The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for children in a category that has been linked to serious long-term side effects, including bacterial infection, nutrient deficiency and cancer.

The FDA announced its approval of Nexium for children ages 1 to 11 in a Feb. 28 news release.

Nexium, a proton-pump inhibitor, suppresses acid production in the stomach with the goal of healing erosions in the esophagus. Other proton-pump inhibitors include Prilosec and Prevacid.

Although the release recommended Nexium for short-term treatment – eight weeks – starting children on the drug, even at low potencies, should be cause for alarm. If doctors prescribe Nexium throughout a person’s childhood, or if use continues into adulthood, there could be serious consequences.

Drugs that inhibit natural acid production are associated with increased risk of hip fractures, likely because calcium is not sufficiently absorbed, according to a story from MSNBC. Impaired calcium absorption could be detrimental for children, who rely on the nutrient for healthy growth.

In addition, restrained acid production could increase the risk of intestinal infection and bacterial overgrowth in the stomach and small intestine. According to MSNBC, the overgrowth of bacteria in the stomach could lead to pneumonia, vitamin B12 deficiency and stomach cancer.

H2 blockers such as Zantac, Pepcid and Tagamet also suppress acid production. Some of these products, along with traditional antacids, can be purchased over the counter.

Antacids, such as Tums and Rolaids, can cause problems with protein digestion and vitamin B12 absorption. Long-term use can interfere with absorption of other nutrients, including iron and calcium.

Acid blockers and antacids simply mask the symptoms of gastrointestinal problems and provide temporary relief. Enzyme-based digestive supplements, on the other hand, help address the root cause of stomach problems – improper digestion.

Safe, effective digestive enzyme supplements work naturally with the body to relieve digestive problems. They appear to decrease distension of the stomach, which might help relieve symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), according to MSNBC.

For children, great-tasting WellZymes™ Digestive Chewables provide a broad-spectrum blend of digestive enzymes to help the body properly break down food. Other digestive enzyme supplements in the WellZymes™ line, offered in vegetarian tablets, also can help address gastrointestinal complaints.

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 and boost immune function.

For those with ulcers or other damage to the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, WellZymes™ Gastric Ease™ is recommended in place of antacids. Gastric Ease™ can help soothe and protect the gastrointestinal lining, as well as promote proper digestion when taken with meals.

Whether it’s consumer-driven, government-sponsored or simply a blog, there are several Web sites out there that can offer useful information on medical conditions and symptoms.

And chances are that if you’ve ever struggled with an ongoing or painful illness, you’ve likely consulted the Internet a time or two to learn more about the problem. There are medical Web sites that can offer information on health care options, support groups or simply ways to help put your mind at ease.

Even better, Web sites can offer information that even your doctor might find useful.

In Georgia, for example, the doctor of a 4-year-old with cat scratch fever couldn’t find an antibiotic that would address the condition, according to a mid-February story from cnn.com. The only other option the doctor could offer was a stronger antibiotic; however, deafness was a potential side effect of the medication.

Wanting to avoid that risk, the young boy’s aunt, with the help of a colleague, tracked down an article that revealed another antibiotic option. It was something the doctor hadn’t considered, but it worked well, and the boy recovered with no side effects.

Consult Enzymes, Inc., Web sites for alternative options

At Enzymes, Inc., our Web sites offer the latest information on alternative health care and enzyme-based supplement options to help address your needs. In addition, our sites offer the latest in news and analysis to help you live a more healthful life.

At www.enzymesinc.com, you can learn more about the benefits of supplemental enzymes, the company and our product lines. Enzymes, Inc., provides consumer- and professional-based products that focus on several conditions, including digestive disorders, joint problems and fibromyalgia. We also have products that offer whole-body nutritional support.

In addition to this blog site, be sure to check out www.enzymeexperts.com. Here, you’ll find important news stories and links that put the spotlight on health and wellness.

And as you search our Web sites, be sure to keep in mind the products and enzyme therapy options that are of most interest to you. If there are products you would like to try, ask your health care practitioner or call us at 800-228-1501 for more information.

Are you struggling with an ongoing illness or do you know someone who is? In either situation, sometimes a good support group can be one of the best ways to improve health, according to a story on MSNBC.com.

In fact, according a university professor quoted in the story, social support can strengthen the immune system and contribute to accelerated healing.

The story focused on caringbridge.com, a Web site that allows “patients to share the progress of serious injury or illness.” In a particular case, victims of the I-35 bridge collapse in Minnesota used the site to communicate with those interested in their conditions. In about six months, more than 400,000 visitors came to the site for updates on their recoveries.

Support sites such as caringbridge.com, according to an estimate in the story, are popping up about every 10 minutes.

One site that I’ve found informative is www.healthcentral.com, where online support groups are made available for several conditions, including acid reflux, allergies, diabetes and osteoarthritis.

It seems like most of the groups offer a moderator who is an expert on the specific health condition. It’s a great place to share stories about how enzymes and enzyme therapy have helped you tackle various conditions. Also, the site offers e-mail newsletters, which keep you informed on the latest posts from support-group members.

If you’re looking for another great option for natural and safe support, digestive and systemic enzymes can compliment online support groups, as they can help maintain a healthy immune system and improve healing.

There was a great story about online doctor shopping from The Associated Press in early February. A Minnesota company, Carol, launched in January its Web site that allows consumers to evaluate the quality and price of medical services.

It seems very similar to using the Web for car buying or comparing prices and quality of electronics. At Carol.com, consumers in the Twin Cities can compare the cost of medical procedures, exams or check-ups, as well as get practice descriptions and ratings.

Of course, there will be several in the health care realm who will come out against such Web sites. In the story, one doctor says health care is “too critical” to let the marketplace decide. And, to an extent, his point makes sense. The relationship with a family doctor, surgeon or nurse is a personal one, largely based on trust. Health care choice is far different from the decisions we make on weekly shopping trips, and we shouldn’t place a price tag on a limb, a heart or even a life.

An analyst in the story says people don’t make price an issue when it comes to health care, and for those with good insurance, that’s probably true. However, isn’t the modern-day health care crisis partly attributable to the high cost of health insurance? Wouldn’t the ability to shop for competitively priced or more effective health care help lower insurance costs and provide for improved care?

Consumers with good insurance might not care about the price of check-ups or procedures, but they certainly want top-quality care and likely, lower monthly health insurance costs. Those with poor health insurance, too, could benefit from doctor ratings and reviews if they have limited practitioner choices. Those without insurance could benefit from cost comparisons.

What’s more, a story at Enzyme Experts reveals that consumers get second opinions only 50% of the time. Shopping online for medical care could make finding a second, or even third, physician much easier.

Of course, for safe, effective health care, consumers can find Advanced Formula™ and BioSET™ practitioners who practice enzyme therapy in their areas. For more information on these practitioners and enzyme-based products, e-mail marketing@enzymesinc.com.

Have you ever used a pedometer? They’re the small, battery-powered devices that usually clip to a belt or the waist of your pants. I remember receiving one a few years ago at a food-industry trade show. I believe it was heart-shaped, red and about half the size of a pager.

I tried it on a couple of walks, more interested in how it actually worked than how many steps it measured. I remember being surprised, despite a few missed steps here and there, at the pedometer’s accuracy. It seemed to do a pretty good job measuring my steps, and if I had planned to make walking a regular part of my exercise regimen, I probably would have continued to use it.

I did find, however, that the steps don’t add up too quickly. Two thousand to 4,000 steps can make for a pretty good walk, maybe 20 to 40 minutes. As I did some research for an article on the benefits of walking, I came across a humorous blog post from a woman in Minnesota who also discovered it takes a little hop in your step to push the pedometer scale.

In the blog, aptly titled “My pedometer fell in the toilet,” Karla explains she started using a pedometer to reach a goal set forth by her local community’s fitness challenge. The goal: 10,000 steps per day. And, well, Karla made it. Sort of.

Within her first 5 hours, Karla had only taken 300 steps. She decided to try again the next day. Wearing the pedometer from morning to night, she logged 5,500 steps, and that included a 45-minute walk around a high school track. She finally recorded 10,000 steps when the pedometer, still hooked to her pants, survived a 4,500-step ride in her dryer. The pedometer finally met its match, though, when it fell into the toilet. Thankfully, Karla had an extra one.

Although many people might find it difficult to reach a goal such as 10,000 steps per day, it’s hard to argue the health benefits walking can provide. In a story at enzymeexperts.com, some encouraging statistics show that walking can decrease the risk for heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes and many other conditions. The story also touches on research that suggests a pedometer can be a great motivator for walkers. It seems even a 5,000-step walk can provide some measurable health benefits.

To supplement those walks, WellZymes™ Metabolic Balance™ might be a good product to try for enhanced energy production. With a powerful blend of enzymes, nutrients and herbs, WellZymes™ Metabolic Balance™ can help regulate sugar and lipid levels in the blood.

Walking has also been cited to help relieve arthritis, osteoporosis and sleep problems. For people experiencing the symptoms of fibromyalgia – fatigue and pain in the muscles, tendons and ligaments – walking could be a difficult task. WellZymes™ Fibro Ease,™ a product formulated to address fibromyalgia, might provide the relief needed to make walking part of a weekly exercise routine. WellZymes™ Fibro Ease™ contains a combination of magnesium, malic acid, ginkgo biloba and proteolytic enzymes.

There was a brief story about the potential creation of a new class of drugs – behind-the-counter drugs (BTCs) – on the fdanews.com Web site in late January. In 1995, the Government Accountability Office issued a report on BTCs, and two democratic congressmen have requested an update to that document.

According to the story, the congressmen want to know about the potential benefits of such a drug class, which although available without a prescription would require pharmacist counsel before being purchased. One side says BTC drugs would improve patient access to medications, while another says it would raise drug costs.

On one hand, a BTC class might be unnecessary for some types of drugs, and it could possibly create longer lines at the pharmacist counter. However, as we learn more about the ineffectiveness of some types of children’s medications and the harmful side effects of NSAIDs and other pain relievers, it might be a better time now more than ever to have pharmacist intervention. And, such a class could keep over-the-counter drugs out of the hands of adolescents who use the products to get high.

It’s interesting that as some modern prescription drugs – such as acid reducers and allergy medications – gain shelf space in nonprescription form, we’re now considering placing some previously nonprescription medicines behind the counter. At the same time, there have been quite a few studies lately that have questioned the safety and effectiveness of some widely used over-the-counter drugs.

The good news for consumers? They have a safe, natural alternative.

Enzyme-based, nutritive and herbal products from Enzymes, Inc., are safe and effective in supporting a variety of conditions. Digestive enzymes help the body better absorb nutrients to promote natural healing, while systemic enzyme products can enhance natural healing. Enzymes, Inc., also carries probiotic products to aid digestion and colon health, and antioxidant supplements can help protect the body against environmental harm. In addition to helping with current symptoms, enzyme-based products can help promote whole-body health.

A story on foodproductiondaily.com reports that probiotics might play a role in metabolism. According to a recent study, probiotics could change the way bile acids are metabolized, which could affect how individuals absorb fat.

Now, the story never went into what altering “how much fat the body is able to absorb” could mean for humans, but another story at healthcarerepublic.com asserts probiotics might assist in weight loss. In fact, the report says the findings could lead to the development of probiotic therapies for obesity or diabetes.

It’s hard to say where this type of research might lead. Although probiotics are being widely used in a variety of food products, the mechanism by which they act is largely a mystery. The stories pointed out that the research, performed on mice that had human microbes in their guts, was important because it pinpoints one way probiotic strains might work.

That probiotics could help increase energy and improve metabolism is great news, especially if it leads to more healthful choices when it comes to dieting for weight loss. It seems there’s a new weight-loss pill or method on the market every week, and the long-term safety of many of these products is anybody’s guess.

The popular weight-loss product on the market today, alli, works by preventing the body from absorbing some of the fat ingested from food. Is the $60 per month price tag and side effects, including fecal urgency, loss of bowel control and gas, worth it? Plus, is it healthful, in the long term, to keep a body from absorbing fat, an essential nutrient?

A natural way to achieve weight loss, of course, is exercise and proper diet. And to supplement those methods, Enzymes, Inc., carries an extensive line of highly effective digestive enzyme products that help the body fully absorb nutrients from food. Digestive enzyme supplements also can boost energy for immune function and ease gastrointestinal problems, such as gas and bloating. The great thing is, enzymes occur naturally in the body.

Other natural products include WellZymes™ Metabolic Balance,™ which contains herbal extracts to stimulate the body’s metabolic processes. It helps the body burn fat calories and possibly helps burn stored fat. Also, WellZymes™ Colon Health, a probiotic supplement, contains more than 3 billion “friendly bacteria” for digestive health. These strains help to impede the growth of harmful gut bacteria. They also can promote a healthy immune system.

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.

Digestive enzyme supplementation will improve your body’s digestion of the food you eat. You may think that your body is adequately handling this function but that is probably not the case. Research shows most people do not digest their food properly and therefore are not receiving important nutrients needed to build and maintain a strong, healthy body.

When insufficient digestion takes place in the early stages of the process, the food does not pass into the intestines fast enough, and triggers the production of excess stomach acid. In addition, undigested food eventually ends up in the colon where bacteria produce gas and elimination problems. Those who don’t digest their food properly frequently experience: bloating, indigestion, reflux, gas, nausea or constipation/diarrhea.
Digestive enzyme supplementation will:

(1) Decrease bloating, belching, gas, indigestion/heartburn and fatigue following meals.

(2) Release more of the food’s nutrients for the body to use in promoting and maintaining overall health.

(3) Reduce the body’s energy needs for digestion, helping to increase overall energy levels.

(4) Combat food allergies and reduces food cravings.

Without the enzymes in food, which is common in our modern diets of cooked and processed meals, the body has to produce all of the enzymes needed to properly digest food…most of the time it can’t. So, we have poor digestion and all of the related health problems.

Vegetarian enzyme supplements help your body’s own enzymes digest the food you eat completely by providing the same type of digestive activity as raw food enzymes, relieving some of the body’s digestive burden.

Today’s typical diet of cooked, canned and convenience foods makes it especially important to take vegetarian enzyme supplements to take some of the stress off not only the digestive organs but also the immune system. Everyone should take an enzyme supplement with each meal to maintain optimum health.

The products of digestion are the body’s source of nutrition, energy and well-being. Nature did not intend for the human body to produce all of the enzymes required for proper digestion. Unfortunately, a typical diet may leave the body no choice. The amount of digestive enzymes secreted by the body is in direct proportion to the amount of food it has to digest.

If vegetarian enzyme supplements are taken with food, optimum digestion can occur with fewer digestive enzymes being produced by the body. Reducing the demand on the body to produce digestive enzymes should mean more energy is available for metabolic functions.

Enzyme supplements work in harmony with body to digest food properly, improve nutrition, maintain high energy levels and help with many of other health concerns related to poor digestion
By taking vegetarian enzyme supplements with each meal, you will lessen the work of your digestive system and you’ll have more energy to maintain optimal health.

Education is an important part of the mission of Enzymes, Inc. In this section of the blog, we have provided a bit of basic information concerning different digestive enzymes and the different digestive functions of each. We hope this helps in your enzyme education pursuit!

Proteases digest proteins that are typically found in meat, fish, eggs, dairy products (cheese) and legumes (beans). Protein is a long chain of amino acids that needs to be broken down into smaller and smaller chains until the free amino acids, which is what your body wants, are finally released.

Supplements containing four different proteases –acid protease, alkaline protease, neutral protease and peptidase - break the protein down to free amino acids faster and more completely. Most enzyme supplements only have one protease to digest protein, meaning your body is given very little help so the process is seldom completed. Incomplete protein digestion results in bloating and indigestion within an hour of eating high protein food. Undigested protein is also one of the most common causes of food allergies and constipation.

A blend of acid, alkaline and neutral proteases – like those found in many products from Enzymes, Inc. - ensures digestion of proteins continues throughout the varying conditions of the GI tract, from the upper stomach through the small intestine. Proteins are large molecules that require another protease, peptidase, to help break them down into even smaller, more usable proteins and amino acids.

There are several enzymes that break down the carbohydrates in food into glucose, the body’s main source of energy. Three enzymes break down the sugar carbohydrates into glucose: lactase, invertase, and alpha-galactosidase. Lactase digests lactose, which is found in most dairy products. Invertase (Sucrase) works on sucrose (table sugar), which is found in baked goods, ice cream, candy, soda and many convenience foods. alpha-galactosidase specifically breaks down the sugar that is found in beans and other vegetables, like cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts and cabbage. Improper digestion of these vegetables can result in bloating and gas.

Three other enzymes digest the starch carbohydrates found predominantly in foods like bread, pasta, rice and potatoes: amylase, malt distase, and glucoamylase. Amylase and malt diastase break down the large, complex starch molecules into smaller pieces; then glucoamylase continues their digestion into glucose. If your body doesn’t get enough glucose from your food, you will crave foods high in carbohydrates, especially sugar and starch, leading to overeating and weight gain. Incomplete carbohydrate digestion often produces bloating and gas a few hours after eating.

[Please note: maltase, the enzyme that digests malt sugar, is not commercially available. malt diastase is often erroneously labeled maltase although they have completely different functions.]

Lipase digests fats, which are found in oils, butter, salad dressings, dairy products (cheese, cream, whole milk), nuts, olives, avocados and meats. Fats are less complicated than proteins so only one type of lipase is needed for their proper digestion to free fatty acids. Although it may look good in the marketing literature, there is no digestive benefit to using a blend of lipases from different strains when one lipase from one strain can do the job. Although fats are surprisingly easy to digest, you need enough lipase to complete the process. If you don’t digest the fat in your food properly, you can become deficient in fatty acids. Since your body needs a certain amount of fatty acids to stay healthy, you will crave fatty foods in an effort to get them from your diet - a huge reason why people overeat and become overweight.

There are six enzymes needed to break down the indigestible, fibrous portion of fruits, vegetables and grains into smaller fibers and to release essential minerals and other nutrients bound in the fiber. Cellulase acts on the cellulose found in all foods of plant origin, xylanase digests the xylan found predominantly in grains, and pectinase breaks down the pectin present in large amounts in most fruits. CereCalase Plus, a proprietary blend of phytase, hemicellulase and beta-glucanase, specifically work on non-starch polysaccharides, the anti-nutritive factor in fiber. Our bodies don’t produce enzymes to digest fiber at all so whatever digestion takes place must be done by food enzymes or supplemental enzymes.