A new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests that daily intake of the probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei may help protect against the flu.

More than 200 healthy study subjects at the Luigi Sacco Hospital in Milan, Italy were split into four groups. Two groups received a daily dose of the probiotic strains BB-12 and L. casei. The other two groups were given a placebo pill. After two weeks, all four groups were given a seasonal influenza vaccine. Plasma and saliva were taken before the test began and at six weeks to compare the number of flu antibodies.

The results showed that while all groups received the vaccine, the L. casei group showed a 46% increase in the number of antibodies produced, compared to just a 2% increase in the corresponding placebo group.

Sam Lingo, director of operations for Enzymes, Inc., says studies like this will open the public’s eyes to the power that a balanced digestive system possesses.

“Many consumers don’t understand that the digestive system is at the very core of overall health,” Lingo says. “It really goes back to the foundations of enzyme therapy. If your body isn’t busy fighting a war in the gut, it has the biochemical resources it needs to focus elsewhere, including strengthening the immune system, responding to inflammation and helping to improve other vital systemic (organ and tissue) function.”

Probiotics have sparked a proverbial firestorm within the consumer food and health industry in recent years. From traditional probiotic-rich foods to new drinks, supplements and even “gummy” products, consumers are bombarded with the message that probiotics are nature’s answer to indigestion– eliminating “bad” bacteria and boosting “good” bacteria, all with little risk of side effects. However, probiotic manufacturers are going to great lengths to one-up their competitors, claiming that more strains of probiotics are more beneficial. Are they correct? Not necessarily. Click here to read more.

Enzymes, Inc. offers potent probiotic supplements comprised of the most effective types and quantities to produce the best results. ProSol[[$trademark]] Probiotic and Advanced Formula[[$trademark]] FlorEnz[[$trademark]] are also available through your healthcare practitioner.

Enzyme supplements work with probiotics in the digestive process. They help break down food, absorb nutrients and help decrease the symptoms of indigestion. WellZymes[[$trademark]] Digestive Health is a broad-spectrum enzyme supplement that includes specific digestive enzymes used to break down specific types of foods, including protein, fats, dairy and carbohydrates.

Don’t know what an enzyme is? Click here to view a brief educational video.

by Nicholas Dupont

Each week millions of Americans purchase probiotic-rich foods and supplements in an attempt to attain digestive regularity and balance. Business is booming—an April 2010 Mintel report showed that in the Natural Channel Sales for Digestive Health category, probiotics posted a 28 percent increase in sales from 2009 to 2010.

Dr. Chuck Olds, DC, of Olds Chiropractic clinics in Sparta and Cookville, Tenn., says the rising cost of healthcare and overuse of antibiotics are primary reasons why demand for natural digestive aids has increased.

“People are starting to learn,” Dr. Olds says. “It’s just getting too expensive to keep covering up the problem. Diet accounts for 90 percent of the solution, no matter what the problem is. But it does little if you don’t address the other 10 percent of the problem with probiotics.”

While consumers are sold on wanting to look and feel like the happy-go-lucky celebrities that tout probiotic food products, they know little about what they’re taking in. A recent report from the Natural Marketing Institute shows that approximately 70 percent of consumers say they aren’t knowledgeable about the health benefits of probiotics.

With an overwhelming response to probiotic advertising campaigns, consumers are desperate for education on what probiotics are, the symbiotic relationship they have with the gut and how many probiotic strains are enough (or too much). Here are some basics to help you choose a probiotic product that’s right for you.

Conflict in the gut: Probiotics help win the war

Inside the gut, there’s a quiet territorial war raging between several different types of beneficial and non-beneficial micro-organisms. On one side, beneficial bacteria engage in a symbiotic relationship with the body: It helps you break down food and absorb essential vitamins and nutrients. In return, it feeds off of a portion of the food you take in and is allowed to survive and multiply.

On the other side, non-beneficial bacteria, particularly yeast (candida albicans), feed, survive and multiply off of the sugars, starches, yeast breads (this type of yeast is called saccharomyces) and alcoholic beverages we consume.

All of the micro-organisms compete with each other to colonize in the gut and multiply. If non-beneficial bacteria colonize the colon and outnumber the beneficial bacteria, the results can include ulcers, weakened immune system, irritable bowel syndrome, vaginal infection and diarrhea.

Taking a probiotic supplement helps keep yeast, viruses and other harmful microbes at bay and creates a healthy and neutral environment in the gut, increases the efficiency of digestion, promotes better gut-related immune response, helps lower incidence of allergic responses and improves repair of damaged intestinal cell membranes.

Antibiotics: They don’t just kill bad bacteria

Just as its name suggests, antibiotics do not discriminate when it comes to destroying micro-organisms, both beneficial and non-beneficial. It’s akin to a nuclear bomb, wiping out everything in its path. While antibiotics can help the body level the playing field, it also opens up the door for harmful bacteria to gain the upper hand in next round of the micro-war.

“I heard it said once that if you’ve had just one round of antibiotics in your lifetime, you have a yeast problem,” Dr. Olds says. In order to keep pace with the growth of bad bacteria, supplementing your diet with a probiotic is crucial to sustaining intestinal balance.

What to look for

Lawrence Bronstein DC, CNS, DACBN, a 26-year veteran of Mahaiwe Chiropractic, Health & Nutrition Services in Great Barrington, Mass., says effective probiotic therapy is based on the particular needs of the individual and involves more than just picking up some yogurt at the local grocery store. If you want to tap into the full potential probiotics have to offer, Dr. Bronstein encourages consumers to take a close look at these factors:

Potency and types of strains: More isn’t always better
There are hundreds of different types of probiotic flora (aka “strains”). So it goes without saying that the potency and types varies from person to person depending on what is lacking. Dr. Bronstein says you should stick with a product that contains at least four of the six strains most likely to be needed, including bifidobacterium longum and five in the lactobacillus family, including acidophilus, plantarum rhamnosus, salivarius, and casei. Lactobacillus is a lactic acid bacteria that competes with other bacteria—working in an increasing acidic environment that it creates. Doing so allows it to reduce other harmful bacteria from growing and flourishing.

Many probiotic manufactures use the “more is better” approach, offering products containing up to 16 strains. However, Dr. Bronstein says taking too many strains can end up doing more harm than good.

“There is such a thing as taking in too much flora,” he says. “It takes you right back where you started by making you feel bloated, experience indigestion and cause changes in stool.”

Dr. Olds recommends Advanced Formula™ FlorEnz™, which is available through healthcare practitioners.
“I’ve had great success with it for 14 years,” he says. “None of my patients have ever had an adverse reaction to it.”

Additives: What some food companies don’t tell you
What is more enticing than taking in your daily dose of probiotics in the form of a delicious cup of strawberry, vanilla or peach yogurt? Ah, but there’s a likely catch if the product contains certain food additives, according to Dr. Bronstein.

“It’s a problem consuming probiotics or nutraceuticals in presence of food additives such as sugar and food colorings in typical yogurt produced commercially,” he says.  And yeast (candida albicans) thrives on processed sugar making the commercially produced yogurt flavored with sugar counterproductive.”

Expiration date
Probiotics lose approximately 10 percent of their viability when they expire. Micro-organisms continue to die off after that, until they’re rendered virtually ineffective. Make sure the product you choose has an expiration date of at least one year or less from the current month.

Enzyme supplements complement probiotics
Intestinal health is the cornerstone and predictor of overall health. In addition to probiotics, digestive enzyme supplements are also a key player in the pursuit of intestinal harmony. The human body naturally secretes digestive enzymes in the pancreas and sends them to the small intestine to help break down food components. Raw foods contain their own enzymes and initiate the digestive process in the mouth as you chew. With these foods aiding in the process and completing two-thirds of the digestive process before it reaches the acid portion of the stomach, they keep the demand for digestive enzymes low and allow the body’s enzyme supply to concentrate on other areas (such as immune function and response to inflammation).

However, cooked and processed foods don’t have these enzymes present, and as a result, place considerable strain on the body to make up for the difference. Indigestion and other intestinal-related problems are very likely to follow. Fortunately, adding a digestive enzyme supplement to your diet can supply you with the necessary enzymes to handle the foods you eat. To learn more about probiotics and how digestive enzyme supplements complement probiotic therapy, visit www.enzymesinc.com.

Nick Dupont is the marketing coordinator and copy editor for Enzymes, Inc. in Kansas City, Mo.

Suggested reading

“Gastrointestinal Remedies: Digestive and Immunity Health.” Mintel International Group Ltd. 1 April 2010. Chicago, Ill. 3 March 2011
<http://oxygen.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen/display/id=482514>

“The Emerging Probiotics Market: Consumer Trends & Market Opportunities.” The Natural Marketing Institute (NMI).  1 November 2009. Harleysville, Penn. 3 March 2011
<http://www.nmisolutions.com/r_probiotics_toc.html>

The recent earthquakes and tsunami in Japan have created a sizable food production problem that may impact the nation for quite some time. The physical and emotional stress the disaster victims have endured is undoubtedly intense. We at Enzymes, Inc. are firm believers that great health and sustained energy starts with a proper diet. If the body does not receive the proper nutrition to help the mind and body cope, the stress alone may leave the immune system weak to deal with various illnesses that can accompany a food shortage or natural disaster.

We’ve listed a few legitimate organizations that can help you make a fast and convenient donation to our neighbors in Japan. And if you make a donation to a Japan relief effort and send us a copy of your receipt (send to ndupont@enzymesinc.com), we’ll send you a coupon code to receive 25% off your next online order of any of our consumer products (WellZymes, Nutri-Essence, and Genuine N Zimes). Please note: You must be an individual consumer to receive the discount. Practitioners and retailers will not be eligible.

UNICEF, United Nations Children’s Fund (formerly United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund): “The U.S. Fund for UNICEF (USF) is raising funds to help children in Japan impacted by the recent earthquake and tsunami. This is an unusual decision, as Japan is a donor to UNICEF, not a recipient of its assistance.  However, due to the unprecedented nature of the epic disaster and its impact on children, resources are going to be critical in helping provide for the very unique needs of children. These may include health, development and protection and other needs that may have been compromised or disrupted in the wake of catastrophe.” (Source: U.S. Fund for UNICEF website) Click here to donate.

Second Harvest—Japan: The cost of delivering donated food is expensive. Click here to help donate food or monetary support for delivery expenses.

The American Red Cross: “In many respects, the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan’s northeast is rapidly becoming a disaster associated with the elderly. The three evacuation centers in the shattered town of Otsuchi are filled with the old and ill. Many are too tired or too sick to do little but lie on mattresses on the floor, swathed in blankets. The weather is taking a heavy toll on the health of the survivors in evacuation centers, many of who are elderly. Japanese Red Cross Society doctors say there has been an increase in cases of influenza and some diarrheal diseases.” (Source: The American Red Cross website) Click here to donate.

Habitat for Humanity: “In the short-term, Habitat for Humanity Japan is mobilizing its pool of local volunteers and recruiting others to support the Japanese government’s initial clean-up and relief operation, which will start in earnest after the search and rescue operations have finished. Longer-term, Habitat for Humanity will continue to provide volunteer support to rebuild the disaster-stricken areas of the country. Habitat for Humanity International will also assist Habitat for Humanity Japan in rebuilding its own capacity to serve families in need of shelter within the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.” (Source: Habitat for Humanity website) Click here to donate.

As always, supplemental enzymes are key to absorbing nutrients more completely and getting the most out of food. If you’re sending a family member, friend or colleague a care package in Japan, don’t forget to send a full-spectrum enzyme supplement for general digestion.

With late December holidays just around the corner–your mouth is already watering in anticipation of savoring your favorite candies, pastries, dishes and snacks.

While treats and comfort foods can be bliss for a time–they have a way of giving you amnesia after the fact. When it comes time to munch again, you’ve forgotten that eating goodies from morning till night will comes with a price. You’ll be extremely gassy, bloated and laying on the couch with an urge to unbutton your pants and give your insides some room to breathe. You may spend more time looking at bathroom wallpaper than enjoying your family or holiday entertainment.

You know it’s going to happen every year, but you do it anyway. You try to fight back against indigestion by taking scores of antacids and “the pink stuff.” But those remedies only cover up the underlying issue—the lack of complete food component breakdown.

To aid in the digestive process and help the body ease the discomfort that holiday foods carry,  include a broad-spectrum digestive enzyme supplement with every meal. By adding to the digestive enzymes your body uses to break down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, you’ll also help decrease the amount of gas and fatigue you may experience afterward. And if you love the relish tray, there are also digestive enzyme supplements derived from plant sources to help maximize the digestion of legumes (beans), cruciferous vegetables and high fiber foods.

Digestive enzyme supplements may be the best gift you’ll receive this holiday season–one that allows you to have your fruitcake—and not pay the price for eating it, too.

While the term “organic” may carry with it a certain perception that anything labeled as such is pure and flawless, cooked and processed organic foods can’t be digested any easier than their non-organic counterparts.

Organic food advocates claim that organically grown foods are healthier because they are not raised with non-organic methods such as pesticides, non-organic fertilizers, antibiotics and hormones. However, during cooking and processing, organic foods lose vitamins and food enzymes, just as non-organic foods do.

Food enzymes, which are natural enzymes that both organic and non-organic raw foods possess, begin the process of breaking down food when you start chewing. When the food reaches the stomach and small intestine, half of the work has already been done, allowing food nutrients to be more easily and completely absorbed. But when food enzymes are cooked and processed out, the body must use more of its own enzyme resources to compensate. Improperly broken down food often leads to indigestion, gas, and bloating. And with the body working overtime, you may also feel fatigued after you finish eating.

To maximize the nutritional value of organic food, supplement your diet with a daily vitamin, probiotics, and a broad-spectrum digestive enzyme supplement, which helps break down any type of food and replace lost food enzymes.

A proposed House bill would give consumers more direct access to scientific research information on the health benefits of dietary supplements and natural foods.

The Free Speech about Science Act (H.R. 4913) asserts that federal regulators should allow dietary supplement makers to cite research information on labels and marketing pieces about their products’ potential health benefits. The bill was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Mar. 23.

FDA regulations currently prohibit food producers or manufactures of a dietary supplement to reference any scientific study relating to the health benefits of their products. Violation of this law can result in the FDA declaring a dietary supplement or natural food to be unapproved, or illegal.

Legislators who introduced the bill say the current law is akin to censorship and that the slew of drug commercials the American public sees everyday suggest drugs as the only way to treat or cure health conditions. They argue that many conditions can be treated and possibly cured through lifestyle changes, proper nutrition, and informed use of dietary supplements. Making the research information available will help promote self-responsibility, increase consumer empowerment to make informed choices and significantly lower healthcare costs, according to the bill.

A website has been set up for consumers to contact their Congressman and voice their support of the Free Speech about Science Act. For a full text version of the bill, click here.