Gut Health Restored | Carbohydrate Digestion 

The Importance of Complex Carbohydrates

The human body is a remarkable machine, capable of transforming the food we eat into the energy and nutrients we need to thrive. One crucial component of this process is the breakdown of carbohydrates, which plays a vital role in not just energy production, but also in hormone and toxin detoxification and nutrient absorption.

Thankfully, our bodies are equipped with digestive enzymes and beneficial bacteria that work together to break down complex carbohydrates into simple sugars that are used to fuel our daily activities.

And let's not forget about the important role fiber, found in complex carbohydrates (from fruit and vegetables), plays in maintaining digestive health.

Carbohydrates Digestive Path

Did you know that the journey of carbohydrates in your food starts as soon as you lay your eyes on it?

That's right! Even before you take a bite, your salivary glands are hard at work, producing amylase enzymes that start to break down the complex carbohydrates in your food.

Once you start to chew and swallow, these enzymes are activated by your stomach acid, continuing the process of carbohydrate breakdown.

But that's not all - your pancreas also gets in on the action by releasing even more amylase enzymes into your small intestine, where they team up with lactase enzymes to break down the sugars in milk for energy.

And finally, any remaining carbohydrates are broken down by a diverse community of bacteria that live in your gut, working together to complete the digestion process. It's amazing to think about all the different parts of our body that work together to ensure we get the most out of the food we eat!

How the pancreas and intestines help you digest:

• Amylase enzymes digest carbohydrates (including fiber and sugar)
• Lactase enzymes help digest milk sugars
• Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii maintain a healthy intestinal environment

If You Don’t Digest Your Carbs, Bacteria Surely Will

In the absence of proper carbohydrate digestion, the bacteria in our gut can flourish and multiply, leading to potential health issues.

Prepare yourself for the worst-case scenario - if your body doesn't produce enough salivary and pancreatic enzymes to properly break down carbohydrates, the consequences can be dire.

Fermenting bacteria can wreak havoc in your gut, causing painful gas and bloating.

And if that's not bad enough, these bacteria can multiply out of control and migrate to your small intestine, where they can cause Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).

This can lead to serious issues with your intestinal villi, including the dreaded Leaky Gut and over time, you may develop adult-onset food intolerances and allergies to common staples like dairy and grains.

So don't take your digestive health lightly - it could be a matter of life or death!

Low enzymes and bacterial overgrowth causes the following:

• Systemic inflammation and pain
• Excess intestinal gas with lower abdominal bloating
• Chronic fatigue
• Incomplete bowel movements with excessive toilet paper use

Common Undigested Carbohydrate Symptoms:

• Undigested vegetable matter (not including corn) in my stool
• Excessive abdominal cramping after eating (not menstrual) 
• Intestinal gas (not really foul) and/or bloating
• History of Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) 
• Excess brain fog or feelings of anxiety on a regular basis

Pancreas, the body's carbohydrate enzyme superstar

The pancreas creates a majority of carbohydrate digesting enzymes.

Unfortunately, when our blood sugar levels consistently remain high, the pancreas may become overworked and exhausted.

One of the major consequences of this is reduced production of pancreatic enzymes, which are essential for breaking down carbohydrates and other nutrients.

Over time, this reduction in enzyme production can lead to malabsorption, which means that our bodies are unable to fully absorb and utilize the nutrients in our food. This can result in a range of health issues, including fatigue, weakness, and even malnutrition.

It's important to take care of our bodies by maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and supporting our pancreas with a balanced diet and lifestyle.

Give your pancreas the rest it needs

They say that the pancreas is the slowest healing organ. We think it is because it is under constant assault.

Your pancreas both balances blood sugar by making hormones, reduces the acidity of stomach acid with bicarbonate and helps digest carbohydrates into sugars that are used for metabolism.

The only way to give it a break is to supplement pancreatic enzymes and give herbs to help it get back on track.

By incorporating Enzycore's enzyme supplement with the powerful herb Gymnemia into your daily routine, you can take important steps towards safeguarding your pancreas and promoting healthy blood sugar levels.

This dynamic duo works together to enhance your body's natural ability to break down and absorb essential nutrients, while also promoting balanced blood sugar levels.

Don't wait until it's too late to start taking care of your pancreas and overall health - try Enzycore with Gymnemia today!

Weed and Feed... Gardening of the Gut

In many cases, the bacteria in a person's gut has become severely imbalanced. From years of partial carbohydrate digestion and the typical American Diet, bacteria have become less diverse and specific colonies overgrow leading to SIBO.

Bacteria bloom so out of control that they move into the small intestine where they do not belong.

The bi-product of bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates in Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Breath tests can confirm SIBO, but they are a pain to complete.

Many people will go directly into the Weed and Feed Plan to start right away!

Weed and Feed Supplement Plans involve herbs that destroy the bad bacteria scheduled with pre and probiotics to reinoculate and feed the good bacteria.

Fix Your Leaky Gut!

Gut permeability, commonly known as "leaky gut," occurs when the lining of the intestinal wall becomes damaged from excessive alcohol, coffee, specific prescription drugs and bacterial overgrowth—allowing harmful substances to leak into your bloodstream.

This can lead to a host of health issues, including inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and digestive problems. Many factors can contribute to leaky gut, including stress, poor diet, and environmental toxins.

However, there are natural supplements that can help support gut health and promote healing. Gastrex®, HiPep, Golden Seal, Chamomile, Whole Food Fiber, and Enzycore are all effective supplements that can help support a healthy gut.

Gastrex® and HiPep work to soothe the upper digestive tract, Golden Seal and Chamomile have antimicrobial and mucosal properties that can support healthy villi.

Whole Food Fiber can help promote healthy bowel movements with both soluble and insoluble fiber and Enzycore can aid in the digestion of protein, fats and carbs.

By taking these supplements, you can support a healthy gut.

In Conclusion

Incredible, isn't it? The process of carbohydrate digestion is nothing short of amazing, with multiple organs and enzymes working together to extract the maximum amount of energy from the food we eat.

And let's not forget about the crucial role that complex carbohydrates, found in fruits and vegetables, play in maintaining digestive health!

Our bodies are equipped with digestive enzymes and beneficial bacteria that break them down into simple sugars, fueling us with the energy we need to thrive.

With the right nutrients and supplements, we can improve our overall digestion and health, making better-informed decisions about our diets and leading happier, healthier lives. So let's continue to prioritize our well-being and enjoy the benefits of proper nutrition - our bodies will thank us for it!

Helpful links and references

1. Raffaele Pezzilli, Angelo Andriulli, Claudio Bassi, Gianpaolo Balzano, Maurizio Cantore, Gianfranco Delle Fave, Massimo Falconi, Luca Frulloni, and the Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency collaborative (EPIc) Group. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in adults: A shared position statement of the Italian association for the study of the pancreas. World J Gastroenterol. 2013 Nov 28; 19(44): 7930–7946. (PubMed).
2. Victor Chedid, MD, Sameer Dhalla, MD, John O. Clarke, MD, Bani Chander Roland, MD, Kerry B. Dunbar, MD, Joyce Koh, MD, Edmundo Justino, MD, Eric Tomakin, RN, and Gerard E. Mullin, MD. Herbal Therapy Is Equivalent to Rifaximin for the Treatment of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. Glob Adv Health Med. 2014 May; 3(3): 16–24. (PMC)
3. Bonilla, Francisco A. "Function and clinical applications of immunoglobulins." Jan. 2017.
4. Cordell B, McCarthy J. A case study of gut fermentation syndrome (auto-brewery) with Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the causative organism. Int J Clin Med. 2013;4(7):309-312.
5. Fayemiwo SA, Adegboro B. Gut fermentation syndrome. Afr J Clin Exper Microbiol. 2014;15(1):48-50.
6. Roetzer A, Gabaldón T, Schüller C. From Saccharomyces cerevisiae to Candida glabrata in a few easy steps: important adaptations for an opportunistic pathogen. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2011;314(1):1-9.
7. Grabitske HA, Slavin JL. Gastrointestinal effects of low-digestible carbohydrates. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2009 Apr;49(4):327-60.