Heather “Fart on Command” Fleming
Yep, that was my nickname in 9th grade, and it was completely true. In this blog, I will share my personal story and give you the break down on when to implement Digestive Enzymes, Probiotics (acidolpilous), and Hcl/Betaine/Pepsin (the real heartburn support).
At the age of 10, I had horrible acne. Thus, going on acne medications, antibiotics, & Acutane twice over the next decade. Every time I ate I experienced digestive difficulties, bloating and flatulence. Of course, I became an observer of how food made me feel so I wouldn’t fart on my friends. After leaving the Midwest to California, I finally found and healed the core of my issues.
Some common diagnosis’s for what I experienced are; Leaky Gut Syndrome, Gluten Intolerance, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Constipation or Diarrhea. If you have a gut of steal, I so admire you. If not here are a few suggestions to get your GI tract back on track:
Digestive Enzymes: This is one of my favorite supplements to provide daily relief for digestive disturbances.
There are eight primary digestive enzymes, each designed to help break down different types of food:
- Protease: Digesting protein
- Amylase: Digesting carbohydrates
- Lipase: Digesting fats
- Cellulase: Breaking down fiber
- Maltase: Converting complex sugars from grains into glucose
- Lactase: Digesting milk sugar (lactose) in dairy products
- Phytase: Helps with overall digestion, especially in producing the B vitamins
- Sucrase: Digesting most sugars
Digestion begins in your mouth, starting with saliva. Your mouth is where the enzyme Amylase begins to break down carbohydrates.
As food passes into your stomach, proteins are worked on by protease. From there, the bolus of food passes into your small intestine, where lipase begins to break down fats, and amylase finishes off the carbohydrates.
Some of my favorite Digestive Enzymes are:
Online: “Digestazon Plus”
Spectrazyme from Metagenics: “(Spectrazyme)”
PanXyme pH: “Xymogen Brand”
Over the Counter:
Directions: Take 2 preferably prior of eating, however, during or anytime of the day is recommended.
*I choose products by:
1. Quality 2. Efficacy 3. Price 4. Convenience
Probiotics (the good bugs): are live microorganisms — usually found in your gut — that can benefit your health. The term “probiotic” comes from the Greek “for life”. The ideal ratio between the bacteria in your gut is 85 percent “good” and 15 percent “bad.” They are also essential for optimal digestion of food and absorption of nutrients, and they help your body produce vitamins, absorb minerals and aid in the elimination of toxins. Consuming unpasteurized fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, lassi (Indian yoghurt), kefir(fermented milk), and pickled cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, onions, squash, and turnips will also provide you with beneficial bacteria.
Online: “Ultra Flora Balance”
Over the Counter: Solray Brand
Directions: Take 2 in the morning on an empty stomach prior to breakfast. If major challenges, take prior to each meal
HCl/Betaine/Pepsin: Situations such as illness, gall bladder removal, overuse of antacids, and normal aging can contribute to insufficient secretion of stomach acid, pancreatic enzymes, and bile, and can adversely affect digestive enzyme activity and lead to occasional heartburn, gas, bloating, and other forms of gastrointestinal discomfort.
Hydrochloric acid also facilitates the absorption of a number of nutrients, including folate, vitamin B12, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, iron, and some forms of calcium, magnesium, and zinc. Numerous studies have shown hydrochloric acid secretion in the stomach declines with advancing age. Overuse of antacids can also lead to low levels of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, which can result in poor protein digestion.
Online: Metagest”
Over the Counter:
Directions: Take 2 prior meals, especially containing meat products.
Disclaimer: Do NOT try all of these at once. Please begin with the product that best suits your situation, or discuss with a health care practitioner.
Yours truly,
The Ex-Professional Farter,
Heather Fleming, Food Relationship Expert
P.S. New program coming soon: Monthly teleconferences to keep you aware and conscious.
Heather, another great post. Question: why would humans take cellulase? I noticed that it’s in my digestives that I take, but it’s confusing. Does that mean I could start eating and digesting grass from the yard the way livestock can? I know we generally can’t digest the cellulose but I wonder what a dietary supplement of that does.
Thanks!!
-z
Hi Zank!
Great question. Humans don’t produce cellulase, meaning the human intestine can’t digest fiber. When you consume fiber, it passes through your small intestine and into your colon unaltered. There, bacteria that lives in the large intestine goes to work on the fiber, breaking it down for energy; bacteria possess cellulase. The process of bacterial fiber digestion results in the production of a moderate amount of gas, which is why some people notice increased flatulence after eating a high-fiber meal.
🙂
Your enzyme is helping your wife:)
Hi Heather,
One of my dearest friends (guess) is suffering from IBS…
diarehea what do you recommend? Of course the Dr. say take
imodium and/or metimucil …thanks Kathleen
Digestive Enzymes!! If he doesn’t want to take supplements, have him do a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar diluted in water prior to eating meals.
Or hire a nutritionist:)