Re:beginning - (enzyme mode of action)

[Guest guest]

> The enzymes help your child process the foods that are causing the

> problems. But how much processing is being done by the enzymes

isn't known. I'm sure it's individual.

Enzymes by nature and definition have a very specific action. Each

particular enzyme does a particular job and nothing else. If you take

an enzyme for carbos, and don't eat any, the enzyme stays inactive.

If carbos are present they do their job, and stop. Think of enzymes

as a category like micronutrients or vitamins. Then start looking at

which enzymes you are interested in. Some work on fats, some on

carbos, some on proteins, etc. Within each group, say proteins, then

you need to look at WHICH proteins they act on. This is why

individual formulations give different results.

We tried a bottle of digestive enzymes for proteins from the HFS. We

did not see any improvement. Then we tried one specifically

formulated for casein degradation. Great improvement.

For the most part, digestive enzymes " cut " or cleave large protein

chains into smaller protein chains and ultimately into individual

amino acids. If your body does not have enough of the right kinds of

enzymes to sufficiently cut up the protein chains completely, you may

have problems. Again this varies by individual and over time.

> These foods cause different effects in our kids,

> different areas are being damaged. So while it may appear that your

> child is able to eat anything while taking enzymes, no one knows

> for sure if there is still some damage being done.

I can only speak of my own case, but I can tell that no damage is

being done. We have found that my oldest son and I get terrible

migraines starting about 2 hours after ingesting even a little casein

(half piece sliced cheese, creamer in coffee). With enzymes, much

larger portions produce no reaction for either of us. So I KNOW that

whatever is causing the reaction in us is being cleared by the

enzymes. We are fortunate to have such an obvious and

quick " barometer " which makes it easy to determine effectiveness. It

would be much more questionable without this as a guide. As with

everything we deal with, this varies by individual. And it depends on

your comfort level with the treatment.

> I would not go off the diet in exchange for the enzymes. But I do

> use papain (papaya enzyme) with the diet, just in case he gets

> something that could harm him (such as wheat bread crumbs in his

> peanut butter, due to having too many kids not paying

> attention to which peanut butter is NOT theirs).

The lovely thing about enzymes is using them as supplements is not an

either/or thing. Papain/papaya and bromelain from pineapple are

natural digestive enhancers that are also found in many products. And

all digestive aids help with the " just in case " situations, and

comfort level.

Hope this helps.

.