The brain chemicals /  neurotransmitters (like Dopamine, Serotonin, Norepherine) are dependant on proper digestion. Therefore if the digestion is inadequate, the production of neurotransmitters involved in brain function and attention will also be inadequate. Those with chemical imbalances of any kind should read this page.

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When considering supplements or medication you should always test your ph balance. Your Ph balance and digestive enzymes are very important to the absorption or assimilation of our food and medication.  A local doctor has been studying pH in ADD/Autistic clients for twenty years. He has found that a high number of clients with cognitive and attentional deficits have a high acid index and digestive problems. This will have an affect on the absorption/metabolism of nutrients, as well as supplements/medication. The benefit of the medication/supplement will be altered when is not absorbed/metabolized properly.
 
It is easy and inexpensive to test your pH. It is also encouraging to know that
when a state of balance is maintained by optimum digestion, the body is better able to prevent chronic health problems such as hypo or hyperglycemia; fatigue; headaches; candida; constipation/diarrhea; arthritis; allergies; infections or other conditions caused by a compromised immune system. Most drug stores have ph testing kits if you have difficulty finding them locally, Click Here we provide them through Vaxa.

The brains chemicals/neurotransmitters (Dopamine, Serotonin, Norepherine) are dependant on proper digestion. Therefore if the digestion is inadequate, the production of  neurotransmitters involved in brain function and attention will also be inadequate. If you test with a high acid level and can not normalize this through adding vegetables or a greens product (Kids Greens or Vaxa Greens). You may have to add digestive enzymes. Our daughter was on a prescription enzyme product and still was not successful in balancing her PH until she was on the Vaxa Digestin product. Since she balanced on that we have seen a remarkable difference in schoolwork and behavior. Click here for a digestive checklist

When a state of balance is maintained by optimum digestion, the absorption of medication and supplements for the brains function is improved and the body is better able to prevent chronic health problems such as hypo or hyperglycemia; fatigue; headaches; candida; constipation/diarrhea; arthritis; allergies; infections or other conditions caused by a compromised immune system.

PH Balance

The pH balance is necessary for a completely integrated path to optimal health. PH Balance is basically how alkaline or acidic our body is, particularly your blood and body's tissues. Every function performed by any organ in the body depends on that range of pH level. All leading biochemists and medical physiologists have recognized pH or acid/alkaline balance as the most important aspect of a balanced and healthy body. 

Unfortunately, t
he bulk of the American diet consists of foods that leave an acidic residue within the body. 

When the diet is imbalanced with an excess of acid or alkaline residues,
the body pH is directly and immediately impacted. When a body is acidic, it creates a welcoming environment for viruses and bacteria to come in and begin to flourish.
We experience lack of energy, frequent illnesses and pains. And, just like acid rain upon a forest, an imbalanced pH can slowly but steadily corrode your body and lead to numerous health problems.  If a person doesn't do anything about changing the acidic state of the body, the situation can get worse. Virus or bacteria can mutate into a serious illness such as cancer, infection and other serious illnesses or diseases. 

Also, the body becomes unable to process or cleanse itself of toxins and other food additives when it is in an acidic state. These substances are not meant to be in our food and our bodies. Many of these toxins can be resting in our bodies for a very long time before they create or cause any problems. In the brain, they slow or interfere with neurotransmissions, creating all sorts of neurological and learning difficulties.
Therefore, maintaining alkalinity is essential for life health and vitality. 

Magnesium, along with potassium, is required  to maintain a pH balance between 6.5 and 7.5. This pH is required for protein synthesis and enzyme activity. 

Some of this info is excerpts from The 'pH Balance-The Path To Optimal Health' e-book 

Which Foods Are "Acid-Forming" And Which Ones Are "Base-Forming"?
Most high protein foods (such as meat, fish, poultry and eggs), nearly all carbohydrates (including grains, breads, pastas) and fats are "acid-forming." And most fruits and vegetables are "base-forming." Although citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruit, contain organic acids and may have an acid taste, they are not acid forming when metabolized, leaving no acidic residue. Similarly, Free-Form Amino Acids are not acid-forming, but instead offer unique buffering capabilities to the body.

How Do I Get Rid Of An "Acidic-pH"?
Watching your diet can help, especially by increasing the number of fruits and vegetables you eat while decreasing the amounts of acid-forming foods consumed. But an easier way is to take Växa's Buffer-pH+ daily to help the body alkalize your system while continuing to enjoy the foods you prefer! Be careful about eliminating meat proteins-they are the precursors (building blocks) to the neurotransmitters that we need.

Växa's Buffer-pH+ is an Advanced Cardiovascular and Systemic (body-wide) Nutraceutical Dietary Supplement which works to safely and effectively balance an overly acid or overly alkaline system by buffering overly acid and alkaline residues and removing them from your body, as well as helping to dissolve toxic laden plaque. This allows tissues to be cleansed, and then healed naturally and more quickly, by the body.

How Can I Find Out My Body pH?
By testing your pH with Växa's Medical pH-Test Strips, you can determine quickly and easily, in the privacy of your own home, what your pH is. Växa Medical pH-Test Strips determine your urinary pH, which is generally a good indicator of how acid or alkaline your total body pH is. When urinary pH is continuously between 6.5 in the A.M. and 7.5 by evening, you're functioning in a healthy range; When continuously above this range you're too alkaline, and when continuously below it, you're too acid.

Click Here for purchasing Vaxa ph testing and balancing products

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Digestion And ADHD/Autism

Digestive problems and stool abnormalities may be present in a large portion of children with ADHD / Autism. Many autistic children display chronic indigestion and gas. One study that examined a small group of randomly selected autistic children found that 40% (6 1/5) had bulky, odorous or loose stools or diarrhea. Interestingly, many parents of ADHD / autistic children report a worsening in behavioral symptoms occurring in conjunction with a flare-up of gastrointestinal problems.

"Although gastrointestinal symptoms frequently accompany the manifestations of autism" points out pediatrician Karolyn Horvath, M.D., and his colleagues at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, "little attention has been paid to this aspect…"Dr. Horvath’s team performed gastrointestinal evaluation on 36 children with severe autism and found several striking abnormalities. The children often showed signs of chronic inflammation in the gut, including the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Because of the enzyme deficiencies, many of the children had trouble digesting and absorbing carbohydrates a possible cause for their chronic loose stools and gas. These abnormalities may be closely linked with sudden behavior changes in the children such as irritability, aggression, and nighttime awakenings. 
More info on Digestion and Enzymes 

Another reason to be concerned about digestion, is that about 80% of our serotonin is synthesized in the chromaffin cells of the gut. Serotonin is essential to brain function. Indications of low serotonin may be carbohydrate cravings, Migraines, PMS, Depression, Insomnia or problems falling asleep, obsessive-compulsive behavior and panic attacks. 

Reference

Horvath K, Papadimitriou JC, Rabsztyn A, Drachenberg C, Tildon JT. Gastrointestinal abnormalities in children with autistic disorder. J Pediatr 1999; 135:559-63.


Digestive Enzymes are also equally important in keeping the body clean and ensuring that we not only digest but also absorb our nutrients. Enzymes are responsible for helping  us break down our food. In a toxic environment, our digestive health is compromised and we end up not absorbing our food properly. The foods we eat do not contain enough live enzymes and supplementing our diet with both good animal and plant-based digestive enzymes such as those in Vaxa's Digestin will help nutrient absorption tremendously. Our bodies do not make the enzyme cellulose, which breaks down plant fiber, however, a plant-source cellulose enzyme supplement is appropriate therapy for certain conditions, such as green leafy vegetables intact in stools.

When a person eats proteins, carbohydrates, and fat, the pancreas responds by secreting the proper amounts and concentrations of protease, amylase, and lipase enzymes to digest the foods and transport their nutrients into the bloodstream. 

The digestive enzymes help your body break down the foods you eat more easily, and intern, your body does not have to produce as much stomach acid to complete it’s part in the digestion process. Vaxa's Digestin contains the full spectrum of digestive enzymes to effectively breakdown all types of foods. Active Enzyme complexes in Digestin digest dietary proteins, sugars and carbohydrates, fiber and fats within the gastrointestinal tract.

Here are just of few of the digestive enzymes contained in Digestin

Lipase: Is an enzyme that digests fats, helping to maintain correct gall bladder function.

Protease: Is a digestive enzyme that digests proteins and may be helpful for people with food allergies.

Amylase: Works great for digesting starches and carbohydrates and may be useful for people with gluten sensitivities.

Cellulase: A digestive enzyme that digests fiber cellulose, aiding with malabsorption.

Lactase: This enzyme digests milk and milk by-products and is extremely useful for individuals that are lactose intolerant.

Plus: Many more ingredients chosen specifically for their digestive properties. Click on the list ingredients button below for full details!

Digestin is doctor-formulated, all-natural and completely safe with no side effects and has helped countless people with digestive problems and can help you also!

When a state of balance is maintained by optimum digestion, the body is better able to prevent chronic health problems such as hypo or hyperglycemia; fatigue; headaches; candida; constipation/diarrhea; arthritis; allergies; infections or other conditions caused by a compromised immune system.

Recent research demonstrates that, aside from breaking down food, digestive enzymes are highly effective in the breakdown of damaged tissues and in the killing of unfriendly gastro-intestinal flus/viruses, helping to reduce inflammation and encourage healthy tissue growth in the area of injury...

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Digestive Problems Profile

Evaluate and check any of your symptoms based upon your
health profile for the past 30 days:

DIGESTION

_____ Nausea, abdominal pain
_____ Belching, burping, or flatulence
_____ Undigested food in stools
_____ Stomach distention, rumbling sounds
_____ Chronic diarrhea or constipation
_____ Halitosis (bad breath)
_____ Acid indigestion
_____ Intolerance and/or reactions to dairy products, grains or sugar

____________________________________________

STOMACH UPSET
_____ Heartburn
_____ Indigestion
_____ Recurrent burning, gnawing, aching in stomach
_____ Nausea or vomiting
_____ Acid rebound after eating
_____ Upper abdominal or stomach pain
_____ Burping
_____ History of ulcers, gastritis
_____ History of hiatal hernia

If you have checked any of the boxes you may want to consider supporting your body's natural processes with scientifically validated nutritional supplements. Any chronic conditions should be checked by a qualified, licensed health care professional.
____________________________________________________________________________
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Understanding Digestion

What Causes Most Nutritional Disorders?
Many health care practitioners, traditional and non-traditional, have overlooked the main underlying cause of many or most nutritional disorders- faulty digestion. Rather than continuously treating the symptoms of poor digestion (gas, heartburn, nausea, burping, bloating, upset stomach, acid indigestion, diarrhea), the logical remedy for actually correcting this problem is to improve the person’s ability to digest and assimilate the nutrients from their food.

What Is Digestion And Assimilation?
The digestion and assimilation of food is accomplished by taking large pieces of foods and breaking them down into very small molecules. These food molecules can then be absorbed into the blood and used by the body as nutrients. Many people could benefit greatly by simply chewing their food more thoroughly. This is the most energy-efficient mechanical action the body can take to break down food. After chewing, the body must expend a lot of energy producing acid and alkaline digestive juices, digestive enzymes, and muscle contractions to break down the food. 50% of digestion should take place in the mouth- by chewing food thoroughly. How many times have you seen people “inhale” their food almost before the plate hits the table?

How Does Poor Digestion Cause Disease In The Body?

1. Nutritional Deficiencies.

Most significantly, a person who is not digesting their food well cannot obtain the optimum amount of nutrients from their food that help rebuild, repair, and regenerate the body.


2. Fermentation/Decomposition.

Poor digestion also causes slower transit time of the food through the digestive tract. This prolonged transit time often causes the food to ferment causing gas formation. After this, the fermenting foods begin to decompose or rot (causing toxic chemical formation).


3. Self-Toxification/Colon Problems.

Another factor is a deficiency of fiber in the diet. A lack of fiber in the stools causes the feces to become sticky. This combination of sticky, fermenting, and putrefied food produces toxins and ‘free-radicals’, which are absorbed into the bloodstream and can create a lining of toxic residues and mucus which coats the lower intestinal tract. This toxic, mucus plaque can contribute to numerous health conditions, such as diverticulitis, colitis, and other colon problems. The symptoms associated with this ‘self-toxification’ can include allergies, body aches, confusion, forgetfulness, headaches, and decreased energy.


4. Leaky-Gut Syndrome/Food Allergies.

A serious condition associated with poor digestion is “leaky-gut” syndrome. Leaky Gut Syndrome occurs when foods are not digested completely. Large, poorly digested protein molecules force their way through the gut wall into the bloodstream. In the blood, instead of being delivered where needed as nutrients, these large proteins are recognized incorrectly by the immune system as an invader from outside the body. The immune system then mounts an antigen-antibody reaction, creating immune cells to attack the antigen. This is also known as having a food allergy attack. I believe that a large majority of ‘food allergies’ are simply due to poor digestion and this antigen-antibody reaction to proteins in the bloodstream.


5. Liver/Kidney Stress & Skin Conditions.

By constantly allowing these toxins to enter the bloodstream, it also places stress on the liver (major organ of detoxification) and kidneys (cleaners of the blood). If these organs become overworked, the skin will become an organ of elimination and you will begin to see skin conditions appearing. Many skin conditions are caused or contributed to by poor digestion and the resulting toxic environment of the intestinal tract.


6. Parasites/Yeast Infections.

Other conditions related to poor digestion and leaky-gut syndrome are parasite infections, which are more common that one would expect, and Candida albicans (yeast) infection of the intestinal tract.

All of these conditions increase the toxic load on the body and have a negative effect on the immune system. Patients are usually amazed by how many problems can be traced back to the underlying problems of poor digestion and a toxic colon. It is even more amazing to see what happens when a person who was once toxic from the previously described conditions chooses to use natural methods to detoxify, rebuild, and regenerate their body. Many have described the process as getting “a second chance” or “having a new lease on life”. It is truly a joy to be at home in the body when it is functioning as intended.

What Are Biochemical Enzymes And Digestive Enzymes?
Enzymes are present in all living plant and animal cells. There are hundreds of kinds of biochemical enzymes in the body, constantly keeping our body functioning properly. Enzymes are like the battery in a car. Without the spark from the battery, even a brand new car won’t work. All life would cease to exist without enzymes, for they a vital source of life energy. Enzymes are the primary motivators (catalyst) for all natural biochemical (life) processes. Even though proteins, carbohydrates, fat and fiber are the building blocks of our bodies, they do not possess the energy (capacity to do work) that enzymes possess, necessary for digesting foods, liberating nutrients and assisting biochemical reactions.

Digestive enzymes, made by the pancreas, assist in digesting food we eat, making it small enough to pass through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. Despite obvious evidence of their importance, little thought is given (in modern medicine) to the role digestive enzymes play in completing the digestion and assimilation of nutrients. Plant-based enzymes work in the entire digestive tract, in a wide range of acid and alkaline environments. They allow your body to replenish and rebuild the pancreatic enzyme reserve, which takes a tremendous stress load off of the body. Taken with food they greatly assist the body in the digestion and assimilation of food nutrients. Taken away from food, digestive enzymes enter the bloodstream and act almost like a ‘second immune system’, digesting excess proteins in the blood, scavenging debris, decreasing inflammation, removing mucous, and cellular waste.

How Do Digestive Enzymes Work?
When a person eats proteins, carbohydrates, and fat, the pancreas responds by secreting the proper amounts and concentrations of protease, amylase, and lipase enzymes to digest the foods and transport their nutrients into the bloodstream. Organic raw foods contain the proper types and concentrations of enzymes in their cells to digest themselves (enzymes are responsible for aged fruit to rot or self-digest. Cooking or heating food kills the enzymes found in live foods. Nature intended for the enzymes within rot foods to assist the body in digestion). Eating organic produce adds little or no stress to the pancreas. Our bodies do not make the enzyme cellulose, which breaks down plant fiber, however, a plant-source cellulose enzyme supplement is appropriate therapy for certain conditions, such as green leafy vegetables intact in stools.

Do Organic Foods Contain More Enzymes?
Unfortunately, many commercially grown ‘live’ foods have been genetically altered to make them contain fewer enzymes. This allows these fruits and vegetables a longer shelf life. Haven’t you wondered how fruit and vegetables at commercial grocery stores stay on the shelves so long without spoiling? This is the reason health food stores usually have smaller produce stocks- they must sell and replace existing stock before the inherent enzymes begin the self-digestive process.

How Does The Body Become Depleted Of Enzymes?
The body’s ability to make pancreatic enzymes can be exhausted by eating a diet devoid of naturally occurring enzymes. This includes eating all types of cooked foods (enzymes are killed at 118 degrees), highly processed foods, and commercially grown produce. Each of us is born with a pancreatic enzyme “reserve”, a reserve that may be built up or depleted, but should not become depleted or overdrawn. Every time a person consumes cooked or processed food (devoid of enzymes) and the pancreas can not keep up with the enzyme demand placed on it, the digestive system recruits the enzyme supply from white blood cells (immune cells) to assist in completing digestion. These are the same enzymes the white blood cells used to ‘kill’ invading viruses and bacteria. Mobilizing the body’s immune system every time enzyme deficient food is eaten is known as “digestive leukocytosis”. This constant abuse can fatigue immune defense capabilities and lay the groundwork for degenerative conditions in the body.

How Do I Know If I Am Enzyme Deficient?
General fatigue and chronic, degenerative conditions (every day aches and pains) are the only outward evidence of enzyme deficiencies. Because the body donates enzymes from other areas of the body to meet existing needs (such as the immune system), deficiencies do not become apparent until these reserves can no longer meet the demand. It is extremely important then, to ensure that the body receives an adequate supply of enzymes, either through the consumption of raw food or concentrated plant enzyme supplementation.

What Is Acidophilus, Why Is It Important?
Lactobacillus acidophilus, and other ‘friendly’ intestinal bacteria, are called ‘probiotics’, which literally means “in support of life”. Lactobacillus acidophilus is very important for improving digestion and for the forming of certain vitamins, including vitamin B3, B6, biotin, and folic acid. Probiotics also produce natural antibiotic (antibacterial) substances which can kill or deactivate disease-causing bacteria and will ‘defend their territory’ against other microorganisms such as yeast or fungus. When the ‘good’ intestinal bacteria are depleted there are multiple negative effects in the body.

Does Antibiotic Drug Therapy Kill Acidophilus?
Antibiotic drug therapy is one of the main causes of the depletion of acidophilus in the body. Antibiotic drugs do not discriminate between the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria when they are consumed. Prolonged antibiotic drug use can kill all of the ‘friendly’ probiotics, leaving the body defenseless. It is very important, if you choose to undergo antibiotic therapy, to re-introduce acidophilus and other probiotic bacteria while you are taking the antibiotics and especially after you finish the course of treatment. The antibiotics will kill most of the acidophilus you take while you are still taking the antibiotics. The goal is to not completely wipe out the colonies of ‘good’ bacteria while on the antibiotics, and to fully re-colonize the acidophilus after the completion of the therapy.

Why Can’t Antacids Prevent Or Cure Acid Indigestion?
I have seen many patients with conditions of excessive acid stomach or acid indigestion, and often the person is taking large amounts of antacids. A basic review of how the stomach works and an understanding how antacids help create the problem are all most people need, along with some digestive enzymes, to stop the problem. The problem is the body producing too much acid in the stomach. The stomach makes acid to break down proteins. If there is poor digestion, or if a person eats large meals or excessive proteins, the body can often make too much acid. To counteract the acid, people take antacids. This makes the stomach very alkaline. In order to create an acid environment again in the stomach the body has to make more- you guessed it- acid, which was the problem in the first place. This cycle of poor chewing (50% of digestion should take place in the mouth), poor digestion, and the acid/alkaline roller coaster can be reduced or avoided by chewing food well, and taking digestive enzymes with your meal. Many people think antacids are a good source of calcium. Unfortunately, this is not true. In order for calcium to be fully absorbed into the body, it must be assimilated in an acidic environment. Antacids, like their name says, provide a very alkaline environment, which would prevent the proper uptake of calcium.

When a state of balance is maintained by optimum digestion, the body is better able to prevent chronic health problems such as hypo or hyperglycemia; fatigue; headaches; candida; constipation/diarrhea; arthritis; allergies; infections or other conditions caused by a compromised immune system.

Remember: You are not what you eat. You are what you eat, digest and assimilate.
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