Joint health and reducing inflammation

Reduced inflammation means less pressure on nerves and less pain.

Many find relief from pain and discomfort by using proteolytic enzymes.

Proteolytic enzymes break proteins that are dead, damaged, and don't belong.

How Enzymes Work:

Digestion: Our pancreas produces enzymes to breakdown food. Supplementing enzymes initiates the process of digestion reducing work for the pancreas to prevent gas and bloating. Aiding the breakdown of food with the help of enzymes makes nutrients more freely available to nourish joints and the whole body.

Some enzymes involved:

• Protease breaks protein

• Lipase for fat

• Amylase breaks carbohydrates

• Lactase breaks milk sugars

Acute or chronic systemic support:

We can take enzymes after troubling foods to prevent discomfort such as gas and bloating or away from food to work systemically on the body to reduce inflammation and pain.

Enzymes taken on an empty stomach are called "proteolytic enzymes". These enzymes enter the bloodstream where they assist the immune system by digesting and disposing toxins and “eat” the protein coating around viruses/bacteria/yeast/fungus, enabling the immune system cells to destroy pathogens. Taking proteolytic enzymes on an empty stomach can help reverse inflammation.

Protease enzymes, that break up proteins, are found in pineapple (bromelain) and papaya (papain). Research indicates beneficial effects of tropical plant enzymes for joint health. Other researched enzymes found to reduce inflammation are nattokinase and serrapeptase.

The liver produces fibrinogen fibers in response to injury in the body. Injury may be caused by a physical trauma, excess pathogens in the blood, or excess toxins in the system. Maybe too much sugar, alcohol, prescription meds, or environmental toxins have come into the system to burden the liver. Maybe we have inadvertently consumed something that damages the gut, such as a toxin or parasite. All these things can have a down stream effect on the body.

Excess fibrinogen fibers, produced by the liver, contribute to inflammation, along with reduced circulation and nourishment to connective tissues. Serrapeptidase, like nattokinase, functions as a proteolytic and fibrinolytic enzyme. These enzymes can be found in combination with tropical plant enzymes such as bromelain, from pineapple, and papain, from papaya to support healthy inflammation, circulation, accelerating tissue repair to calm joint discomfort. Many find relief using this in place of non-steroidal anti inflammatories (NSAIDs). It is also good to keep in mind replacing nutrients depleted by medications, such as NSAIDs or DMARDs .

NSAIDs or Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, ketoprofen, indomethacin, Naproxen, etc): deplete iron and folic acid in part due to the digestive irritation caused by the drug. NSAIDs are popular. Excess use can lead to ulcers and GI bleeding.

Steroid medications, oral or inhaled (Advair, etc), deplete calcium, vitamin D, chromium, folic acid, magnesium, strontium, DHEA, and zinc. These medications suppress the immune system.

DMARDs (Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs)

One example is Methotrexate, used for some autoimmune disorders and cancer treatments. This medication has been found to deplete folic acid. We often see that meds deplete folic acid. Folic acid is synthetic (man made), the body prefers folate (from foliage plants) for detoxification and red blood cell formation.

Colchicine used for gout or rheumatic concerns robs the body of beta carotene and vitamin B12. Think about the elderly who are on meds that deplete B12 and folate. Without these nutrients, it is a fast road to poor cognition, low energy, and dementia.

Taking a food based multivitamin, for example Enzymedica brand will replete these nutrients and also contains serrapeptase, found to reduce inflammation.

Many find pain relief using enzymes, such as the Repair Gold formula.

Other considerations: Lifestyle changes to reduce inflammation

Intermittent fasting has also been found to reduce inflammatory states associated with obesity and chronic stress. Intermittent fasting entails going without food for 13 or more hours a day. Then eating nutrient dense essential nutrients (omega 3 anti-inflammatory fats, proteins, and mineral/antioxidant rich carbs from vegetable sources).

CBD can also provide pain relief.

For quality CBD products visit: https://cbdcanvas.com/shop-products/

For more information on holistic approaches to reduce inflammation and for personalized healthcare, schedule an appointment online: www.DrTiffanieJones.com

Wishing you the best of health,

Tiffanie A Jones ND

References

1 Miller, P., Bailey, S., Barnes, M., Derr, J. and Hall, E. “The Effects of Protease Supplementation on Skeletal Muscle Function and DOMS Following Downhill Running.”

Journal of Sports Sciences (2004) 22, 365-372.

2 Ghagat, S., Agarwal, M. and Roy, V. “Serratiopeptidase: A Systemic Review of the Existing Evidence.” International Journal of Surgery, (2013) 11, 209-217.

3 Walker, A., Bundy, R., Hicks, S. and Middleton, R. “Bromelain Reduces Mild Acute Knee Pain and Improves Well-Being in a Dose-Dependent Fashion in an Open Study of Otherwise Healthy Adults.” Phytomedicine, (2002) 9(8), 681-686.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The information provided or use of these products is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.