Inflammation and Diet:
Thirty-eight years of experience in holistic health and naturopathy has taught me that inflammation is the leading cause of death and that food is a primary contributor to inflammation. Most people don’t know that.
I have six digestive supplements that I recommend for my clients based on their symptoms and lab test results. My two favorites are “DigestAid” and “Digestive Enzymes” which remain the two biggest sellers from repeat clients. I have utilized DigestAid in my practice for over 30 years and have not found any supplement that works as well for “most of the people most of the time.”
DigestAid is typically the one I recommend for Blood Type O and B people, and also for Blood Type A people who consume fish/seafood, poultry and meat. Ideally, it should be taken during a meal, but some clients report their digestion is improved if they take it 15-60 minutes prior to eating.
Digestive Enzymes is the one I recommend for Blood Type A people who are vegetarians, for younger people with milder digestive symptoms and for those with more sensitive stomachs and delicate digestive tracts.
As a side note, I put everyone on “ProBiotics” – that’s the name of another one of my private-label formulas that I have utilized in my practice for over 30 years!!! I typically recommend 1-2 in the morning and 1-2 at bedtime depending on personal need.
More about the importance of digestion: Digestion is critical to overall health. The body’s production of digestive enzymes drops significantly starting in our mid-20’s and by their mid-40’s many people are turning to over-the-counter remedies and prescription medications which, although they may minimize symptoms, they do not address the fundamental root causes which are a lack of production of important digestive enzymes.
Digestive concerns can become so predominant that it controls people’s lives and by that time a healthful diet and exercise program are just not enough to provide optimal health because the body is just not producing enough digestive enzymes to digest even the healthiest of meals.
Health-conscious people often focus on eating healthfully but only get partial benefits if they lack the digestive enzymes that are necessary for breaking down the food they are eating. Without beneficial digestive enzymes to fully breakdown food, the accumulation of inflammation can result in long-lasting health conditions including cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, diabetes, arthritis, reflux conditions, GERD, IBS, constipation, excess weight and even depression.
In the medical field, it is generally expected that many of the conditions that I just named will develop over time. Numerous over-the-counter remedies and prescription medications are available for treatment; while they may provide some relief, their side effects often dissuade people from continuing their usage.
Digestive enzymes are likely the most important product amongst dietary supplements as they provide first-line defense for preventing disease and supporting excellent health. I even rank them higher on my “Supplements to Take List” than multiple vitamins and minerals. The focus of my practice is to analyze deficiencies and imbalances in all of my clients, and I accomplish that through intensive questioning and lab tests.
Lab Tests:
To assess inflammation and determine which enzyme supplements are best for an individual, I rely on important blood tests including C-Reactive Protein, Fibrinogen, Lp-PLA2 which is known as the “plaque test,” liver enzymes AST, ALT and GGT, ESR, RF, BUN and Uric Acid. Additionally, cholesterol levels provide good information about digestion. It’s important to establish baseline testing and monitor blood levels over time – seeing the blood levels improve is great medicine for the brain!!! And it’s a great confidence builder when your doctor tells you that there is no science behind it!!!
If this information speaks to you, I highly recommend that you try my DigestAid or Digestive Enzymes, and it always makes good sense to get a complete health evaluation from your physician or healthcare practitioner.
Shipping Supplements:
My private-label supplements and supplements that I recommend from other “doctor and health practitioner only companies” are available here on my website. All supplements are stocked in my office in Santa Barbara (not in a warehouse) and typically ship the same day if your order is received by 2:00 PM. For those of you on the western states, packages are typically delivered the next day by GLS, a local carrier. And for other states, shipping is done through USPS. We do not ship outside the U.S.
