Frequently Asked Questions:

• How many tablets do I take and when do I take them?
  The label indicates to take one tablet during each meal. Some manufacturers advise to take a tablet after each meal. The theory here is to give your body time to secrete its own enzymes before adding needed support. I usually take one tablet during or soon after a meal. If I eat a large meal, I usually take two tablets. I believe its a matter of personal preference. Also, sometimes I take them up to an hour or more after a heavy meal. I have the peculiar problem that food just seems to sit in my stomach for hours at times without moving into the intestines - and my formula has ingredients to help "move the food along". The important thing to remember here is that you must take them consistantly after or during each meal, even after your symptoms have improved or you won't experience the long term benefits, and the short term benefits will be spotty or sporatic.
  
  
• How long does it take before I notice a difference?
  Based on personal experience and feeback from customers, you can expect to notice improved digestion the same day or within a couple of days to one week. I personally noticed less gas (belching and flatulence), and a decrease in the feeling I was ready to explode after a meal after about 4 days of taking the enzymes after every meal. I also noticed a healthier color in my stool. It turned a normal and healthy dark brown color, from a light brown to blondish color, in only a few days. Some customers have told me they experienced a decrease in acid reflux and gas almost immediately. My dentist noticed my dental tartar had significantly decreased after about 4 months of continuous use. And after about 7 to 8 months of use I noticed the slight arthritic pains in my right large toe and in the fingers of both of my hands had decreased as well. I also have a sports injury from Aikido/Karate in my right shoulder - a calcified bursa - which also bothers me less than before I started taking the enzymes. In fact sometimes I now forget that I have the injury! (If you have moderate to severe arthritic pains for which you need to take pain killers, I recommend that you add more bromelain to your supplementation program).
  
  
• Do you have softgels as well as tablets?
  No. At this time I only produce the easy to swallow tablet. It is enteric coated so the bile extract and pancreatin is released in the small intestine where they can do the most good.
  
  
• Are you familiar with the peppermint benefit that some digestive aids offer. Apparently, this is supposed to aid with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Have you considered getting this added to your product? I am curious because I am interested in buying your product, but would like to have the peppermint benefit, as well. Thank you.
  Yes, I have read that peppermint is good for relaxing the muscles of the bowel, which is supposed to be good for irritable bowel syndrome. 
  
  The problem with including peppermint in a formula for indigestion (poor digestion) is that the peppermint will relax the sphincter muscle in people with GERD (gastro-intestinal reflux disease) and make it worse.  I have first hand knowledge of this, as I tried peppermint to see if it would help my digestive problems.  It didn't but actually made them much worse, because I have a hiatal hernia and take medications for GERD (Prilosec).  There are many more people with GERD out there than with irritable bowel syndrome.
  
  Peppermint extract is relatively inexpensive and widely available. Because of the reasons I mentioned above,  I believe it it best for people with irritable bowel syndrome to add peppermint to their regimen separately from a formula like mine.
  
  Here is a link to the irritable bowel syndrome page on the government web site for digestive diseases:
  
  http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ibs/
  
  
• Why are my enzymes are turning darker, are they going bad?
  It is perfectly normal for the enzymes to turn a darker tan or light brown over time, especially in a humid climate such as that ound in the tropics (Hawaii, Miami or Houston for example).  The humidity causes some of the enzymes to activate slightly, which accounts for the darker coloring.  This does not affect the effectiveness of the enzymes, nor will it cause them to "spoil".  If you are concerned and would like to slow the oxidation process down you can place the enzymes in the refrigerator.  The inside of a refrigerator is cold, dark and dry and makes a perfect environment for storing your enzymes. 

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
© Robert Jordan, 2002. All Rights Reserved.