Probiotics and Enzymes

Promoting Digestive Health...and More.

What are Probiotics and How Do They Benefit Health?

Probiotics are "friendly" bacteria that can provide the body with numerous health benefits. They are acquired through eating fermented dairy foods such as cheese and yogurt. Probiotics can also be obtained through supplementation. Once ingested, probiotics flourish within the digestive tract and help maintain a healthy balance of intestinal flora. Besides promoting healthy intestinal activity, these micro-organisms may help promote good digestion and colon regularity. Probiotics also boost the body's ability to absorb food and nutrients. They also help fortify the immune system and help reduce inflammatory responses within the gastrointestinal system. In addition, probiotics help destroy harmful pathogens, such as E. coli, that may trigger food poisoning.

Probiotics:

Probiotics May Offer the Following Health Benefits:

• Promote healthy digestion and nutrient assimilation.


• Replenish colonies of friendly bacteria that may be destroyed by antibiotics and certain health complications.


• Counter an overgrowth of "bad" organisms in the gastrointestinal tract.


• Enhance immune response (since a large percentage of cells of the immune system are located in the digestive tract).
• May support healthy cholesterol levels.
• Promote oral health.


• Help counter an unfavorable balance of yeast and fungus.


• Assist those that are lactose intolerant with lactose digestion.
• Support urinary tract and colon health.

Why is Supplementing with Probiotics Important?

A number of factors, including poor diet, medication, illness, stress and aging, can deplete levels of beneficial bacteria in the body. That's why it is important to incorporate a good, high-quality probiotic supplement into your daily diet.

What to Look for in a Probiotic Supplement:

• Find a probiotic supplement that guarantees its potency (the promised level of live bacteria) at time of use.


• Make sure that it contains a high-quality prebiotic to nourish and sustain existingfriendly bacterial colonies within the intestines.
• Only use a probiotic supplement containing naturally occurring strains that are safe and effective for human use and are not genetically engineered (non-GMO).
• Choose one that features a good delivery technology that enables these strains to
• securely arrive at their destination – the intestinal tract.

Enzymes:

What are Enzymes and How Do They Benefit Health?

Enzymes are also important to the digestive process. When you consume food, digestive enzymes are immediately released from your salivary glands, stomach and small intestines. They help breakdown proteins, carbohydrates and fats.

Enzymes facilitate the absorption of nutrients from the foods you eat. Without enzymes, even the most nutritious foods would not be of use to the body, as the vitamins and minerals they contain would not be properly absorbed. Foods would also move slowly through the digestive tract, resulting in discomforts such as abdominal bloating, gas, constipation and heartburn.

Systemic enzymes make up a special class of enzyme that works within every system of the body, offering complete, or systemic, health.

Enzymes May Offer the Following Health Benefits:

• Promote healthy digestion and nutrient assimilation.
• Help food move quickly through the digestive tract before bloating, gas, constipation and heartburn can occur.
• May contribute to improved waste elimination, promoting colon and intestinal health.


• Boost the immune system's effectiveness.

Systemic Enzymes May Offer the Following Health Benefits:

• Help improve blood consistency, circulation and blood pressure, promotingcardiovascular health.
• Contribute to enhanced nutrient absorption.
• Enhance immune function and support healthy white blood cell activity.


• Contribute to joint health, comfort and mobility.
• Help ensure that protein is completely broken down, digested and absorbed by the body. When protein is not processed within the body properly, a buildup of toxins may result.

Why is Supplementing with Enzymes Important?

Research indicates that the human body loses its ability to produce enzymes with age. Poor eating habits, such as not chewing food properly, may also lead to inadequate enzyme production. Consuming excess processed or overcooked foods, rather than fresh, raw fruits and vegetables (which contain enzymes that naturally break down foods for proper absorption) is another potential cause of enzyme deficiency.

What to Look for in an Enzyme Supplement:

When choosing an enzyme supplement, look for one that contains enzymes from at least one, or preferably more, of the following active enzyme groups:

• Pancreatin: breaks down protein, carbohydrates/starches and fats/oils.
• Trypsin: breaks down protein into single amino acid molecules.
• Papain: breaks down protein, especially tough meat fibers.
• Bromelain: breaks down protein and may offer anti-inflammatory benefits.
• Amylase: breaks down starch into sugars.
• Lipase: breaks down fats, such as triglycerides and other lipids, and oils.
• Lysozyme: breaks down cell walls of certain bacteria.
• Chymotrypsin: breaks down large protein molecule.

Probiotics Just for Kids!
Nature's Way Primadophilus for Kids Orange Flavor -- 30 Chewables	Nature's Way Once Daily Primadophilus Kids Cherry Flavor -- 30 Chewables	Nature's Way Primadophilus Children for Ages 0-5 -- 5 oz