I am having horrid reactions to cc and I am not sure if it is both dairy and gluten or just dairy....but I think I am gonna start enzymes. I considered them a year ago for my son and I am considering them again. Does anyone know some good kid friendly brands or what to look for in an enzyme?

I've got one from Trader Joes (in purple bottle) my friend recommended since they are really inexpensive.

Are enzymes really necessary?

[quote name='janelyb' date='Jul 13 2007, 10:20 PM' post='325349']
I am having horrid reactions to cc and I am not sure if it is both dairy and gluten or just dairy....but I think I am gonna start enzymes. I considered them a year ago for my son and I am considering them again. Does anyone know some good kid friendly brands or what to look for in an enzyme?

I've got one from Trader Joes (in purple bottle) my friend recommended since they are really inexpensive.

Are enzymes really necessary?

I am using enzymes for my son. Shortly after getting a blood test with a high TTG we put my son on a gluten-free diet. Thank goodness (and probably because of feeling better) he was keen on eating a greater variety of foods. We began giving him more fruits and veggies but then he would get constipated. We started with V-gest by Enzymedica and it helped immediately with that problem. V-gest is an easy one to begin kids on and it helps with breaking down grains, fruits, and veggies. We are now giving him Digest and I will begin giving him NoFenol also to help with any yeast or bacteria problems.

Anyway, my particular game plan doesn't matter. I think they are great and make sense. Check out enzymestuff.com Also Karen DeFelice has written "Go With Your Gut" Great book that explains the digestive system, how food intolerances develop and how to go about introducing enzymes. She is not selling any particular brand. There is a product by Enzymedica called Glutenease. It specifically breaks down the proteins in gluten and casein. However, she is very careful to point out that it is not for a celiac to begin eating gluten with. It may however help with cc.

She also cautions against buying an inexpensive brand (You can purchase some of the better enzymes online through vitamin discount sites). The thing I like is that you really can begin telling soon whether they are working or not - usually within one bottle. She states that enzymes are safe - they don't go wandering around in the body doing bad stuff because they only target certain jobs in the body.

Like I said, the site is very informative and the book is a great resource.
Debbie

I forgot to add something I thought was interesting after reading "Go With Your Gut" by Karen DeFelice. In her chapter on digestion, she explains that lactase forms on the villi of the intestines. When these are damaged the body can't digest lactose like it should. Helps explain why a lot of people who are gluten intolerant or celiac can't have dairy either. You would think that the dairy problem (as long as it is not a protein issue) would clear up after going gluten-free. Perhaps other intolerances are keeping the gut from healing like it should.

Also, I read a post from sometime back criticizing Enzymedica for stating that Glutenease can help someone begin eating gluten again (implying a celiac could do it). I think I did read that type of description for the product from an online site trying to sell Glutenease but I do not believe that is the company's position at all.

I asked my doctor if I should start my daughter on enzymes, they were recommende to me and I was curious to see if that would help. Anyhow, he let me know that they would just make her body lazy.She is doing great and maybe if she was having problems I would consider them no matter what my doc had said. Just thought I'd put my two cents in!!

thanks Debbie. I've read up on some of the enzymestuff website. I just can't bring myself to spend $30 for enzymes that one will need to take several times a day. I definately need an inexpensive option if I am gonna do this. Why are the inexpensive ones not recommended if they have the same ingredents as the other ones?

The one I got form Trader Joes is the Papaya & Pineapple Enzymes and ingredents are:
Bromelain 45mg,Papain 30mg,Mycozyme 30mg
and:
frutose,vagatable stearin,cellulouse,citrus acid,magnesium stearate(vegatable source), pineapple & papya leaf

I wanna say they were like under $4-5 for a 100 tablets

It would depend on whether they have the same ingredients or not. Sorry if I mistated earlier, but the better products by Houston or Enzymedica usually have more actual enzymes in one capsule. That means you end up getting more or the same in the long run. Also, the enzymes I use for my son have no other fillers - no citric acid, fructose, etc. You mentioned wanting to see if enzymes would help with cc or dairy. Glutenease has DDP - IV which helps break down the bonds in those proteins in three different areas. In short, it is better formulated.

Perhaps the Trader Joe's brand will help. The only problem I see is the papaya and pineapple which can cause problems if you are sensitive to those foods. I also don't think those enzymes will help with gluten cc or dairy. Also, check out buying enzymes from places like Vitacost and such. Also note the amount of capsules in the product.

Hope that helps!
Debbie