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Enzyme Advancements

BFFs? Enzymes and Probiotics

by Lisa Schofield | June 1, 2016

There is the natural tendency to isolate and separate, spotlight and concentrate—preferring the singular over the “noisy” plural.

But when one stops to think for a quick moment, the logic of synergy is powerful, and in the case of enzymes and probiotics, perfectly so.

Udo Erasmus, author and educator for Washington-based Flora, put it into perspective for natural products retailers when he asserted, “Many companies put probiotics and enzymes together in their formulas. These two digestive heroes are okay together, but probiotics do best when they are refrigerated in the factory, store, and home, because they die much faster at warmer temperatures. Digestive enzymes are shelf-stable, should be taken during our meals, and are best mixed into the foods we eat, because the more they are mixed into the food, the more effective they will be in their function.”

Unless probiotics are human-adapted, Erasmus added, these are best taken after meals, when stomach acid and bile, which can rapidly eradicate non-adapted probiotics, are lowest. Human-adapted probiotics can be taken at any time, but survive and work best when stored cool.

“We’ve all witnessed the tremendous increase in awareness of the benefits probiotics can offer for digestive health by helping maintain a healthy balance in the intestinal microbiota,” confirmed Dr. John Deaton, vice president of technology, Deerland Enzymes, Georgia. Probiotics such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria have been well studied, he noted, and the science is supportive of the benefits of these non-spore probiotic strains.

As such, Deerland Enzymes has formulated ThioZymeGI, which Deaton described as formulated to support normal populations of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, such as E. coli and Bacteroides. The formulation includes natural ingredients of enzymes, essential oils and chelators, which act on the unwanted bacteria.

At base, the digestive system begins in the mouth—and ends, well, we all know where. According to mayoclinic.org, ” After you eat, it takes about six to eight hours for food to pass through your stomach and small intestine. Food then enters your large intestine (colon) for further digestion, absorption of water and, finally, elimination of undigested food.” And further, “The average transit time through just the large intestine (colon) was 40 hours, with significant difference between men and women: 33 hours for men, 47 hours for women.”

So, what your customers ate before they saw you until that meal or treat is fully demolished and absorbed is almost two days hence. Therefore, picture it like this: a customer brings up an enzyme formula to the cash register. How about asking, “Would you like probiotics with that?” A brief explanation of the combined benefits and extended health values may increase the sale at that point, or the next visit.

Because, let’s be frank here: who actually enjoys misguided digestion that leads to tummy complaints, abdominal bloating and grumbling, and bouts of incessant belching and wind passing?

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