinal properties, which include, Secoiridoidal and iridoid glycosides such as gentiopicroside, xanthones, monoterpene alkaloid; polyphenols and flavones. 

It's these constituents that provide this herb with its anti-inflammatory, carminative, hepatic, anti-parasitic, emmenagogue, febrifuge and gastric benefits.

Key Health Benefits of The Gentian Herb

Gentian is used for many conditions, as a bitter it is used to treat digestive conditions such as: 

• Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining)
• Heartburn
• Reflux
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Indigestion
• Bloating 
• Gas

Caution – do not use in cases of stomach and duodenal ulcers.

This herb is also commonly used:

• Topically to disinfect and treat skin infections and clean wounds.

And For:

• Fever
• Inflammation
• Stress
• Muscle Spasms
• Parasites
• High Blood Pressure 
• Start Menstrual Flow

Making Herbal Blends: Herbs That Mix With Gentian Herb

To enhance its medicinal benefits, it can also be used in combination with other herbs, like Elderflower, Verbena, Cowslip, and Sorrel to treat sinus infections and sinusitis. Or with Angostura Bitters to make a liver tonic. 

How Does The Gentian Herb Work In Your Body?

Gentian stimulates the secretion of digestive enzymes in the small intestine. In the stomach, it increases stomach acid and pepsin and also stimulates the liver to produce bile. This aids in overall digestion, decreasing symptoms of heartburn, reflux, gas, and indigestion, which are more commonly caused by low stomach acid and deficient digestive enzymes. 

As an antiseptic and anti-parasitic, it actively kills bacteria and parasites either internally or externally.

This herb can also ameliorate fever, and muscle spasms and helps blood pressure by affecting the circulation system in your body. By affecting the circulation system, hormonal system and liver, it also helps to initiate the menstrual cycle in cases of stalled menses or amenorrhea.

Understanding How To Use This As A Herbal Supplement

Gentian, like most herbs, can be made into a decoction (tea) from the dried or fresh herbs. In liquid form, it can be made into a tincture or extract or it can be dried and made into capsules or tablets. Topically, to cleanse wounds and treat infections it can be used in a liquid extract form.

Cautions & Considerations For Herbal Supplements

Caution should be exercised when collecting this herb as it appears similar in appearance to Veratrum Album which is toxic.

If you have low blood pressure or are taking high blood pressure medications, use caution as this herb can lower blood pressure further, resulting in possible dizziness. Do not use in cases of active stomach or duodenal ulcers as it increases the production of stomach acid and duodenal secretions which may aggravate these ulcers.

Long ago when refrigeration was not available food would spoil…so humans invented ways to preserve food via fermenting to lengthen shelf life. Miso is one example of a fermented food. In Asian cultures, Miso is incorporated into peoples’ diets daily. Due to miso's health benefits, instead of coffee and breakfast cereal, Miso is often served at breakfast to start your day off right…

What Is Miso?

Miso is a paste made from soybeans, sea salt and a mould starter called Koji. It’s often mixed with grains like barley or rice and then fermented for 3 months to 3 years. The result is a salty flavorful paste you can use in soups, stews and sauces.

Key Health Benefits of Miso

Miso is used not only as a yummy soup to begin your day but it has many health benefits as well. The Japanese culture uses it to stimulate digestion and energize the body. It’s generally served at the beginning of a meal to prepare your digestion system for food.

It’s also used for improving poor, sluggish or compromised digestion, detoxifying your body, and nutritionally providingneeded Vitamin B12 and complete veggie protein.

Understanding How Miso Benefits Your Health

Miso’s action to detoxify your body is rooted in a compound it contains called Zybicolin. Zybicolin can bind toxins in your body and remove them. This includes environmental pollutants in the air and buildings, chemicals and toxic elements like lead and mercury. It can even neutralize radioactive material via an alkaloid called Dipilocolonic Acid. Dipilocolonic Acid also chelates heavy metals and discharges them from your body.

As for its ability to improve digestion, Miso acts on your digestive system in several ways. First, it is high in Vitamin B12 which you need for many functions in your body, including healthy digestion. Miso also stimulates digestive enzyme production in your stomach and intestines. Sufficient digestive enzymes are necessary for the effective breakdown of food. Miso further restores beneficial probiotics in your gut to make sure you retain gut flora and balance.

Some studies also show that Miso, because it is a fermented soy product, is protective against unhealthy cell growth.Studies also show that the Soy Isoflavones in Miso protect against strong estrogens which can contribute to the development of some unhealthy cell replication. Lastly, studies show that Melanoidins found in miso cut the growth rate of unhealthy cell growth potential in the colon in half. 

Tips For Incorporating Miso In Your Diet

Miso comes in multiple varieties, from rice to barley. They vary in colour from light yellow to dark brown. The darker the brown pigment in Miso the higher the concentration of melanoidins, and the lighter the colour, the sweeter and milder the flavour.

Take a tsp of Miso and add hot water to dissolve the paste for a quick cup of Miso soup. Add Miso to homemade soup or stews instead of soup flavouring. Or make traditional Miso soup with seaweed, shitake, green onion and kale for a nutritional meal over Kelp Noodles.

The pancreas is a relatively large gland near the small intestine and stomach that spans a large part of the upper abdomen to the spleen. For digestion, the pancreas releases digestive enzymes into the small intestine, continuing the breakdown of food after it leaves the stomach. It also releases bicarbonate, neutralizing any stomach acid in the intestines. In the bloodstream, the pancreas releases several hormones, including insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating the amount of sugar taken into your cells and the amount left in the bloodstream. The pancreas is one of the first glandular extracts studied by the scientific community. This research led to the development of the first treatments for diabetes. Purified pancreatic extract is often referred to as "pancreatin".

Key Health Benefits of The Pancreas

Pancreas and Diabetes

The pancreas has two major roles. Malfunctions of this organ can appear in two different ways - diabetes or maldigestion and malabsorption. 

But not to worry, each pancreatic function is performed by a distinct subgroup of cells, so having one problem does not mean you will have both.

Type I Diabetes is caused by the destruction of the subclass of cells in the pancreas that produce insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. This is different from Type II Diabetes, which has to do with the sensitivity of insulin receptors in the body's cells.

Pancreatic Insufficiency and Digestion

Enzymes naturally occur in all raw foods. We refer to the "ripeness" of a food as its readiness to be eaten. Ripe foods are most abundant in enzymes that are used for digestion; however, these enzymes are destroyed by cooking and processing. This means that most foods consumed by the average person today are deficient in enzymes. This forces the body to make up the difference, which it is sometimes unable to do. This state is often known as "enzyme deficiency" or "pancreatic insufficiency". 

Pancreatic insufficiency results in limited quantities of digestive enzymes that break down starch (amylase), protein (protease), and fats (lipase) into subunits that are small enough to be absorbed through your intestinal walls.

When there are insufficient enzymes present in the amount of food that you consume, you do not get the nutrition you need from the food that you eat. This can result in weight loss or weight gain (a compensation by the body) and physical symptoms of nutritional deficiency such as fatigue, dry skin, hair loss, and brittle nails. At the same time, the food that you do not completely digest in your small intestine continues to your colon where it is broken down by intestinal microbes which can result in gas, bloating, cramping, constipation or diarrhea and steatorrhea (fat in the stool).Undigested food particles in people with "leaky gut" can result in immune reactions and a litany of resultant health concerns such as autoimmune diseases. People with any combination of the above symptoms can often benefit from supplementation of pancreatic enzymes. The most natural way to get these enzymes in the proportions they are producedin nature, without changing food preparation habits, is to take pancreatic extract.

Pancreatic Extract Supplements

Although pancreatic extract was the first treatment available for those with diabetes in the early 1900s, it was quickly replaced by more effective and concentrated pharmaceuticals like insulin in the 1930s as well as other medications as time progressed. An effective way to supplement missing digestive enzymes in people with insufficient pancreatic function is to ingest an extract created from an animal pancreas. The most common sources are bovine (cow), porcine (pig), and ovine (sheep). It is theorized that supplementing with pancreatic glandular extract can provide the body with the nutrients, cofactors, precursors and enzymes necessary to promote proper pancreatic function.

Tips For Taking Pancreatic Extract

Pancreatic extract can be found in products from several sources, such as tablets or capsules. Like other glandulars, it is important to ensure that the extract comes from a reliable and safe source. Animals raised in New Zealand are often the best and safest source. Unfortunately, like other glandular extracts, there is very little standardization, and the dose depends on the underlying need and the concentration of each formula. Following the manufacturer's recommended dosing on the label and monitoring symptoms are often the best way to determine your correct dose.

Important Information About Pancreatic Extract

There is little safety information on pancreatic extract available. Because of this, it is best to err on the side of caution and at least follow the same restrictions as those that apply to pancreatin supplementation (as follows). "Do not take pancreatin if you are pregnant or nursing. Do not use if you have active bleeding or blood disorders or if you use blood thinners, and discontinue pancreatin 2 weeks prior to dental work or surgery. Pancreatin can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mouth and skin irritation, and allergic reactions."