By D.K. Weamer, M.S. C.N.

Well it looks like there is another product on the market for weight loss called Alli. It is reported that Alli blocks the digestive enzyme, Lipase that digests fat in the diet. Taking Alli inhibits the absorption of about 25% of all fat eaten. The drawbacks include the cost: $60-$67 per month, $720 per year, as well as, an oily discharge, fecal urgency or loss of bowl control and gas. Since “Alli” inhibits lipase and fat absorption only, it will not be very helpful for reducing the effects of calories that come from the over-consumption of sugars, starches or simple carbohydrates and it is still unclear if once you have reached your goal weight you will need to continue to use the product just to maintain the weight loss.

The number one reason both for weight gain and lack of weight loss is poor digestion. When we can’t properly digest foods, our bodies run low on key nutrients, causing the body to begin to crave food in hopes of getting the nutrients that it is missing. But poor digestion, coupled with low nutrient, high calorie foods do not provide the nutrients needed and the cravings and weight gain continue.

A better approach would be to increase the availability and absorption of nutrients by consuming low calorie, high nutrient foods and taking a good broad-spectrum digestive enzyme with each meal.

In addition try taking a good metabolic stimulant.
Wellzymes Metabolic Balance contains:
Bladderwack Kelp, Guggulipid and Green tea extracts to stimulate the body’s metabolic processes and increase the burning of fat calories.
Chromium, Alpha lipoic acid and Banana and Gymnema leaf extracts help clear glucose from the blood stream, stabilize blood sugar levels and increase energy production, while Rhodiola rosea root extract has been reported to stimulate weight loss, possibly by activating an enzyme necessary for burning stored fat. One study reports that 92% of those taking Rhodiola lost an average of 20 lbs. within a 3month period.

Wellzymes Metabolic Balance taken twice a day between meals can help to stimulate your metabolism, balance blood sugar and increase the body’s ability to burn fat.

By D.K. Weamer, M.S. C.N.

Dr. Leo Galland appeared on the Today Show a few weeks ago discussing natural ways to treat digestive disorders like acid reflux. Among the many recommendations that were made, Dr. Galland recommended taking a digestive enzyme that is acid resistant so that they can work in the acidic environment of the stomach. That is an excellent recommendation and here is why.

Proper digestion can’t occur without the necessary enzymes. Raw foods contain their own digestive enzymes and contribute those to the digestive process. But when foods are heat-treated and processed dietary enzymes are destroyed, requiring your body to be responsible for and contribute all of the digestive enzymes needed to break down your food. This places a tremendous demand for metabolic energy on your body causing digestive stress and diverting energy from immunity and tissue repair, which in turn increase aging.

Currently 60-70 million people report having some form of digestive disorder and as Dr. Galland pointed out billions of dollars are spent on over-the-counter and prescription produces every year in an effort to deal with the discomfort that this stress creates. Though these drugs may temporarily relieve symptoms, continued digestive problems can also lead to limited food choices, incomplete digestion and nutritional deficiencies as well as, food sensitivities and a possible increased carcinogenic environment in the colon.
(See blog entry “Digestive Enzymes Help to Detoxify the Colon” June 26th, 2007 for further explanation).

Since the ability of the body to secrete digestive enzymes seems to decline with age, supplementing enzymes is both preventive of and therapeutic for digestive disorders and their consequences.

What type of digestive enzymes work best?

Animal and enteric-coated enzymes are unable to function in the low pH of the stomach, making them unable to assist in pre-digestion in the stomach and therefore unable to reduce digestive stress.

Microbial-based digestive enzymes are active over a much broad pH range, from the acidity of the stomach to the alkalinity of the small intestine. They are able to begin digesting food almost immediately upon entering the stomach and have been shown in studies to be more effective than animal based digestive enzymes in treating digestive disorders, requiring significantly less active units to achieve the same results.

Finally, microbial base digestive enzymes are produced in highly controlled laboratory conditions. This protects against the present of environmental contaminants – like hormones, pesticides and antibiotics – that can be associated with animal based enzymes and eliminates animal cruelty.

Taking a microbial-based digestive enzyme supplement at the beginning of each meal dramatically reduces the enzyme-producing burden placed on the body by the over – consumption of enzyme-less, heat-treated and processed foods. They increase nutrient absorption and free up precious metabolic energy to maintain a strong healthy body and slows down the aging process.