Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, Fourth Edition (95 page)

Stool chymotrypsin test

Food allergies—IgE test; food sensitivities—IgG or IgG4 test

Improve your eating habits.
Eat in a relaxed manner. Chew your food thoroughly. Limit beverage intake with meals. Drinking liquids at meals dilutes the gastric juices in the stomach and pancreatic juice in the small intestines.

Take pancreatic enzyme supplements.
Clinical experience shows that pancreatic enzymes work well as a digestive aid. Glandular-based supplements, like
pancreatic enzyme preparations, are directed to specific tissues, helping to initiate repair. Pancreatic enzymes also help restore the balance of GI flora. In studies done on monkeys, it was shown that pancreatic enzymes were able to kill clostridium, bacteroides, pseudomonaceae, enterobacter, E. coli, and klebsiella. Continued use of pancreatic enzymes can help with repair and maintenance of pancreatic tissue.

The United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) regulates the strength of pancreatic enzymes. Take one to two tablets or capsules at the beginning of meals.

Try vegetable enzymes.
For people who would rather have a vegetarian alternative to pancreatic enzymes, vegetable enzymes are a suitable option. These enzymes are derived from a fungus called Aspergillus oryzae. Take one to two capsules at the beginning of meals.

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. There are two types of pancreatitis, acute and chronic. Acute pancreatitis is typically caused by gallbladder disease or alcohol abuse. The typical symptoms are abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Serum amylase and lipase levels are elevated. In acute pancreatitis, it’s important to keep electrolytes in balance. People are hospitalized and given IV solutions or medical foods until the inflammation has calmed down.

Chronic pancreatitis is an ongoing inflammation of the pancreas. In 70 percent of people it’s alcohol induced. Seven percent of people with pancreatitis have genetic alterations in either the cystic fibrosis gene (CFTR), the serine protease inhibitor gene (SPINK 1/PSTI), or the cationic trypsinogen gene (PRSSI). If it’s inherited, it often begins in childhood or adolescence with acute pancreatitis, which eventually becomes chronic. Other causes include tropical pancreatitis (due to unknown nutritional issues), hyperparathyroidism with high calcium levels, extremely high levels of triglycerides, and obstruction of the pancreatic duct.

The main symptom of chronic pancreatitis is a dull pain around the stomach with pain that radiates to the middle of your back. The pain is intermittent and gets worse if you eat. People with pancreatitis gradually lose weight. If the pancreas isn’t producing enough lipase, stools will get lighter, float, and have a bad odor. You may need to urinate often and have symptoms of vitamin A, D, E, and K deficiencies. Sometimes people get jaundiced.

It’s important to consider the entire DIGIN model in people who have chronic pancreatitis.

Stop drinking alcohol.
Easier said than done, but essential. If necessary, join Alcoholics Anonymous or enter treatment.

Use a restorative healing diet.
See
Chapter 13
for details.

Use medical foods.
In some cases, eating predigested foods can provide calories and needed nutrients.

Take pancreatic enzymes.
There are many prescription and over-the-counter pancreas enzymes. According to Maurice E. Shils, et al., in
Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 10th Edition
, from 4,500 to 20,000 USP will be needed with a minimum of 28,000 IU of lipase. Take one tablet with the first bite of your meal and continue sprinkling your tablets throughout the meal.

Take vitamins.
You are likely to be deficient in many nutrients, especially vitamin B
₁₂
and the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Take an excellent multiple vitamin and have your vitamin and mineral levels assessed.

Increase antioxidants to reduce inflammation.
Eat more fruits and vegetables. Make fresh vegetable and green juices. Use wheat grass juice. Use powdered greens or powdered reds, which typically contain dehydrated green vegetables and grasses or red and orange fruits and vegetables, to add antioxidants. Take antioxidant supplements.