Re: Let's talk basics please!

[Guest guest]

>>>> Hey all. I know this might sound like a dumb question but what

EXACTLY is the purpose of enzymes? I thought they were to help

break the gluten and casein proteins in people who cannot break them

down.

Correct for Peptizyde or similar enzymes. People still doing strict

100% GFCF often see further improvement with these enzymes anyway.

Two basic reasons:

- Even though gluten and casein foods are eliminated, the peptides

in question or structurally similar ones might be generated from

soy, corn, other proteins, bacteria in the gut, or blood breakdown.

So there are other sources besides just casein and gluten foods. It

also helps with any hidden gluten and casein, contamination, and

unknowns in food you think is safe. Even gluten-free flour is a

source of gluten because it is not 100% free of all gluten

molecules. I have seen charts of which flours contain what

percentage of gluten.

- Enzymes do other healing action in the body besides food

breakdown. Looking just at the proteases, they help reduce

inflammation, help heal a leaky/injured gut, blood cleaning, detox,

fight yeast/bacteria/viruses, improve nutrient availability, etc.

All things many with gut problems have.

>>>> If a child does not have a problem breaking down gluten or

casein, would you even give them enzymes?

Yes, besides the reasons given above, they can help digest other

foods. People with injured guts often have difficulty digesting

starches and sugars or even fats.

>>>That is the question facing me now. We were GFCF for 8 months and

I really didn't see any improvements.

Good News! With Houston enzymes (only brand tracked) the results

show that if you didn't see much success with the GFCF diet, you

have about a 50% chance of seeing good improvement with these

enzymes...however, this was before No-fenol came out. No-Fenol in

itself has produced good improvements with some that didn't see

improvement with GFCF, or Peptizyde and Zyme Prime. So it was

addressing a very different issue altogether.

>>>Around this time, his nutitionist, Dorfman, suggested we

try enzymes to possibly help increase his appetite. I didn't know

that was a reason for trying enzymes but I was willing to try

anything.

Yes, enzymes are known to help. My younger son was Prince Picky

Eater and getting very, very thin....distressingly so. In the third

week on Pep and Zyme Prime, he became ravenous and starting eating a

LOT. He picked up 5 pounds within months. Research I found back to

the 1930s shows this is a standard effect of digestive enzymes.

>>>>Since we were going to add enzymes, we decided to challenge the

diet by adding back gluten. (NOTE: Sammy has always been casein free

as he is truly allergic to dairy; hives and vomits if he gets any

casein. He is still casein free).

Good knowing not to rely on enzymes for a allergic reaction. You

might want to try one bottle of Peptizyde and give it regularly with

meals...if you don't see any improvement, just scrap it. However,

giving some type of broad-spectrum enzyme product may be helpful

with his eating and helping him get the most from his food and

supplements. I think of general enzymes like a multi-vitamin. Good

for health as maintenance and general health insurance.

.

[Guest guest]

Hi , I just started my son on Houston enzymes. He has been on the GF/CF

diet for 6 months. If you want to know EVERYTHING about enzymes I strongly

recommend reading " Enzymes for Autism and other Neurological Conditions " by

DeFelice. I am so glad I bought it and sure you will be too. Hope this

helps. Chantai - ee, Kansas

Let's talk basics please!

Hey all. I know this might sound like a dumb question but what EXACTLY is

the purpose of enzymes? I thought they were to help break the gluten and

casein proteins in people who cannot break them down. In which case, if you

were on the GFCF diet, why would you need enzymes? I see many posts from

people who have remained on the diet and still give enzymes and see results.

If that's the case, is there something else that the enzymes do?

If a child does not have a problem breaking down gluten or casein, would you

even give them enzymes? That is the question facing me now. We were GFCF for

8 months and I really didn't see any improvements. Sammy was also barely

eating as his diet as so limited (oral motor problems). Around this time,

his nutitionist, Dorfman, suggested we try enzymes to possibly help

increase his appetite. I didn't know that was a reason for trying enzymes

but I was willing to try anything. Since we were going to add enzymes, we

decided to challenge the diet by adding back gluten. (NOTE: Sammy has

always been casein free as he is truly allergic to dairy; hives and vomits

if he gets any casein. He is still casein free). We sprinkled the enzymes on

meals that contained gluten. We saw, and have still seen, no regressions. He

has been back on gluten for 3 months and has made some good progress in

that time but don't know if that's schooling, getting older, or the enzymes

b/c honestly, we have not been very good about giving the enzymes on a

regular basis. We've been pretty lame actually--bad parents . We sprinkle

it here and there on gluten foods only so I'm really starting to doubt

whether or not he even needs them? If in fact he doesn't have a gluten

problem, would he even need the enzymes? If there is something else they do

then I will give them to him on a regular basis. Do you give them with all

foods, even those that do not have gluten?

Also, I have been using the Kirkmans but keep reading about how people think

the Houstons are better for going off the diet, but is that b/c your child

has problems with gluten? Does anyone havew kids who can eat gluten without

any problems but stll give enzymes b/c they are doing something else for

their child? Sammy never had bowel movements problems and was never spacey

with gluten. I want to be sure he's getting all he needs but at the same

time, don't want to pump him with more stuff if he doesn't need it. He also

gets rice protein powder, one TMG tablet each day, vitamin C, acidopholase

(which is acidophilus with some enzymes, some of which are in the Kirkmans

and Houstons but smaller doses), a multivitamin, and one Coromega packet

each day.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I have found this list to

be very helpful.

[Guest guest]

> Hey all. I know this might sound like a dumb question but what

EXACTLY is

> the purpose of enzymes?

To break down foods. Specific enzymes target specific foods.

>> I thought they were to help break the gluten and

> casein proteins in people who cannot break them down.

Certain enzymes do this. Others break down other proteins,

carbohydrates, fats, etc.

>> In which case, if you

> were on the GFCF diet, why would you need enzymes?

Other food issues

Cross-contamination issues

Infractions

> If a child does not have a problem breaking down gluten or casein,

would you

> even give them enzymes?

Yes, if they need enzymes for other foods.

>>We sprinkle

> it here and there on gluten foods only so I'm really starting to

doubt

> whether or not he even needs them? If in fact he doesn't have a

gluten

> problem, would he even need the enzymes?

He might not need help with gluten, or conversely he might need MORE

help with gluten than you are providing. Which enzymes are you using?

Many kids, like mine, need help with phenols far beyond the help they

may or may not need with gluten. Consider No-Fenol enzyme

http://www.houstonni.com/

Then there is my son, who showed *some*, altho minimal, improvement

with diet, *more*, but still not great, with enzymes. He was

apparently metal toxic and needed chelation before I saw the major

breakthru.

http://www.danasview.net/chelate.htm

I also must keep him away from certain foods, even with enzymes, but

not gluten or casein.

Good luck.

Dana