I'm not keen on the notion of having to ingest animal glandulars, as some people are suggesting might be rewuired to get the body functioning at its best.
I am against glandulars as well. Long term use will shut down the glands they are substituting for, just like any type of hormone replacement therapy.
So, in looking up plant-based enzymes (and wondering why a person would need these, if they eat a good, plant-based diest) the ingredients start to sound a lot like the ingredients of bitters. dandelion, ginger, and so on.
So, if one makes their own bitters, this would be a good digestive enzyme formeula, right? And would help strenghten the digestive fire? I've been thinking for awhile that I don't digest food as well as I should. Cooked and cultured is easier, but I'd like to be more raw.
Yes. The great thing about bitters is that they will stimulate the body's own production of enzymes, stomach acid, bile and will also help to cleanse the liver and move the bowels. Enzyme supplements cannot do all that.
Okay, great. I love bitter tastes. Can you share your favorite formula... Or formulae? I'd like to make some.
It really does not have to be a formula. It just has to have a bitter taste. So you can use individual bitter herbs as well. Gentian root is the most commonly used bitter, although dandelion leaf, artichoke leaf or picrorrhiza are also great choices.
Also, in lieu of bitters, such as when it isn't convenient for some reason, what about a little bitter food, as a first bite of a meal? I love rapini, dandelions, and so on. REALLY love Indian lime and lemon picke--am planning to make some today. Are they doing the same thing the bitters do?
Yes, you can use bitter foods as well since they do the same thing.
Is there any possibility that the body can't be *stimulated* by the bitters--meaning, won't be able to produce (find, come up with) what it needs to attain optimal digestion?
Yes. If there is insufficient stomach acid to begin with then this would interfere with the absorption of the nutrients needed to produce more stomach acid. So it is a downward spiral. In cases like these a person can use an acid like raw apple cider vinegar with meals for a while to absorb those acid dependent nutrients so the body can generate its own stomach acid.
Another common mistake people make is the taking of alkaline substances that wipe out the stomach acid. Sometimes people don't even realize they are doing this because this substance may be part of a supplement they are taking. Examples are the use of alkaline waters, calcium oxide/hydroxide (lime), magnesium oxide/hydroxide, calcium carbonate (coral, oyster shell, dolomite), baking soda, etc. Antacids and acid blockers people often take for acid reflux also reduce stomach acid, and ironically increase the risk of acid reflux.
There are other commonly overlooked reasons such as the use of birth control pills or estrogen replacement therapy. These deplete the body of B6, which is one of the nutrients needed for stomach acid production.
I was told, many years ago that I have "low stomach acid", and my son has the same. In fact, the naturopath we both saw back then (maybe 20 years ago when he was seven)said she'd never seen a parent and child whose chemistry was so alike. I'm not/wasn't then sure what that means.
This could be from a number of reasons including the same diet or the use of alkalinizers.