Why enzymes are essential to a healthy immune system

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, June, 2006 by Ellen Cutler

Taking probiotics is the best strategy for maintaining an optimal intestinal environment. Probiotics work with the bacteria present in the gut to create less hospitable conditions for harmful microorganisms and alien substances. When these helpful bacteria are in short supply or are overworked by the fermentation of undigested foods, the formation of toxic compounds leading to inflammation will be the result.

Maintaining a balance in our intestinal microflora is vitally important because any imbalance (a.k.a., dysbiosis) can have a global effect on the body and its systems, causing all manner of illnesses. On the other hand, a healthy gut supports a healthy body--one that is less vulnerable to serious ailments such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis. It is even believed that a longer life span could be achieved by improving digestion and gut flora health via probiotics.

Bowel Activity and Immune Health

Despite the central role of intestinal health in determining immune health and general well-being, few people feel comfortable talking about this particular area of human anatomy, even with their physicians. Yet bowel problems affect a majority of Americans. And if your bowels don't function properly, the rest of your body won't either, and your immunity will be compromised.

When the intestine is functioning correctly, nutrients from food are efficiently absorbed by the body and waste is collected for excretion. When there's a problem, toxins--such as cellular debris, biochemical waste, hormones, and bile--are released into the body to damage tissue and inhibit the function of disease-fighting white blood cells. Furthermore, nutrient absorption can suffer. The overall result is a weakened immune system and increasing susceptibility to a variety of health problems and diseases. So, while irregular stools may just seem like an inconvenience, they can actually signify bigger problems.

What is a "normal" bowel movement? According to Stephen Holt, MD, author of Natural Ways to Digestive Health, (5) "Basically, you should have a soft, well-formed stool that exits without much straining." He goes on to say that normal bowel excretion encompasses a range of from three bowel movements a day to three times a week. Stools that appear as small pellets usually mean there's not enough fiber in the diet. This can be remedied by adding more vegetables to meals.

Flatulence is another sign of intestinal distress that, while embarrassing, may not seem to have major health implications. Every day in my practice, at least one patient says to me, "Do you mean passing gas isn't normal?" The most common cause of gas is undigested foods in the small intestine. Usually the culprits are carbohydrates--sugars and starches--that don't break down because of insufficient enzymes. When this undigested food passes into the large intestine, it turns into a feast for the bacteria that reside there, which is what produces gas. Usually taking a full-spectrum digestive enzyme will mitigate this.