The Gut Health & Energy Expert

Are you guilty of asking for a meal plan?

I get asked a lot whether I can supply meal plans. For most people, fundamentally they're not a good idea!

Why? I hear you cry! Well because all they do is teach you to read a timetable, they don't teach you to learn how to construct a meal or nourish your body.

I've put together something that bridges that gap. It's contains meal ideas and recipes links.

Read the introduction and see what you think!

Please note I can’t currently access my [email protected] email.
Please use [email protected].

💯Following the success of my Carbohydrate module last week. I'm offering this module as a stand alone purchase.

✅If you would like to learn more about carbohydrates and how to include them into your diet, then this is for you.

✅If you're stuck in a rut and need to understand where your carbs are coming from. Carbs are more complex than you think!!!

💯This is a fantastic introduction which will give you plenty of practical hints and tips to make changes to your diet.

This a interactive session delivered by zoom.

I'm offering this at £49 for a 90 minute session on a 122 basis.

If you'd like to more. Please get in touch.

❓Will digestive enzymes help my heartburn, IBS and energy levels.?

Well, a bit like the previous question, 🤔it really depends what the underlying cause of your symptoms is. I only use digestive enzymes when functional testing results show poor breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

💯It would be fair to say that digestive enzymes and/or stomach acid could play a part in heartburn, IBS and low energy levels, but equally eating healthier, eating less, eating at the right times of the day, removing food intolerances, eating slower, reducing stress, working on cell health and feeding the mitochondria could also all have positive results.

✅The take away from this is that, digestive enzymes should be taken seriously and not just popped as a magic pill.

🍀If you would like to explore further whether taking a digestive enzymes could benefit you or how to stop taking a digestive enzymes without the recurrence of symptoms, please get in touch.

❓Why don’t digestive enzymes work for all people?

🤔Well, this is the classic example of why did you take them in the first place. If you’re taking them because someone suggested to try them and you don’t feel any resolution to your symptoms, 💡then maybe the cause of your symptoms in the first place wasn't low stomach acid or digestive enzymes.

Another reason could be how you take them. 💯They must be taken with food/just before. That is the whole point of what you are doing.

❓Taking them for too long can create more problems and weaken digestion, potentially disrupt the flow of bile.

Digestive enzymes like any supplement, should be used a way of getting your body to heal itself. There are plenty of natural foods which can help increase stomach acid and these can be used when either initially looking to increase stomach acid or coming off the supplement.

❓What are the symptoms of having low digestive enzymes and stomach acid.❓

✅It is common for people to feel bloated or like they have a brick in their stomach. Often there is also flatulence or burping, cramps and sometimes diarrhea.

✅Severe need for digestive enzymes comes from exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. This can be tested for by either your GP or a Registered Nutritional Therapist.

✅Often for most people the issue is low stomach acid which in turn has a knock effect to the production of pancreatic enzymes.

💯The symptoms of low stomach acid include the same as those for low digestive enzymes.
In addition there may also be;

💡recurrent stomach infections,
💡heartburn,
💡nausea when taking supplements,
💡undigested food in the stool,
💡brittle hair and nails,
💡fatigue,
💡iron deficiency and many specific nutrient deficiencies such as B 12, calcium and magnesium.

Problems with digesting food in the stomach is likely to lead to more difficulties further along your gastrointestinal tract. In addition to malnutrition issues, this can include knocking the bacteria balance out and food intolerances.

❓What's the relationship between digestive enzymes and stomach acid?

The stomach must have a certain ph in order to signal the pancreas to produce digestive enzymes. if the stomach becomes less acidic the pancreas won’t do this.

✅Low stomach acid is massively common in people, especially those over 65. From the age of 35 we naturally produce less stomach acid.

There are many factors which can also reduce the amount of stomach acid we produce.

The top three factors are 💯age, 💯acid blocking medications and 💯stress.

💡If you are eating your food whilst being in a heightened state of stress, it is physiologically impossible to adequately digest your food.

💯Helicobacter Pylori is a bacteria which can effect stomach acid production and is also linked to stomach acids. Your GP can easily test for the presence of this.

In addition, things like smoking and poor consumption of zinc will also reduce the production of stomach acid. Examples of zinc containing foods are meats, shellfish, seeds especially h**p and pumpkin seeds, cashew nuts.

I talk later in the week how we can increase stomach acid naturally.

💯How Digestive enzymes and stomach acid can help digestion.

💡But not in all cases.

I often hear people who are taking digestive enzymes and I ask them why? More often than not, it’s because someone has suggested they would be good for them and they can’t do any harm.

The top 10 questions my clients ask me about how digestive enzymes and stomach acid can help digestion are;

❓ Are digestive enzymes safe?
❓ How do they work?
❓ What’s the link with stomach acid?
❓ Are there any health conditions associated with not having enough digestive enzymes or stomach acid?
❓ Why don’t digestive enzymes work?
❓ Will they help my heartburn?
❓ Are they good for IBS?
❓ Are they good for energy?
❓ When should I take a digestive enzymes.
❓ My PT suggested I should take them what are they?

So, lets take these questions one by one.

✅My PT suggested I should take them, what are they?

The body produces digestive enzymes naturally. If our body is working efficiently, we shouldn’t have to take them at all. They are linked to stomach acid because the acidity of the stomach needs to be perfect for the pancreas to produce digestive enzymes.

The pancreas will produce enzymes which break down different foods. Lipase is for fats, protease is for protein and amylase is for carbohydrates. Protein is also broken down by stomach acid and the act of chewing.

✅So, in summary it is vital for our body to produce sufficient digestive enzymes or we can become malnourished.✅

I'll be covering the other questions during the week. So, keep a look out.🧐

❓Why protein in our diet is essential, but how we include it is vitally important❓

Let’s chat about protein!

✅You’ve probably heard very mixed message about it?
✅Some will say high protein diet are the way to go, other will say too much protein is bad for you?
✅It’s seems as if all the diets recommended by PT are protein heavy?
✅It must be ok because of the Keto diet!

The reality is, all the messages above are right to some extent, I know that’s not a helpful statement to make and further adds to your confusion on the matter.

Let’s start from the beginning and look at what is protein.

💯Protein is not a single entity; protein is made up of 20 smaller substances called amino acids. Some of these are essential (which means we must eat them) and some the body recycles from the ones we've ate to make others.

They are incredibly clever. Depending on how the amino acids are arranged, depends on what function they play in the body.

Protein is the building blocks to everything that happens in the body.

Things like haemoglobin and insulin are proteins.
Protein isn’t just found in our bones, muscles and skin.

Every cells in our body is made from protein and every substance that provides signals is also made from protein, things like

✅enzymes,
✅some hormones,
✅antibodies,
✅neurotransmitters.

The role of protein in healing and repairing the body has been long accepted and that includes the digestive track and energy levels as well.

From this basic picture of protein – protein is a fundamental part of our diets, we simply couldn't function without it, so much so we should include a good quality protein source with EVERY meal – yes that includes breakfast.

The picture is not as simple as this seems. I will explore further in more posts this week….