While these symptoms may be common, they are not normal; they are signs of impaired digestion.

Food is meant to energize us, not make us tired.

• Potent age-specific and condition-specific combinations, appropriate for all stages of life
• Active throughout the entire digestive tract
• Full-spectrum to assist digestion of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, sugars and fibres – raw or cooked
• High in proteolytic enzymes for reduction of inflammation and food allergies caused by incomplete protein digestion
• Improve nutrient absorption and increase energy levels
• Decrease gas, bloating, heartburn, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhea
• Guaranteed enzyme activity (FCC units)

Enzymes are catalysts – they initiate chemical reactions in the body but are not themselves changed or used up. There are 2 basic types of enzymes involved in the digestive process: Digestive enzymes help the body to break down and assimilate nutrients from food: fats, carbohydrates, proteins, sugars and fibers.

They are produced by the body (predominantly the pancreas, but also the stomach and salivary glands) to act on food in the small intestine, stomach or mouth. Food enzymes are found in raw foods, which come equipped with some of the enzymes needed for their own digestion. This is why foods decompose or rot if not eaten while fresh – they essentially digest themselves.

Digestion is the process of breaking down food into its component nutrients so that they can be assimilated (absorbed) into the bloodstream and utilized by the body for a myriad of functions.

Ideally, digestion is assisted by a combination of digestive enzymes and food enzymes. Digestion begins in the mouth, where enzymes in the saliva begin to de-construct starch and sugar molecules. In the stomach, hydrochloric acid (HCl) begins to act on proteins while enzymes in the food itself continue to reduce it down into smaller and smaller pieces. The food leaves the stomach and moves into the small intestine, which is an alkaline environment rich in enzymes secreted by the pancreas. Digestion continues until the nutrients are ready for absorption into the bloodstream.

The reality is that most of us do not adequately chew our food, which means that the salivary enzymes have no chance to act before the food moves into the stomach. Even raw food must be well chewed because cellulose (fibre) is tough to break down and the pancreas does not secrete cellulase, an enzyme that targets cellulose. Liquids should also be swirled around the mouth to allow the enzymes to begin to break down any sugars or starches. Food should be chewed until it is liquid before swallowing – at least 30-50 chews per mouthful.

Enzymes are heat-sensitive; cooking and processing can destroy 100% of naturally occurring enzymes in food. The lack of inherent enzymes in the modern diet means that the pancreas, which is designed to secrete only enough enzymes to finish the job that was begun in the mouth and stomach, becomes overworked. Eventually, it may not be able to keep up with the increased demand for enzyme secretion, allowing partially digested food particles to pass into the bloodstream.

The body does not recognize these food particles (protein in particular) as nutrients, so it launches an attack from the immune system in the form of an allergic reaction or inflammatory response. The immune system's resources then go to production of antibodies against food (which should be a benign substance) rather than healing injuries and fighting viruses, bacteria, yeasts and fungi. Like anything that is overworked, the pancreas eventually slows down or stops. Production of pancreatic digestive enzymes is decreased by stress, caffeine, alcohol, illness, pregnancy and simply aging. Supplementing with Udo's Choice® Enzyme Blends at every meal helps to support healthy immunity and digestion, improve nutrient absorption, increase energy levels and decrease gas, bloating, inflammation and food allergies and intolerances.

Each enzyme functions within a specific pH range. Some assist digestion in the varying acidity of the upper and lower stomach, while others may be active only in certain areas of the alkaline small intestine.  Udo's Choice® Enzyme Blends contain several different proteolytic enzymes that function in different pH ranges so that digestion can occur as it was intended – from the mouth all the way through the small intestine. This facilitates reduced systemic inflammation and allergic immune response caused by incomplete protein digestion. 

There is not one single enzyme or enzyme formula that is appropriate for everyone. This is because our dietary and lifestyle habits, as well as the strength of our digestive systems, change over time and throughout the various stages of life. Udo's Choice® Enzyme Blends offer you a choice so you can incorporate a tailor-made enzyme into your lifestyle. Consider the habits of teenagers: they tend to eat refined and fast food including a lot of sugar, starch, fat and dairy. Their meals are not well balanced, their lifestyles are full of activity and they suffer from as much stress as do most adults. Their growing bodies require a high intake of quality nutrients; Udo's Choice® Teenager's Blend Enzyme can help them to best utilize the nutrients from the diet, as imperfect as it may be.

Many adults choose to restrict their diets for a number of health-related reasons. High protein, carbohydrate-reduced, vegan, macrobiotic, raw and even cleansing or anti-Candida diets are all specialized and prohibitive, and are frequently unbalanced. In contrast to those adults who consider their food choices so extremely, many people eat the typical North American diet that is high in processed food, providing the body with low-quality meals that are high in protein, refined carbohydrates and damaged fats.

Udo's Choice® Adult's Blend Enzyme is designed to help the digestive system extract the right nutrients no matter what your dietary choices. As the pancreas becomes weary from years of being overworked, aging adults often find that certain healthy food choices (perhaps vegetables or dairy) cause digestive distress. Seniors may choose to avoid eating these healthy foods, or may simply not have the appetite to eat enough food overall. Udo's Choice® Advanced Adult's Enzyme is ideal for any adult who is concerned about a weakened digestive system or lack of appetite.

Some adults have found that while their diet is quite healthy and balanced, they do feel better when they take a digestive enzyme with every meal. Udo's Choice® Ultimate Digestive Enzyme Blend helps to minimize embarrassing digestive symptoms and maintain good health.

For those of us who suffer from chronic or occasional inflammation, Udo's Choice® Anti-Inflammatory Enzyme is the ideal addition to a digestive enzyme. It helps to stop the self-sustaining chain of events that cause inflammation that may result in discomfort in the joints, muscles, soft tissue or intestinal lining.

Plant- and fungal-based enzymes are very safe and have been used for centuries by Asian cultures.  Udo's Choice® Enzyme Blends are essentially food enzymes from plants and fungi, extracted and encapsulated. Because enzymes are proteins, the body treats them as a source of protein. Testing has not found an upper limit of dosing and there is no danger of taking a harmful amount.

You may notice an increase in bowel movements when you first start taking Udo's Choice® Enzyme Blends; this is a good sign that the digestive process is becoming more efficient and waste is moving through the system more efficiently. After a few days, you may notice that you pass less stool because more food is being broken down and the nutrients utilized. Many people also notice that when they begin absorbing more nutrients from their food, they are satisfied with less, resulting in reduced hunger and cravings. Conversely, some people who are underweight due to malabsorption find that digestive enzymes help them to better utilize their nutrients, allowing the body to maintain and build itself up rather than wasting away.

If taken on an empty stomach, Udo's Choice® Enzyme Blends may irritate ulcers; be sure to take the digestive enzyme blends with food. The Anti-Inflammatory Enzyme is meant to be taken on an empty stomach and may cause a burning sensation or diarrhea if taken at too high a dosage. This formula should not be taken by those with ulcers.

Udo's Choice® Enzyme Blends are expressed in FCC (Food Chemical Codex) units; this certifies that the enzymes went through thorough testing for activity and potency. The units vary from enzyme to enzyme because different efficacy tests are required for different enzymes. Labels that list enzymes only by weight (e.g. in mg's) do not reveal any information about enzyme strength or activity.

The purpose of enteric coating is to allow a capsule or tablet to pass safely through the harsh acidic environment of the stomach before its contents are released in the alkalinity of the intestines. This is not necessary with Udo's Choice® Enzyme Blends because these plant- and fungal based enzymes have a wide range of activity and remain stable in the stomach acid. Other enzyme supplements, including animal-based enzymes, are more delicate and may require enteric coating in order to be of use in the body.

Adult's Blend Enzyme

For adults 19– 65 years

15 active enzymes chosen to assist digestion of any specialized diet or for those who eat the typical diet high in processed food 60 veg•caps

Many people choose lifestyles that incorporate specialized diets that limit their intake of certain nutrients – for example, low-fat, high-protein or carbohydrate-reduced diets. Vegan and raw diets can also be extreme and restrictive ways of eating, frequently resulting in inadequate protein or deficiency of certain vitamins unless great care is taken to properly balance the diet. This blend is designed to help the digestive system extract the right nutrients no matter what your dietary choices.

Advanced Adult's Enzyme

For seniors and adults with compromised digestion

Specially formulated to alleviate the digestive problems associated with aging and maximize nutrient absorption for optimal health 60 veg•caps

Due to digestive distress and discomfort after eating, much of the elderly population does not consume enough vegetables, protein or healthy fats; the resulting unbalanced diet leads to a lack of vital nutrients, muscle weakness, fatigue, loss of bone mass and overall degeneration. This enzyme blend supports healthy digestion of all foods, including dairy products, which are an important source of calcium.

Ultimate Digestive Enzyme

All-purpose full-spectrum digestive enzyme

A complete blend of 10 active enzymes to support optimal digestion and assimilation of a healthy, balanced diet 21, 60, 90 and 120 veg•caps

Many people recognize that they just feel better when they take a digestive enzyme with every meal. It eases digestion, reduces distress and the fatigue and bloating that often come after eating. Udo's Choice® Ultimate Digestive Enzyme Blend is a simpler formula than the other Udo's Choice® enzymes, yet is potent enough to boost absorption of nutrients from dairy products, refined sugars, fruits, vegetables and any of the foods in a realistically healthy, balanced diet. Ideal for those with no specific health concerns.

Anti-Inflammatory Enzymes

For relief of chronic and occasional inflammation

7 proteolytic enzymes, taken on an empty stomach to break the vicious cycle of chronic and occasional inflammation 60 veg•caps

Inflammation, regardless of its cause, results from an inflammatory cascade involving the generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These are proteins (such as interleukins and lymphokines) that are released by the cells of the immune system often, as a response to undigested protein molecules in the bloodstream. In chronic cases, this inflammatory response becomes self-sustaining. This enzyme blend is designed to interfere with parts of the inflammatory cascade, resulting in reduced inflammation of joints, intestinal lining, muscles and soft tissue. Helpful for chronic inflammation that results in pain and stiffness, or for occasional inflammation due to sickness or injury. Also helps reduce fibrin build-up in the blood vessels due to the high fibrinolytic activity of Protease AM.

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