Empire Health, LLC would like to thank all of the practitioners who stopped by the ProSol™ booth at the FCA National Convention and Expo in Kissimmee, FL, on Aug. 22-24. Frank Guzzo, Steve Perry and Bryan Scribner were at the booth to provide samples and literature for our new product line, ProSol,™ which features formulations found clinically effective for nearly 10 years.

We’ve included some photos in this post of our new trade show booth, which debuted at FCA. We plan to display a version of this booth at the IAACN 17th Annual Scientific Symposium on Sept. 4-7 in Baltimore. We’re looking forward to seeing clinical nutritionists and other practitioners at the show. Please be sure to visit booth No. 108 to pick up your ProSol™ literature and samples.

A lot was made during the Beijing Olympics about the diet of U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, who said about 8,000-10,000 calories per day helped him fuel eight gold-medal victories.

Although a mid-August story from WebMD reports that 10,000 calories per day would be nearly impossible, his diet of cooked and processed foods is certainly of sizeable proportions. One breakfast, for example, included three fried-egg sandwiches, an omelet, grits, three slices of French toast and three chocolate-chip pancakes.

Now, even if Phelps’ metabolism is through the roof and he truly burns all of those calories in competition, his diet could likely be the cause of a little indigestion. As the WebMD story asks, “Wouldn’t Phelps feel bloated during a race?”

Well, given that many of the foods he eats are cooked, it’s likely his meals have little, if any, natural enzyme content. Food enzymes, which are found in uncooked fruits, vegetables and meats, help the body naturally break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins.

When food enzymes aren’t present, the body relies on enzymes produced by the pancreas to take care of digestion and assimilation of nutrients. This process can rob energy from the body, as well as decrease energy for tissue repair and immune function.

For any diet – whether you’re an Olympian or you stick with 2,000 calories per day – broad-spectrum digestive enzyme supplements can help the body break down food to relieve symptoms of indigestion, bloating, acid reflux and other digestive problems. Better digestion improves nutrient absorption and contributes to tissue maintenance and immune system health.

Digestive enzyme supplements are probably important now more than ever, as the average American consumes roughly 18.2 pounds of food per week, up from about 16.4 pounds in 1970, according to The New York Times.

Empire Health, LLC and Enzymes, Inc. invite you to visit the ProSol™ booth, Nos. 1917/1919, at the Florida Chiropractic Association’s 2008 National Convention and Expo in Kissimmee, Fla., on Aug. 22-24.

Please stop by to learn more about our ProSol™ line of enzyme-based dietary supplements, which comprise formulations health care practitioners have found clinically effective for nearly a decade.

Also, show attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about another new product, NutriSol™ Joint Care Plus.™ Results from a randomized, double-blind clinical trail demonstrated that subjects with osteoarthritis who used natural eggshell membrane, an ingredient in Joint Care Plus,™ experienced significant reduction in pain and stiffness over time.

Empire Health is offering specials on ProSol™ products and NutriSol™ Joint Care Plus™ at the show.

We hope to see you next week in Orlando.

Your friends at Empire Health

When it comes to natural support for relief of acid reflux, heartburn or indigestion, it seems the most common recommendation is lifestyle change or acid-suppressing medication.

In Harvard Medical School’s Aug. 7 edition of its Healthbeat electronic newsletter, the school offers a dozen lifestyle tips for calming acid reflux. Among the 12 include these suggestions: Eat smaller meals, lose weight, stop smoking, adjust posture and loosen belts.

And no matter where you look – television, magazines and on the Internet – it seems there’s bound to be some sort of advertisement touting claimed benefits of antacids, proton-pump inhibitors or other acid-reducing drugs.

While Harvard’s tips are certainly noteworthy, it seems they are a bit simplistic and might offer only temporary or minimal relief for those with chronic reflux symptoms. What’s more, many of the over-the-counter and prescription medications on the market today have been linked to serious side effects, including nutrient deficiencies and hip fractures.

The worst thing about these “natural” and drug-based solutions, though, is that many address symptoms rather than the cause. For many people, acid reflux might be a result of improper digestion, for which digestive enzymes offer support.

In fact, safe and effective digestive enzyme supplements can work naturally with the body to relieve digestive problems.

Digestive enzymes can improve nutrient absorption while they help decrease or eliminate indigestion, gas, bloating, reflux and other symptoms of improper digestion. A reduction in the enzyme-producing burden placed on digestive organs can also increase energy for tissue repair and immune function.

For those with ulcers or other damage to the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, digestive enzyme products combined with certain herbal ingredients can help soothe and protect gut lining. Helpful herbs for gastrointestinal protection include marshmallow root, deglycyrrhizinized licorice root, ginger rhizome, aloe vera gel and quercetin.