Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Anyone Do Enzymes?


janelyb

Recommended Posts

janelyb Enthusiast

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?


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Nathan's mom Apprentice

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

Nathan's mom Apprentice
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?

Nathan's mom Apprentice

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.

momof2sn Apprentice
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!!

janelyb Enthusiast

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

Nathan's mom Apprentice
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


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,902
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Patty6133
    Newest Member
    Patty6133
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Xravith
      Yes, you are right. Indeed, I’ve been feeling anemic since the beginning of this week, and today I felt horrible during a lecture at the university, I was trembling a lot and felt all my body incredibly heavy, so I had to come back home. I’ll do a blood test tomorrow, but I’m just worried about the possibility of it coming back negative. I’ve been eating two cookies in the morning as my only source of gluten over the past two weeks—could that affect the final result?
    • trents
      Welcome to the forum, @Judy M! Yes, he definitely needs to continue eating gluten until the day of the endoscopy. Not sure why the GI doc advised otherwise but it was a bum steer.  Celiac disease has a genetic component but also an "epigenetic" component. Let me explain. There are two main genes that have been identified as providing the "potential" to develop "active" celiac disease. We know them as HLA-DQ 2.5 (aka, HLA-DQ 2) and HLA-DQ8. Without one or both of these genes it is highly unlikely that a person will develop celiac disease at some point in their life. About 40% of the general population carry one or both of these two genes but only about 1% of the population develops active celiac disease. Thus, possessing the genetic potential for celiac disease is far less than deterministic. Most who have the potential never develop the disease. In order for the potential to develop celiac disease to turn into active celiac disease, some triggering stress event or events must "turn on" the latent genes. This triggering stress event can be a viral infection, some other medical event, or even prolonged psychological/emotional trauma. This part of the equation is difficult to quantify but this is the epigenetic dimension of the disease. Epigenetics has to do with the influence that environmental factors and things not coded into the DNA itself have to do in "turning on" susceptible genes. And this is why celiac disease can develop at any stage of life. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition (not a food allergy) that causes inflammation in the lining of the small bowel. The ingestion of gluten causes the body to attack the cells of this lining which, over time, damages and destroys them, impairing the body's ability to absorb nutrients since this is the part of the intestinal track responsible for nutrient absorption and also causing numerous other food sensitivities such as dairy/lactose intolerance. There is another gluten-related disorder known as NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or just, "gluten sensitivity") that is not autoimmune in nature and which does not damage the small bowel lining. However, NCGS shares many of the same symptoms with celiac disease such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. It is also much more common than celiac disease. There is no test for NCGS so, because they share common symptoms, celiac disease must first be ruled out through formal testing for celiac disease. This is where your husband is right now. It should also be said that some experts believe NCGS can transition into celiac disease. I hope this helps.
    • Judy M
      My husband has had lactose intolerance for his entire life (he's 68 yo).  So, he's used to gastro issues. But for the past year he's been experiencing bouts of diarrhea that last for hours.  He finally went to his gastroenterologist ... several blood tests ruled out other maladies, but his celiac results are suspect.  He is scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy in 2 weeks.  He was told to eat "gluten free" until the tests!!!  I, and he know nothing about this "diet" much less how to navigate his in daily life!! The more I read, the more my head is spinning.  So I guess I have 2 questions.  First, I read on this website that prior to testing, eat gluten so as not to compromise the testing!  Is that true? His primary care doctor told him to eat gluten free prior to testing!  I'm so confused.  Second, I read that celiac disease is genetic or caused by other ways such as surgery.  No family history but Gall bladder removal 7 years ago, maybe?  But how in God's name does something like this crop up and now is so awful he can't go a day without worrying.  He still works in Manhattan and considers himself lucky if he gets there without incident!  Advice from those who know would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Scott Adams
      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
    • Scott Adams
      In this case the beer is excellent, but for those who are super sensitive it is likely better to go the full gluten-free beer route. Lakefront Brewery (another sponsor!) has good gluten-free beer made without any gluten ingredients.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.