Bitter compounds are powerful, all-natural plant chemicals. They help to deacidify the body, stimulate the digestive system, reduce cravings, and much more. But bitter things can also be poisonous. We describe how and which bitter substances you can consume. As a result of the fact that the proper bitter chemicals are extremely effective yet are becoming increasingly rare in modern nutrition.
Why you should take bitter substances regularly
When eating bitter-tasting foods, the vast majority of people grimace – they find the taste unpleasant and therefore avoid it. In order for originally bitter foods to remain marketable, the bitter substance content of many vegetables was reduced by breeding. This is because endive salad, radicchio, or chicory used to taste much more bitter – so they contained much more bitter substances at that time.
Flavor enhancers and sweeteners in food have also contributed to changing consumers’ taste perceptions. As a result, we mainly like salty and sweet foods, but we prefer to keep our hands off bitter ones.
Many medicinal plants, root and leafy vegetables, which contain a high proportion of bitter substances, have also largely disappeared from our plates and cups: for example, dandelion, plantain, yarrow and many other wild plants. Yes, many people no longer recognize these plants in nature. This is a pity because in this way they miss out on important protective and healing substances. Why you should make more use of bitter substances again and how you take them will be our topic below.
Harmful and healthy bitter substances: The difference
It’s no wonder that we grimace at bitter foods. Because the bitter taste once served as a warning signal against poisonous plants, which often taste very bitter. In children, this warning system is even more intense than in adults – they are particularly sensitive to bitter tastes. Their detoxification system is not yet well developed, so it makes more sense for them to spit out potentially dangerous things better and not swallow them in the first place.
However, there is a difference between the extreme bitterness of actually poisonous plants (which can lead to poisoning) and the moderate and desirable bitterness of plants that were once part of the everyday food crops (such as the wild plants mentioned above).
Then there are bitter plants that are healthy in small quantities – and are therefore used in this form as remedies – but would be inedible in larger quantities precisely because of their high bitter substance content, e.g. wormwood, gentian, centaury, etc.
The definition of bitter substances
The definition of bitter substances is quite simple: bitter substances are substances that taste bitter. The only thing these botanicals have in common is their bitter taste. This means that bitter substances can be completely different substances from different groups of substances. As soon as a substance tastes bitter, it may be called a bitter substance. For example, there are bitter substances among the flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenes, peptides, amino acids and alkaloids (2).
The effects of bitter substances
In the body, (edible) bitter substances do a lot of good. The positive effects of bitter substances on digestion have been best researched. In naturopathy, bitter substances have long been used to alleviate digestive problems, whether in Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine or even in Europe (gentian, wormwood, mugwort, etc.) (3). The main effects of bitter substances are the following:
stimulate digestion, promote the formation of digestive juices and support bile and liver functions.
regulate appetite and thus help you lose weight.
stop food cravings and thus support the exit from sugar addiction.
help with detoxification.
contribute to deacidification.
help fight Candida and regulate the intestinal flora.
contribute to the reduction of elevated cholesterol levels.
may improve the symptoms of histamine intolerance.
Bitter substances can therefore be an important component of any holistic therapy and prevention program. Although not all of the effects mentioned are scientifically proven, they are known from herbal medicine and empirical medicine. In recent years, bitter substances have become the focus of science, so further promising research results can be expected in the future. In the following, we present the current state of affairs in terms of bitter substances.
Bitter substances stimulate digestion
Bitter substances already begin to work in the mouth: When chewing, the bitter substances contained in food irritate the nerves on the tongue. As a result, the production of saliva is stimulated. The enzymes in the saliva now begin to break down the food – so they are already digesting it.
The stomach, in turn, already begins the production of gastric juice. As soon as the chewed food has reached the stomach, it can immediately start digesting. If, on the other hand, the food contains hardly any bitter substances, digestion takes longer.
The bitter taste stimulates not only the stomach but also the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and intestines, which then begin to secrete digestive juices and digestive enzymes. The liver, for example, is supported in detoxification.
For this reason, bitter substances can help with many ailments such as flatulence, lack of stomach acid, constipation, and bloating, but also irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis, and even inflammatory bowel disease.
Digestive problems due to too few bitter substances
Too few bitter substances in the diet can lead to sluggish digestion and digestive problems, such as flatulence, stomach pain and heartburn (reflux), but also fatigue and sluggishness.
In addition, due to a poorly functioning digestive system, nutrients cannot be properly absorbed and utilized and toxins cannot be completely eliminated. The intestinal flora gets out of balance and pathogenic germs can get out of hand. The toxins are eventually deposited in the body and promote diseases – because digestion also influences all other bodily functions.
Complaints that are directly related to a poorly functioning digestive system are: chronic stomach or digestive problems, liver and gall bladder problems and problems with the pancreas. For example, it is assumed that a diet low in bitter substances is at least involved in many civilization and autoimmune diseases, such as obesity, allergies, diabetes and gastrointestinal diseases.
These diseases do not necessarily have to occur if too few bitter substances are ingested. However, if other factors are added, such as an overall low-fiber and low-nutrient diet with many sugar- and flour-rich foods, the risk increases. If you have digestive problems, always remember that even the wrong posture on the toilet can cause discomfort. With the natural squatting posture, many digestive problems often resolve themselves.
Bitter substances from wormwood root in Crohn’s disease
Bitter substances can even be helpful in severe intestinal diseases such as Crohn’s disease: In a small study, 20 people with Crohn’s disease took three capsules of 250 mg wormwood powder twice a day for 10 weeks. The wormwood root is rich in a bitter substance called absinthin (7).
During these 10 weeks, the previous medications continued to be taken, with the exception of corticoids. The corticoids (e.g. cortisone), on the other hand, were slowly reduced and stopped taking from week 10.
In the wormwood group, 65% of the subjects had almost no symptoms after week 10. Even after the wormwood capsules were no longer taken, the effect persisted over the follow-up period of another 10 weeks, so the subjects no longer had to take corticoids during this time. In contrast, symptoms worsened after 10 weeks in 80% of people in the control group who took a placebo.
The wormwood capsules were the herbal preparation SedaCrohn® from the USA. However, the researchers pointed out that the wormwood capsules did not work at all in five patients – so the treatment is not successful for everyone.
Bitter substances for heartburn due to too little stomach acid
Among other things, heartburn is often attributed to too much stomach acid that flows into the esophagus and causes irritation there. What is less well known is that heartburn can apparently also occur due to too little stomach acid. The reason for this is apparently that the undigested food begins to ferment in the stomach, which can lead to a backlog in the esophagus.
In holistic medicine, bitter substances are used in this case, as they stimulate the production of gastric juice and can thus compensate for the lack of gastric acid. Causes of too little stomach acid can be, for example, treatment with stomach acid-inhibiting drugs ( acid blockers ), chronic gastritis or stress.
Bitter substances for heartburn due to too much stomach acid
In naturopathy, it is known that bitter substances support deacidification by stimulating certain glands in the digestive tract that contribute to the body’s base production. As a result, excess acids in the body are converted into bases, and excreted, and thus the acid-base balance is balanced.
However, opinions differ as to whether bitter substances should also be used specifically for heartburn, which occurs due to an excess of stomach acid. In some places, there are warnings about this, as the symptoms could worsen.
Especially when taking bitter substances for heartburn, it is therefore important to pay close attention to the body, because heartburn can be triggered by an excess but also by a lack of stomach acid. If your symptoms intensify after taking bitter substances, it is better to switch to other natural measures against heartburn.
Bitter substances in food cravings
Bitter substances can also help you lose weight because they regulate appetite, which is especially helpful for food cravings:
A study was able to show that bitter substances stimulate the release of a hormone called cholecystokinin in the gastrointestinal tract. Cholecystokinin inhibits appetite. This reaction has been important for humans in the course of evolution because poisonous plants often taste bitter. The hormone cholecystokinin signals the brain to stop eating and sets about neutralizing the toxins that may have made it into the digestive system (8).
So if you eat something bitter instead of sweet or salty the next time you have cravings, you will quickly notice that cravings will decrease in the long term. In addition, foods that contain bitter substances are usually healthier than sweet and salty snacks. This can be very helpful, especially for sugar addiction.
Admittedly, it’s not easy to go back to something bitter instead when you’re in the mood for sweet or salty. Keep in mind, however, that this will retrain your sense of taste and reduce cravings in the future. Because just as you can get used to the bitter taste of coffee and beer, you can do the same with other foods. This, in turn, benefits your health – see this as your motivation (24).
Bitter substances are also said to be helpful for fat digestion, because they stimulate the function of the liver and gallbladder. As a result, the liver produces more bile, which is responsible for fat digestion. In the gallbladder, bile is stored and passed into the duodenum when ingested. Fewer food cravings and better fat digestion can, in turn, lead to weight loss.
Bitter substances help with skin problems
Bitter substances also have an important function for the skin: Used externally, e.g. as a cream, they bind to bitter substance receptors of the skin, whereby proteins such as collagen are formed. These proteins play an important role in building the skin barrier. Furthermore, the bitter substances stimulate the formation of lipids. Lipids are fatty substances that protect the skin from environmental influences and dehydration. If the skin barrier is damaged, this promotes infections, which in turn can lead to acne and neurodermatitis (1) (9).
In addition, bitter substances also showed anti-inflammatory properties when applied externally: In studies on cells, they inhibited the production of the inflammatory marker TNF-alpha. This could have a major impact on the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases, such as psoriasis (10) (11).
The bitter substances examined were salicin from willow bark and amarogentin, a substance from gentian root. Amarogentin is considered one of the most bitter substances found in nature.
Not all bitter substances are the same
In herbal medicine, the bitter substances are divided into various bitter agents, so-called amara (Latin for bitter), according to their mode of action:
Amara tonica: The bitter substances from these plants are pure bitter substances (the difference only becomes clear in comparison to the other categories). For example yellow gentian, centaury
Amara aromatica: These include plants that, in addition to the bitter substances, also contain a lot of essential oil, which also contributes to the effect. For example angelica, yarrow, wormwood
Amara acria: In addition to bitter substances, these plants also contain pungent substances. For example ginger, galangal, cardamom
Other plants: Of course, many other plants also contain bitter substances. Since this classification according to Amara goes back to the Middle Ages (but is still used in naturopathy today), other bitter substance plants are often listed separately. For example dandelion, milk thistle, turmeric
Amara are also called bitter substance drugs. Compared to other plants containing bitter substances, such as arugula, they are not consumed in large quantities because they simply taste too bitter and can also have side effects in larger quantities. In small quantities, however, they are enormously healing and are therefore used in bitter preparations or teas. In the next paragraph, you will find some of these Amara in comparison.
Bitter values of medicinal plants in comparison
The following medicinal plants are among the best suppliers of bitter substances. How bitter plants or substances taste is determined by the bitter value. The bitterness of the taste increases with a higher bitterness value:
Medicinal plants/estimation of bitter levels
Gentian root: 10,000 – 25,000
Wormwood: 10,000 – 25,000
Devil’s Claw Root: 5,000 – 15,000
Artichoke leaves: 5,000 – 15,000
Fever clover leaves: 4,000 – 10,000
Centaury: 2,000 – 10,000
Horehoundwort: 3,000
Benedictine herb: 1000 – 2500
Cinchona bark: 1000 – 2500
Dandelion root: > 100
Furthermore, the following medicinal plants are rich in bitter substances (but there are no bitter values):
Mugwort herb
Bitter ribbon flower
Milk thistle
Yarrow
Galangal
Angelica (also called angelica root)
These foods contain bitter substances
In addition to the amara, vegetables, fruits and herbs also contain bitter substances – but in smaller quantities, as some of the bitter substances have been bred out.
Bitter substances in vegetables and fruits
The following fruits and vegetables contain bitter substances:
Sugarloaf Mountain (a winter salad, Cichorium intybus var. foliosum, which is related to the chicory and radicchio, but looks more like a mixture of Chinese cabbage and romaine lettuce)
Cultivated dandelion
Chicory
Radicchio
Endive
Rocket
Cabbage vegetables, e.g. Brussels sprouts, kale, etc.
Olives
Grapefruit
Pomelo
Bitter substances are sensitive to heat, which can affect the bitterness content of food. In order to benefit from the bitter substances in the best possible way, these foods should therefore be eaten raw or only steamed briefly. In our library, you will find a few delicious recipes with which you can easily include bitter substances in your diet!
Bitter substances in herbs and spices
The following herbs and spices contain bitter substances, but are usually only used in small quantities for cooking:
Many medicinal plants, herbs and other plants rich in bitter substances can be used as tea: for example, artichoke leaves, angelica, wormwood, centaury, dandelion or gentian root.
Ready-made tea blends from these medicinal plants can be bought in stores. Of course, you can also pick the plants yourself or plant them in the garden.
Green tea also contains bitter substances and gastrointestinal tea is also often made from plants rich in bitter substances. However, when buying tea, you should always make sure that it does not contain sugar, sweeteners, artificial flavors or other additives. In the meantime, bitter substances have become so popular that there are even bitter substance teas to buy.
To ensure that the bitter substances are not lost through the heat, they should only be infused with hot water for preparation as tea, but not boiled in hot water. Then you should not let the tea steep for more than 10 minutes.
Bitter substances in coffee
Probably the best-known bitter substance in coffee is caffeine – the drink also contains many other bitter substances that influence the taste, e.g. mozambioside, caféstol and kahweol. The content of bitter substances in coffee, in turn, differs according to coffee beans and roasting.
Many people like to drink a coffee or espresso after meals because of the digestive stimulating effect – others react sensitively to coffee, which can then manifest itself in diarrhea or stomach pain, for example.
Whether the positive or negative effects on health outweigh the negative effects of coffee consumption is generally controversial in research. In 2019, for example, a study was published that showed that caffeine harms the joints. So it’s probably not a good idea to drink a lot of coffee to get some bitter substances.
Bitter substances in alcoholic beverages
However, it is undisputed that alcohol is harmful to health. Nevertheless, many people swear by the digestive effects of alcohol and drink, for example, a glass of wine with a meal or a digestive liquor afterward.
In fact, certain alcoholic beverages contain bitter substances: hops in beer, tannins in red wine and a wide variety of bitter substances in herbal liqueurs. However, a small study at the University of Zurich with 20 subjects showed that the more alcohol the subjects drank, the worse digestion worked (28).
Alcoholic beverages should also not be used for the intake of bitter substances. However, many bitter substance preparations contain alcohol as a solvent. Doesn’t the alcohol also have a negative effect on digestion? No, because, unlike alcoholic beverages, the bitter substances in preparations are much more concentrated, so you only consume a few drops of them.
Beware of bitter substances from these vegetables
However, it is not without reason that the bitter substances from some vegetables have been bred out: certain bitter substances can have a toxic effect. For example, the bitter substances from zucchini and pumpkin or the solanine from potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant (22).
Cucurbitacins are the name given to the bitter substances in cucurbits (zucchini, pumpkin, cucumber, melon): therefore, test a small piece of the raw vegetable before preparation. Avoid eating anything that tastes bitter.
The bitter substance solanine can be found in potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants. You can prevent solanine formation by storing potatoes in a cool, dark and dry place and generously removing green spots and germs before cooking. As a rule of thumb: Stop eating potatoes with germs that are over 1 cm long. Allow unripe tomatoes and aubergines to ripen, cut out the base of the stem.
Cucurbitacins and solanine have been bred out of supermarket vegetables, but stress factors such as heat and drought are said to be able to cause plants to fall back into old patterns and suddenly form bitter substances again. If hobby gardeners use their own seeds, the cucurbitacins can also reappear through spontaneous mutation or crossing with ornamental pumpkins. This risk can be reduced by not growing ornamental pumpkins near edible pumpkins (19).
Even a slightly bitter taste can be harmful here!
If the zucchini, pumpkin or cucumber taste bitter, you should not continue to eat them under any circumstances – because even a slightly bitter taste already indicates cucurbitacins in these vegetables. Even very small amounts can result in nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. At levels of 1 mg per kg of body weight, the cucurbitacins can cause death.
The solanine in potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants can lead to nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, cardiac arrhythmias and cramps from 1 mg per kg body weight. The lethal dose is 400 mg, which, depending on the solanine content, would correspond to several kilograms of potatoes (with skin).
Taking bitter substances: capsules or powder?
When it comes to the ingestion of bitter substances, this does not mean cucurbitacins or solanine, but the amara mentioned above. These are also available in the form of drops, powders, juices and capsules. A high-quality bitter supplement usually includes various types of plants containing bitter substances, for example, gentian, centaury, yarrow, dandelion, etc.
Until a few years ago, it was still believed that bitter substances had to be taken in such a way that they could work directly in the mouth. Capsules were discouraged. In the meantime, however, it is known that bitter substance receptors occur not only in the mouth but throughout the body, i.e. also in the stomach, intestines, even the brain, lungs, and skin. Bitter substances can therefore also be taken in capsule form, which is especially important for those people who cannot make friends with the bitter taste. Cravings, however, disappear faster if you let the bitter substances work in the mouth.
It is also interesting to note that there are 25 taste receptors for bitter tastes, while there are only 3 for sweet tastes. On the one hand, this is probably due to the warning effect described above, so that poisonous plants are quickly detected (4).
On the other hand, bitter plant substances also seem to be of such great importance for the body that it wants to benefit from their effects in the best possible way. This is because when a bitter substance docks onto a receptor, a whole signaling cascade is triggered, which can have completely different effects – depending on where in the body the receptor is located. However, science is still in its infancy when it comes to researching these complex reactions.
What preparations are available?
Below we compare the different supplements that contain bitter substances:
Bitter substances in liquid form
Bitter substances are most often offered in liquid form, for example as a concentrate with a drop applicator or pipette, as a spray or as a herbal elixir. Liquid products offer the advantage that their effect already occurs when they come into contact with the bitter substance receptors in the mouth.
In liquid form, the bitter substances are often dissolved in alcohol, but there are also products without alcohol. Also make sure that there are no artificial flavors, sugars, sweeteners or other additives – this information is in the synopsis.
For some, the bitter taste is a bit disturbing at the beginning. After a few doses, however, you get used to it, and the taste buds are retrained – away from sweet and salty, to bitter.
If you can’t get used to the taste at all, you could dilute the bitter substances with a little water at the beginning and then reduce the amount of water further and further in order to approach it slowly. Then the aversion to bitter substances will soon be a thing of the past. Another option is bitter substance capsules.
Bitter substances in capsules
Bitter capsules make it easier for people who want to avoid the bitter taste to take them. In the past, it was believed that bitter substances had to work in the mouth since bitter receptors were only present there. However, since corresponding receptors have now also been found in the rest of the gastrointestinal tract, nothing stands in the way of taking capsules. The oral mucosa and thus the bitter taste is bypassed, but the bitter substances still work, namely via the receptors in the stomach and intestines. Again, make sure that the capsules do not contain any additives such as fillers or release agents.
Bitter substances as powders
Bitter substances in powder form are the most natural, simplest and, in our opinion, the best form of bitter substances. It is optimal if you simply take a quarter of a teaspoon of it directly into your mouth – pure and without water. Saliva formation sets in quickly. Allow the bitter substances to soak in and swallow them after 1 to 3 minutes. Initially, the powder tastes very bitter. Stay strong and on the ball! After just a few intakes, you will notice how you get used to it – and at some point, you will love the bitter taste.
Of course, you can also incorporate the bitter powder into your diet if the bitter effect is not too strong for you, e.g. in smoothies, muesli or salad dressings.
Taking bitter substances correctly
In order for the bitter substances to have a positive effect on digestion, they are taken before or after eating: If they are taken 10 to 30 minutes before eating, they optimally prepare the digestive system for food processing; After eating, they help with bloating, flatulence or abdominal pain, so that you quickly feel active again and less exhausted.
Take the indicated amount of the liquid bitter substances (e.g. 25 drops, 5 sprays or one tablespoon) three times a day before or after eating. Keep the liquid in your mouth for about one to two minutes so that the bitter substances can already be absorbed through the oral mucosa.
When taking them, keep in mind that the bitter substances only have the effect on satiety described above if they are taken before eating.
You should also take the capsules three times a day – preferably with a glass of water before eating because their effect unfolds more slowly than that of the liquid products.
In the case of powders, it is best to dose the indicated dose with a spoon. Before you add the powder to the smoothie or muesli, you should test how bitter the powder tastes. You may not want to add the entire daily dose but divide the dose into several meals. Then you could, for example, add some powder to your cereal in the morning, a little to the smoothie at lunchtime, and a little to the salad dressing in the evening.
Bitter substance products differ according to the plants they contain, so the dosages given may differ. Therefore, read the recommendations for use on the products.
The bitter substance cure
Bitter substance preparations are suitable as home remedies for occasional intake, e.g., in case of a feeling of fullness after a hearty meal. Of course, it would be better here if you first took the bitter substances before eating, so that more digestive juices are formed in advance. Secondly, it would make sense to design the diet in such a way or to eat so slowly and chew so thoroughly that the meals cannot lead to feelings of fullness.
Even if digestive problems persist, bitter substance preparations can be integrated into the therapy – e.g. in the form of a bitter substance cure. To do this, take bitter substances up to three times a day for four weeks – a few minutes before meals. You can also extend the treatment if you wish. Who knows, maybe you don’t want to miss out on your daily dose of bitter substances and also get the desire to incorporate more bitter vegetables into your diet again.
When does the effect of bitter substances occur?
When the effect of the bitter substances occurs or when you notice something about it is of course very individual: Some people feel an improvement after the first intake, e.g. because the feeling of fullness after eating is absent or because you simply feel lighter and more alert.
Other people may only notice a change after a few weeks of regular use – depending on the condition of their own digestive system and the symptoms.
Side effects of bitter substances
Since bitter substances stimulate the digestive organs, which then work more efficiently, some people may experience a detoxification reaction, e.g. in the form of headaches, but this usually passes after a few days.
In sensitive individuals, bitter plant substances can have a laxative effect at the beginning or lead to abdominal pain and nausea. As described above, the body is no longer used to bitter substances and has to get used to them again. Therefore, slowly approach the dose that is good for you.
Bitter substances should also not be taken for stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, gallstones and an over-acidified stomach, as they stimulate the formation of gastric acid, which could worsen the symptoms.
Drug interactions
Since there are a wide variety of bitter substances, interactions with drugs cannot be ruled out. The bitter substances called naringin and furanocoumarin, for example, which are found in grapefruits and pomelo, are not compatible with some medications. For this reason, many medication leaflets warn of grapefruit interactions.
Bitter substance products also sometimes contain bitter plant substances from pomelo. To be on the safe side, these bitter substances should therefore not be taken with the contraceptive pill, calcium channel blockers or statins, because they could increase or weaken the effect of the drugs.
You can avoid these bitter substances by making sure that no citrus fruits are contained when choosing your product. However, interactions with other bitter substances cannot be ruled out – but the same risk is also taken when eating vegetables and fruits, as most interactions are still unknown today.
If you have any digestive issues – talk to us and we might be able to help 🙂
Enzyme therapy, known for its remarkable impact, proves highly effective in treating various conditions. Whether it’s blood vessel disorders, respiratory ailments, or musculoskeletal issues, enzyme therapy can yield results comparable to those achieved in treating rheumatism, multiple sclerosis, or cancer. The extensive scope of this treatment can be attributed to its ability to bolster the immune system, minimizing the likelihood of any disease persisting.
Enzyme therapy is based on ancient knowledge
One of the oldest written sources that have survived on enzyme therapy comes from the Old Testament of the Bible.
Primitive people, especially those who are blessed with enzyme-rich plants such as pineapple and papaya, have also used enzymes for healing purposes since time immemorial.
And even today, the isolated enzymes of these plants and fruits are used extremely successfully in combination with other enzymes for countless diseases – not least because a large number of scientific studies have long since confirmed the diverse mode of action of these enzyme combinations.
Enzyme therapy has an impressive effect on a wide variety of diseases. This can be explained by the fact that every type of disease is always based on an enzyme deficiency or a lack of enzymatic activity.
If too few enzymes are present, important metabolic processes are blocked. If the enzymes present lack essential accompanying substances, they can no longer perform their tasks properly.
Without enzymes, there would be no life, at least on our planet – neither human, nor animal, nor plant, because enzymes are involved in all metabolic reactions of living organisms.
Enzymes have a regulating effect on all areas of the body in the human organism and thus enable it to maintain its homeostasis, i.e. its healthy balance, on the one hand, and to heal itself on the other.
Without enzymes, for example, the digestion of carbohydrates, fats or proteins would be impossible. Nor could vitamins, minerals or hormones perform their tasks in the body.
Enzymes ensure the detoxification of the body as well as the healing of wounds. Also, the transmission of stimuli as well as their transmission via the nervous system works only through the presence of enzymes.
Without enzymes, we would not be able to breathe or move. Even cell division would not function without the presence of enzymes, so life without enzymes would not be possible for this reason alone.
The lifetime of enzymes is limited
Enzymes are very special protein molecules whose special feature is that they act as catalysts. In this capacity, they control all biochemical reactions by either inhibiting or accelerating the individual metabolic processes.
They perform this without changing themselves or dying afterward. Thus, after the work has been completed, enzymes are once again ready to perform their next task.
However, the lifespan of each protein is limited – including that of the enzymes.
Some enzymes are only functional for about 20 minutes. Others, on the other hand, remain active for several weeks and months.
As soon as an enzyme shows strong signs of wear and tear and can therefore no longer be useful to the body, it is broken down and dissolved by another, healthy enzyme.
The removal of its “remains” via the blood or lymphatic circulation is then carried out by other enzymes specializing in this field.
Enzymes communicate with each other
From this perfect interplay of differently specialized enzymes, it becomes clear that enzymes are connected to each other and communicate with each other.
This communication is also evident in the fact that most reactions are not controlled by a single enzyme, but require the cooperation of several enzymes.
In precisely connected stages, the so-called enzyme cascades, an enzyme activates its successor. This process is repeated until the intended effect is achieved.
Enzymes need vitamins and minerals
In order to keep all body cells healthy throughout life, the presence of countless active enzymes is required, most of which are produced by the body itself.
However, newly formed enzymes are not yet active at first. They are not activated until their services are needed. The activation then takes place by specially trained enzymes.
For the activation of some enzymes, the presence of so-called coenzymes is required. In order to be able to produce these auxiliary molecules of the enzymes, the body needs a very special building material.
It consists of vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
Vitamins A, B, C, E and K are required for the production of these enzymes, as are the minerals magnesium, sodium and potassium. The trace elements copper, manganese, iron, zinc, nickel, selenium and molybdenum are also indispensable.
Coenzymes differ from enzymes in that they do not consist of protein, are much smaller than the large enzyme molecules and are consumed during their activity. Therefore, they need to be constantly renewed.
This means that the body is dependent on a sufficient supply of these vital substances through food to maintain enzymatic activity in the organism.
Raw food – a wonderful source of enzymes
In addition to their wide range of nutrients and vital substances, food also provides the body with already active enzymes. Pineapple, papaya, sprouts and raw sauerkraut are among the foods that are particularly rich in enzymes.
In general, all RAW foods, are rich in enzymes that are mainly used for food digestion.
In this way, they support the digestive system and relieve the pancreas, as it would otherwise have to produce the necessary digestive enzymes itself.
However, most enzymes – including food enzymes – are proteins. In order to be able to help with digestion, these must first reach the small intestine unscathed.
However, this is often not so easy, because danger lurks in the stomach in the form of pepsin, a protein-digesting enzyme.
However, the amount of pepsin produced by the gastric mucosa depends on the amount of protein to be digested. This means that the greater the protein content in the diet, the more pepsin is formed.
However, enzyme-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables are very low in protein compared to meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. Therefore, only minimal amounts of pepsin are formed when they are consumed; provided they are NOT consumed together with protein-rich foods.
So if you enjoy your enzyme-rich fruits and raw vegetables as your sole meal in the future, the chance of the enzymes they contain, reaching their respective destination will increase extraordinarily.
How to increase your enzyme intake
Enzyme intake via enzymatically active foods is an excellent way for relatively healthy people to support and maintain health.
However, for people who are already ill, the amount of enzymes that can be absorbed through food is often not enough.
In this situation, the body’s need for active enzymes is enormously high, so that systemic enzyme therapy is highly recommended for those affected in addition to the enzyme-rich diet and in consultation with an experienced therapist.
This enzyme therapy uses balanced and high-dose enzyme preparations with good bioavailability, which activate the body’s self-healing powers.
Systemic enzyme therapy
Systemic enzyme therapy is a scientifically proven therapeutic method based on the oral administration of plant and animal enzymes.
The term “systemic” means that the enzymes do not act exclusively in the digestive system, but especially in the blood and tissues.
The enzyme mixtures reach all parts of the body via the bloodstream and can thus develop their positive effect everywhere.
Systemic enzyme therapy usually uses the plant enzymes bromelain (from the ground stalk of pineapple) and papain (from the juice of unripe papayas) as well as enzymes of animal origin such as trypsin (from the pancreas of pigs), chymotrypsin (from the pancreas of cattle) and pancreatin (from the pancreas of pigs or cattle).
Each of these types of enzymes has a special effect on different regulatory areas in the organism.
In order to influence as many systems in need of regulation in the body as possible and thus achieve an optimal effect (1), the combination of plant AND animal enzymes, as used in systemic enzyme therapy, is absolutely necessary.
Bromelain against metastases
Bromelain shows an anti-inflammatory and antimetastatic effect. Therefore, it contributes significantly to the strengthening of the immune system.
In addition, bromelain promotes the healthy flow of blood by supporting the breakdown of fibrin.
Fibrin is a protein that is responsible for blood clotting and can contribute to the formation of thrombi in excess.
Papain for pain and autoimmune processes
Papain has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.
In addition, it has an analgesic effect and accelerates wound healing.
In addition, it is able to cleave immune complexes (explanation below) that can contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases.
Like bromelain, papain also supports the breakdown of fibrin.
Trypsin and chymotrypsin promote digestion
Trypsin and chymotrypsin are important digestive enzymes that also exhibit other important properties.
Thus, like papain, they help to dissolve immune complexes.
In addition, they have anti-inflammatory and anti-pain effects.
Often, the described enzymes are combined in ready-made preparations with the flavonoid rutoside, whose antioxidant and vascular-strengthening effect enhances the enzymes in their effectiveness.
How can enzymes get into the blood?
Actually, enzymes are too large to get from the small intestine into the blood. Therefore, it was once believed, they would be classified as foreign substances by the immune system and automatically trigger an immune reaction.
However, a study from 2001 was able to prove that this is not the case with the enzymes, as they bind to a special transport protein (α2-macroglobulin) in the small intestine. In this way, they can reach their destination unhindered. (2)
Another study also showed that enzymes, despite their size, are very capable of entering the blood via the small intestine. For this experiment, a trypsin molecule with radioactive isotopes was labeled.
The researchers administered 1 g of this radiolabeled enzyme to adult rabbits and about two hours later a maximum of radioactivity was measurable in their blood plasma. The trypsin had therefore undoubtedly passed from the small intestine into the blood.
Enzymes have high demands
The number of enzymes supplied ultimately passes into the blood depending on various factors.
On the one hand, the pH value is decisive, because each enzyme has its own pH optimum. Pepsin, for example, requires an extremely acidic environment of pH 2, which corresponds exactly to the pH value of gastric acid.
Trypsin in the small intestine, on the other hand, prefers slightly alkaline pH values, which it also found in a healthy small intestine.
If the pH values change only slightly, the enzyme activity automatically decreases. Therefore, a balanced acid-base balance, which ensures optimal pH values in all areas of the body, is immensely important for health.
On the other hand, body temperature also plays an important role, because all enzymes feel most comfortable at a normal body temperature of about 37°C.
When the temperature rises, as is the case with fever, the enzymes become particularly active. In this active phase, they fight pathogens.
However, there is a clear temperature limit here, which must not be exceeded under any circumstances. The body could not survive a temperature of 45°C, as all enzymes would be inactivated in this heat.
Of course, enzyme activity also changes with decreasing body temperature. In the range of sub-zero temperatures, the activity of enzymes decreases as well as at temperatures above 45°C.
And finally, heavy metals, some drugs, and poisons also affect enzyme activity immensely.
The drug aspirin, for example, is an enzyme inhibitor because the acetylsalicylic acid it contains attaches itself to an enzyme that plays a role in blood clotting and the course of inflammation, thus impairing its activity.
Enzyme therapy regulates the immune system
The immune system is THE defense system of the human body.
Together with a large number of hard-working helpers, which are of course enzymes, it protects humans from pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and parasites as well as from foreign substances of all kinds.
Therefore, a person is healthy as long as his immune system is active and functions flawlessly.
However, the immune system is less and less able to withstand the great strain caused by an unfavorable lifestyle and diet, and the enzymes also suffer qualitatively and quantitatively from this situation.
Thus, many people develop disease processes against which the body’s defense system is ultimately powerless.
At this point at the latest, enzyme therapy should come into play, because the enzyme combinations used here have the ability to optimally support the immune system in all areas of the body.
This is done by boosting the activity of the enzymes where the immune system reacts too weakly. In areas where the immune system reacts excessively, as is the case, for example, with allergies or autoimmune diseases, they dampen its activity.
In the following, we would like to show you the far-reaching positive effects of enzyme therapy on the entire organism using a few examples.
Enzyme therapy for inflammation
As soon as a tissue in the body is injured, an inflammatory reaction begins. It is manifested by the fact that the inflamed area is reddened, becomes hot, swells and hurts.
This is a healthy defensive reaction of the immune system, which is necessary for the healing of the tissue and is therefore quite desirable. In this process, invading pathogens are destroyed, damaged tissue is removed, pain is relieved and new healthy tissue is built up.
Therefore, an inflammatory reaction should not be suppressed during treatment, but instead directed in an orderly manner so that it is neither too weak nor excessive. This important control is made possible by the work of enzymes.
But enzymes also become active in other ways.
In this way, they cleave the immune complexes formed at the site of inflammation from antigens (the substances that triggered the inflammation) and antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that have attached themselves to the antigens for the purpose of elimination.
If, on the other hand, these immune complexes were to remain in the body, they could be deposited in the tissue and joints, where they could lead to uncontrolled inflammatory reactions.
In addition, enzymes activate the so-called macrophages of the immune system. These are phagocytes that immediately remove damaged or dead tissue.
In addition, enzymes break down excess fibrin, which would otherwise clog the vessels.
Enzymes also ensure that the typical swelling of the tissue, which has arisen due to an accumulation of water (edema) in the area of inflammation, subsides quickly. With the reduction of the edema, the resulting pain is automatically reduced.
Finally, enzymes support the development of new tissue and thus end the course of the disease.
Enzyme therapy for rheumatic diseases
Joint diseases are often summarized under the term “rheumatic type”. A rough distinction is usually made between inflammatory and degenerative joint diseases. The rheumatic form includes more than 100 diseases.
Among the best-known representatives of this type was osteoarthritis (joint wear and tear – accompanied by inflammation of the synovial membranes), arthritis and polyarthritis (chronic inflammation of one or many joints), ankylosing spondylitis (joint inflammation in the spine) and soft tissue rheumatism (inflammation of tissue in the joint area, which is given, for example, in tendonitis or frozen shoulder).
One of the main symptoms of all rheumatic diseases is pain. And here, too, enzyme therapy intervenes. In addition to the inflammation-controlling task of the enzymes, their analgesic effect also comes into play.
The therapeutic effect of systemic enzyme therapy in joint diseases has been scientifically researched for decades and has been proven in many studies.
Enzyme therapy against thrombosis
Enzymes also support the body’s repair system. In this way, they ensure that bleeding injuries are quickly stopped. The enzymes proceed with an astonishing fine-tuning so that the blood clotting is neither too weak nor too strong.
If it were too weak, the bleeding could not stop. If, on the other hand, it were too strong, too many platelets could stick together and form a blood clot (thrombus).
If this then moves away from the wound area, it can lead to blockage of the blood vessels elsewhere. The consequence of a blocked blood vessel is thrombosis.
To prevent this from happening, fibrin-dissolving enzymes are immediately on the spot. They break down the blood clots into soluble fragments and thus prevent the development of thrombosis.
Enzyme therapy for autoimmune diseases
When the body mistakenly attacks its own tissue, it is called an autoimmune disease. These diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, lupus erythematosus or celiac disease.
As already mentioned, inflammation occurs with any type of tissue injury. In the autoimmune disease, these inflammatory processes are chronic.
Here, the immune system is completely out of control. Where were the immune-regulating enzymes that could have fended off this event?
It is very likely that they were not present in sufficient quantities in the preliminary stages of the disease, and so they could neither prevent the excessive reaction of the immune system nor contain the subsequent inflammation.
Because the immune system mistakenly regards its own tissue as a foreign substance, it again activates antibodies that attach themselves to the apparent antigen and form an immune complex.
The apparent antigen is called an “autoantigen”. If, for example, this autoantigen is part of the articular cartilage, rheumatoid arthritis develops. If, on the other hand, it is part of the nerve tissue, multiple sclerosis (MS) develops.
It is certainly understandable that systemic enzyme therapy can be extremely helpful even for these serious diseases. Especially in the early stages of the disease, experienced therapists were able to achieve outstanding results.
Experiences of a doctor suffering from MS
The Austrian physician Dr. Ch. Neuhofer, herself suffering from MS, is considered a pioneer of MS treatment using systemic enzyme therapy. By 1989, she had already treated more than 350 patients suffering from MS with this therapy.
In addition, she always prescribed a diet rich in vital substances with a high proportion of raw food and unsaturated fatty acids.
Of 107 patients suffering from chronic MS, she was able to achieve a significant improvement in the state of health of 45 patients.
In 26 people, the progression of the disease could be prevented and the remaining 24 subjects discontinued the therapy because the health insurance company did not pay for the enzyme preparations.
In the treatment of another 43 patients suffering from relapsing MS, she came to the following conclusion:
In 35 patients, enzyme therapy achieved a significant improvement in their health situation and in the remaining 8 patients, the condition remained stable.
Dr. Neuhofer’s work inspired various scientists to verify and explain the excellent effect of systemic enzyme therapy in further studies.
Enzyme therapy for cancer
In the course of life, a trillionfold cell division takes place in the organism. It can also happen that some of the cells degenerate and mutate into cancer cells.
However, the degenerated cells are normally recognized by the immune system and immediately destroyed by the macrophages. However, this requires an intact immune system.
As already mentioned, only a few people have a sufficiently active immune system and so it is not surprising that more and more people are suffering from cancer, among many other diseases.
Although every human being carries a few hundred cancer cells, this is far from being a cause for concern. The situation only becomes problematic when the number of degenerated cells increases steadily.
This situation shows that the immune system is no longer able to detect enough of these cells before they can join together, multiply and grow into a tumor.
Could systemic enzyme therapy also help here? Can it possibly dissolve cancer cells?
The founder of systemic enzyme therapy
Professor Dr. Max Wolf is considered the undisputed founder of modern enzyme therapy. In the 40s of the last century, he developed an enzyme mixture that is still used extremely successfully in medicine today in almost unchanged composition.
Professor Dr. Wolf made an extremely important acquaintance for his research work at the cancer ward of the Rudolfina Clinic in Vienna. He met the director of the clinic, Professor Ernst Freund.
In 1932, in the course of his own research, he had compared the blood of healthy and cancerous people and found substances in the blood of healthy people that were able to dissolve cancer cells.
However, these substances were not found in the blood of cancer patients. Unfortunately, Professor Freund died before he could name her specifically.
Therefore, Professor Wolf continued his research and found out that these were special, protein-splitting enzymes that acted against cancer.
Scientific studies carried out worldwide attest to the effect of enzyme mixtures both in the long-term treatment of tumors and as an adjunct to conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
As an adjunctive therapy, enzymes significantly reduce all side effects of conventional cancer therapy.
They significantly improve the quality of life of cancer patients, also prevent the formation of metastases and therefore have an overall life-prolonging effect.
Systemic enzyme therapy should ALWAYS be carried out under the supervision and supervision of an experienced therapist, especially in the case of cancer!
When is systemic enzyme therapy indicated?
Due to its outstanding effect on the whole organism, systemic enzyme therapy has proven itself in a wide range of diseases, both as an accompanying measure and as a sole therapy. Systemic enzyme therapy is therefore particularly recommended
for all diseases that are based on inflammation
to strengthen the immune system
in diseases of the blood vessels
for diseases of the spine and joints
in autoimmune diseases
for pain relief
concomitant in cancer therapy
Enzymes – The application
In general, different dosage forms can be used in systemic enzyme therapy, depending on the type of health complaint.
For example, enzymes can enter the bloodstream directly via infusions or injections in diseases that require particularly high enzyme concentrations.
The most common use is of enteric-coated tablets, coated tablets or capsules.
Applied externally, the enzymes can accelerate the healing of wounds and the renewal of tissue. The external treatment can also be sensibly combined with an oral intake of the enzymes.
However, keep in mind: enzymes thin the blood and interfere with blood clotting.
Therefore, the intake of enzymes is not indicated in people whose blood clotting is disturbed (hemophiliacs) as well as in those who depend on the use of blood-thinning drugs.
Enzymes should also not be taken before and after surgery and during pregnancy due to their blood-thinning effect.
It is therefore best to discuss the therapeutic use of enzymes with your holistically oriented doctor or alternative practitioner.
To maximize the benefits of enzyme therapy, consider pairing it with colon hydrotherapy. Colonics help cleanse the digestive system, ensuring better absorption of vital nutrients, including enzymes. By combining these powerful therapies, you can support detoxification, enhance immune function, and promote overall wellness.
Enzymes play a crucial role in maintaining proper digestion and overall health. Good digestion depends on having the correct enzymes in adequate quantities, located in the appropriate areas at the appropriate times. This intricate process showcases the remarkable intelligence of our bodies.
Metabolic processes require enzymes
As we age, the burden on our bodies increases from various types of pollution, chemicals, toxins, stress, and emotional problems. All of this diminishes our body’s natural ability to make enough enzymes to meet the needs of daily life.
Enzymes are essential for the efficient operation of our body. They are necessary for all metabolic activities, not just for healthy digestion. We couldn’t survive without the help of enzymes.
What are enzymes, and how crucial are they to human health?
All animal and human cells produce complex protein molecules called enzymes. For instance, digestive enzymes are crucial because they reduce large food molecules into smaller pieces that may then be absorbed by intestinal mucosa cells and released into circulation.
Enzymes support digestion
Enzymes help the body not only digest proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and plant fibers. They are also involved in all the chemical reactions that take place in our bodies. These include, for example, the regeneration of cells or tissues and the removal of waste products and toxins, as well as the support of the immune system. In short, enzymes get the whole organism going!
Dr. Edward Howell, the pioneer of enzyme therapy, describes it this way:
“Life is made possible by the presence of enzymes. All chemical processes that occur in the human body depend on them. Nothing would happen at all without enzymes. Without enzymes, neither vitamins, minerals, nor hormones can function.”
This view is also supported by Dr. D. A. Lopez, Dr. R. M. Williams, M.D., PhD, and M. Miehlke, M.D., who say that “the driving power behind our body, enzymes carry out each and every task required for survival as well as for our daily activities. Every single organ system in our body depends on them for all of its operations. We also need enzymes for our immunity and defense systems, as well as for our ability to see, hear, smell, taste, breathe, and move. And Enzymes aid in nutrient absorption and digestion.”
Do we have an unlimited supply of enzymes?
The body’s own production of enzymes decreases with age or is also restricted in some chronic diseases. An unhealthy diet and lifestyle can also reduce the proper production of enzymes.
Three solutions to this problem
First, we introduce the different types of enzymes and their occurrence.
The three main categories of enzymes are:
Digestive enzymes
Food or plant enzymes
Metabolic enzymes
1. Digestive enzymes secreted by the salivary glands, stomach, pancreas and small intestine help break down food into simple molecules. 2. Food enzymes occur naturally in raw foods. However, if these are heated above 42° Celsius, the high temperature destroys most of the enzymes. Digestive enzymes and dietary enzymes perform the same function. Namely, they digest the food so that it can be absorbed into the bloodstream. The difference between the two is that food enzymes come from fresh, raw, and uncooked foods, such as fruits, vegetables, salads, etc., and digestive enzymes are produced in our body itself. 3. Metabolic enzymes are produced in the cells and are found throughout the body, i.e. in the organs, bones, blood and in the cells themselves. Metabolic enzymes maintain the organ function of the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, etc., and are therefore needed by the body in large numbers.
Enzymes and how they work
Let’s take a closer look at some enzymes and how they work. In the following, we describe where the individual enzymes become active and in which foods they can be found.
Enzyme Lipase
Lipases are enzymes that digest fats. When added to a meal as a supplement, it digests the fats in the food, thus relieving the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas when these organs can no longer produce the required enzymes in sufficient quantities.
Enzyme Protease
Proteases split proteins into their individual parts, peptides and finally amino acids. Proteins consist of long amino acid chains, while peptides are only short amino acid chains of a maximum of 100 amino acids (some sources give a maximum of 50 amino acids).
People who suffer from food allergies or have trouble digesting proteins benefit from taking protease supplements, such as bromelain or papain supplements. Often these preparations contain proteases from papaya (papain) or pineapple (bromelain). Both are also used in high doses as natural remedies for inflammation.
Enzyme Amylase
Amylases break down starch, so they help digest carbohydrates from baked goods, pasta, potatoes and many other starchy foods.
Enzyme Cellulase
Cellulases are enzymes that break down fibers (cellulose). In most cases, it is only bacteria that can form cellulases. These bacteria live, for example, in the rumen of cattle or in the large intestine of horses, which is why these animals can live so well on grass, hay and other food that contains a lot of cellulose. In humans, only a few of these bacteria live in the large intestine, which is why cellulose is largely an indigestible fiber for humans.
Enzyme Lactase
Lactase is an enzyme that can break down milk sugar (lactose) from milk and dairy products. Lactose is a disaccharide (double) because it is composed of two simple sugars, glucose and galactose. The lactase now breaks down the lactose into these two simple sugars, which are then absorbed into the blood. Glucose serves as an important fuel for the cells. Galactose is needed for the regeneration of cell membranes, for healthy nerve cells and an active brain.
In the case of widespread lactose intolerance (about 70 percent of the world’s population is affected), lactase is no longer produced in the body in adulthood, which is basically quite natural, since an adult usually no longer needs milk. Milk is an infant formula and therefore intended for babies who do not yet have teeth and do not yet have a fully developed digestive system. Therefore, all people usually produce lactase only in the first three years.
If you are lactose intolerant but still want to consume dairy products, you can take lactase as a preparation.
Enzyme Phytase
Phytase breaks down phytic acid, which is found in cereals and seeds, as well as simple sugars into fructose and glucose.
Enzyme Maltase
Maltase digests complex and simple sugars. Maltase breaks down unused glycogen in the muscles. Glycogen is a thick, sticky substance made from sugars and starches, and stored in the muscles for later use. If the amount of stored glycogen is constantly increasing, this leads to increasing muscle weakness and muscle regression.
Enzymes from food support digestion
The natural enzymes in raw food can aid digestion. To do this, however, the raw food must be well chopped, chewed thoroughly and eaten slowly. The enzymes contained in food represent only a small part of the enzymes actually needed.
It is true that raw vegetables, salads and sprouts are valuable foods due to the vital substances they contain. When it comes to enzyme supply, however, it is more important to keep our own enzyme production healthy by doing everything we can for a healthy digestive system: eating healthy, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, detoxifying as needed, and/or taking probiotics and avoiding nutrient deficiencies.
Digestion costs the body strength
The body’s highest priority is to ensure an adequate supply of nutrients so that all body systems can be active. However, this requires an intact digestive system. Since this system nowadays receives very few nutritional enzymes from valuable raw food, the body has to provide more and more of its own enzymes. This costs him a lot of energy and explains why more and more people suffer from digestive problems and permanent fatigue.
“Digestion uses 80% of the energy that goes into maintaining our bodies. If you are exhausted, under stress, live in a very hot or very cold climate, or are a regular air traveler, your body needs enormous amounts of extra enzymes. Because our entire system works through enzymatic activity, we need to supplement our enzymes. The aging process deprives us of our ability to produce the necessary enzymes. Doctors say that all diseases are due to a deficiency or imbalance of enzymes. Our lives depend on them!”
Which enzymes are suitable for ingestion?
If you suffer from indigestion and want to take enzymes to help, pay attention to combinations of different enzymes. Many enzyme preparations are not vegan! Therefore, when buying, pay attention to whether the vegan symbol can be found on it.
Some plant enzymes are said to be even more effective because they survive the acidity of the stomach better, whereas pancreatic enzymes (from animals) may not even reach the small intestine, where they do their work – unless, of course, you pay attention to stomach-resistant capsules.
Pancreatic weakness is a commonly occurring condition that may be overlooked. Symptoms such as unexplained flatulence, abdominal cramps, distended abdomen after meals, and thin stools could indicate pancreatic weakness. Fortunately, the diagnosis is straightforward and treatment can result in a rapid improvement in symptoms.
Pancreatic insufficiency and its symptoms
Especially after the typically difficult-to-digest and high-fat meals such as baked goods, pizza, cake or sardines in oil, pancreatic weakness causes symptoms such as a feeling of fullness for hours and tormenting flatulence. The abdomen takes on the dimensions of pregnancy, and abdominal cramps and loose stools are also key symptoms of pancreatic weakness.
Since these symptoms could also indicate a bile problem or an irritable bowel syndrome, incorrect therapy is often given for a long time, for example with means that could stimulate the flow of bile or with means that calm the intestines. However, these have no effect on pancreatic weakness. And so the patient continues to torment himself with his annoying symptoms.
Food intolerance in combination with loss of appetite and the other symptoms mentioned can also indicate pancreatic weakness.
If, for example, the food proteins are not digested sufficiently, this can lead to the formation of large amounts of biogenic amines (e.g. histamine) in the intestine. However, an excess of histamine can also show the symptoms of histamine intolerance: runny nose, diarrhea , skin rashes, etc. The cause here would not be the histamine, but the weakness of the pancreas, which caused the histamine to develop in excessive concentrations in the first place.
However, extreme symptoms such as weight loss and noticeable nutrient deficiencies only appear when the pancreas has already quit about 90 percent of its work. Therefore, the correct diagnosis is often preceded by many years of unspecific symptoms and misdiagnoses.
Where is the pancreas located and what are its functions?
The pancreas is located in close proximity to the duodenum in the right abdomen and extends to the spleen in the upper left abdomen. It has two completely different tasks:
On the one hand, it produces insulin for the blood sugar transport into the cells and, on the other hand, it produces many different digestive enzymes. These include proteases that digest proteins, lipases that break down fats and amylases that digest carbohydrates. The pancreas releases these enzymes to the small intestine, where they get to work, digesting food.
What happens in the body when the pancreas is weak?
While a lack of insulin results in diabetes, insufficient digestive enzyme production is referred to as pancreatic insufficiency or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).
If there are not enough digestive enzymes available in the small intestine, the food cannot be digested properly and undigested food components get into the large intestine.
Only very small amounts of undigested particles normally arrive in the large intestine. These are then more or less thoroughly metabolized by the specific intestinal bacteria. Intestinal gases are always produced. Small amounts of gas can be absorbed by the body or passed off as inconspicuous and almost odourless flatulence.
However, if the large intestine bacteria are now confronted with an excess of undigested food residues, this initially leads to dysbiosis. This is a disturbance of the intestinal flora. So the intestinal bacteria that specialize in undigested proteins, fats and carbohydrates multiply.
But that is exactly what leads to the formation of enormous intestinal gases, which are now responsible for the typical symptoms of pancreatic weakness: flatulence, cramps, feelings of fullness, diarrhea, and a swollen stomach. In addition, it is mostly putrefactive bacteria that multiply excessively as part of the dysbiosis mentioned and lead to flatulence that smells unpleasantly of rotten eggs.
Since, among other things, the fat-digesting enzymes are missing, the stool often appears shiny in pancreatic weakness. This is because it now also contains undigested fat.
Dysbiosis and the constant presence of undigested food in the large intestine damage the intestinal mucosa and promote the development of allergies and autoimmune diseases. In addition, since a large part of the immune system is located in the intestine, this situation also weakens the immune system in the long term, which in turn can lead to many other health problems.
The causes of pancreatic insufficiency
There are only a few known causes of pancreatic insufficiency. If, for example, there is a chronic inflammation of the pancreas (often the result of alcohol), sooner or later pancreatic weakness can occur. Autoimmune processes against the pancreas, bile duct diseases and the hereditary disease cystic fibrosis also severely weaken the pancreas. Diabetics are more likely to suffer from pancreatic insufficiency. In the case of type 2 diabetics, it is one in three people.
In many cases, however, no clear cause for the weakness of the pancreas can be determined – at least not from the point of view of conventional medicine. This is then referred to as age-related organ weakness. Of course, the functions of organs deteriorate particularly quickly and severely if the body has been affected for years due to unhealthy food and a poor lifestyle. A weakness of the pancreas can therefore also be the result of an overall unfavorable lifestyle – especially when you consider that the pancreas is one of the most stress-sensitive organs.
The diagnosis of pancreatic insufficiency
Pancreatic insufficiency can be diagnosed easily and inexpensively. A stool sample is examined for the level of the enzyme pancreas elastase. It is a protein-splitting enzyme. Unlike other enzymes, it reaches the large intestine unchanged, so it can serve as a marker for exocrine pancreatic function (not for insulin production!).
A healthy pancreas should achieve levels of over 200 micrograms of pancreatic elastase per gram of stool (200 µg/g). Lower values then indicate pancreatic weakness. The fat content in the stool can also be measured. The higher it is, the more likely it is that you have pancreatic insufficiency.
Specialists often do not think about these simple examinations and instead concentrate entirely on the usual gastroscopy and/or colonoscopy, which is rather unpleasant and time-consuming for the patient. In these, however, a weakness of the pancreas cannot be determined.
Therapy for pancreatic insufficiency:
What to do if the pancreas is too weak to produce enough digestive enzymes?
The following measures help to relieve your weakened pancreas while strengthening and rebuilding it at the same time. However, complete regeneration of the pancreas is no longer possible in every case, especially if the pancreas’ weakness is already very severe and weight loss is involved. However, our tips will be of great help so that you will soon feel a good deal better again.
1. Adjust the diet to the weakness of the pancreas
In order to relieve the pancreas, the following dietary guidelines must be observed in the case of pancreatic weakness:
Choose a healthy diet that is as natural as possible and consists of freshly prepared food and avoid finished products with numerous additives.
Eat simple dishes with few ingredients, e.g. carrot soup, potatoes, steamed vegetables, grated apples etc.
Consistently avoid alcohol, fresh baked goods, sugar and flatulent dishes.
Instead of fewer large meals, it is essential to eat several small and easily digestible meals. The amount of enzymes that are still formed may then be sufficient and you will have fewer or no symptoms.
Meals that are particularly high in fat cause problems in the case of pancreatic weakness. Therefore, eat a low-fat diet, choose healthy fats (see next point) and avoid fatty foods such as chocolate, fried foods, sausage, fatty cheese, etc.
Rely on the so-called MCT fats. These are fats made from medium-chain fatty acids (medium-chain triglycerides), which the body does not need any fat-digesting enzymes to digest. Pure MCT fats can be bought at health food stores. Coconut oil, on the other hand, is a fat with a naturally very high MCT content, so products (spreads, coconut milk, etc.) made from coconut fat can also be used.
Krill oil can be chosen to cover the omega-3 fatty acid requirement, as it is much easier to digest than the usual fish oil capsules. Small amounts of DHA algae oil distributed throughout the day can also help to ensure the supply of omega fatty acids.
Even if you might think that fibre could increase flatulence if you already have it, it is known that a high-fibre diet (at least 30 g of fibre per day) can increase lipase secretion, i.e. the release of fat-digesting enzymes from the pancreas ( 1 ). However, if you have previously been eating a low-fibre diet, increase your fibre intake slowly and gradually. In addition, choose easily digestible dietary fibre, not just fresh grain porridge or bean stew, but feel your way around with baobab powder and coconut flour (1 tablespoon already contains 5 grams of fibre) slowly (always take with plenty of water). In addition, eat fresh fruit regularly – ALWAYS by yourself and at least 30 minutes BEFORE other meals. NOTE: if you eat fruit with or even after the meal, this leads to increased fermentation processes and thus to flatulence.
Eat slowly and chew carefully (up to 40 times per bite) as this allows you to “pre-digest” your meals.
Do not drink with meals, as this will further dilute the enzymes, which is what you want to prevent. Therefore, drink at least one hour before or one hour after eating.
2. Digestive enzymes in pancreatic insufficiency
Since the pancreas does not produce enough digestive enzymes, you can use enzyme preparations that contain lipases, amylases and proteases.
In the case of mild pancreatic weakness, natural products from organic retailers are sufficient. Also, some of the enzyme-rich papaya seeds can be chewed several times a day. In the case of severe pancreatic weakness, however, you should have your alternative practitioner prescribe a correspondingly high-dose enzyme preparation. The more fat your meals contain, the higher the enzyme preparations should be.
In order to steer the intestinal flora back in the right direction, to reduce the putrefactive bacteria and thus reduce dysbiosis, a probiotic such as e.g. Floratrex or Probioform can be used.
4. If you have pancreatic weakness, think about the acid-base balance
The pancreas not only produces insulin and digestive enzymes, but also the body’s own bases (sodium bicarbonate) so that the necessary neutral to slightly basic environment can be maintained in the small intestine. Only in such an alkaline environment can the digestive enzymes work and digest properly.
If there is a pronounced weakness of the pancreas, this can result in a base deficiency or over-acidification in the small intestine. In this case, not even those enzymes that are taken in the form of supplements can work properly. So first the environment in the small intestine has to become alkaline again. The necessary procedure should be discussed with your practitioner.
5. Compensate for mineral and vitamin deficiencies in pancreatic weakness
If digestion is disturbed in the pancreas weakness, the food is no longer broken down properly and even ends up in the stool undigested, in which case many vital substances can no longer be absorbed and also end up in the stool and thus in the toilet.
A weakness of the pancreas is therefore very often accompanied by a serious mineral and vitamin deficiency – which should be taken into account when making the diagnosis. So have your vital substance status determined and your whole blood (not the serum) checked for the most important minerals (magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc) and especially for the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). Because if the fat digestion is disturbed, the fat-soluble vitamins can no longer be fully absorbed.
The calcium status in the blood can only be determined with difficulty since the blood calcium level is always kept at the same level and if there is a calcium deficiency in the blood, the organism simply draws calcium from the bones in order not to let the blood calcium level drop. In extreme cases, this can promote osteoporosis.
To determine the calcium status, one would therefore rather have to carry out a bone density measurement. Here it makes more sense to ensure the calcium supply purely preventively with a high-quality preparation (e.g. Coral Calcium).
If you now look at the consequences of a magnesium deficiency or a zinc deficiency alone (e.g. weak immune system, limited performance, constant tiredness or insomnia, depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, etc.), it becomes clear that pancreatic weakness does not just affect the digestion, but can contribute to many other diseases and ailments.
However, taking the vitamins is only useful if digestion can be improved and optimized at the same time by taking the enzymes mentioned and changing your diet. Because only then can the vital substances be fully absorbed, including those from capsules or powder.
The following measures would then make sense:
calcium and magnesium e.g. Coral calcium; magnesium can also be supplied through the skin or orally.
Vitamin D3 in combination with vitamin K2
All other vital substances are taken depending on the individual status (whole blood analysis). Also as IV Therapie.
6. Naturopathy for pancreatic insufficiency
For the pancreas – as for many other organs and ailments as well – a herb has grown: the Harongar bark. The Haronga shrub is a St. John’s wort plant. It is native to Africa and Madagascar and is the only plant that succeeds in stimulating the release of enzymes from the pancreas. However, Haronga preparations should always only be administered concomitantly with enzyme preparations.
Since people with pancreatic insufficiency are often also depressed, the harongarine bark works doubly well, because it is also considered a mild natural antidepressant and lifts the gloomy mood. In addition, it has an anti-flatulent effect and is good for the entire liver-gallbladder system.
The Haronga bark is available as a ready-to-use preparation in the health food store. They are taken as a cure, no longer than 2 months.
Teas rich in bitter substances can also be drunk as an accompaniment, but they do not have nearly as sudden and good an effect on pancreatic weakness as they do on liver-gallbladder problems or other digestive problems. However, they can be used symptomatically to relieve flatulence, e.g. centaury and gentian mixed with peppermint, lemon balm and yarrow.
Bitter substances can also be taken with a base bitter powder or an alcohol-free bitter elixir (e.g. Swedish bitters). Curcumin should also not be forgotten – As THE remedy for the digestive system. Ginger as a warming digestive also supports the function of the pancreas.
Blood-brain barrier prevents toxins and pathogens from entering the brain from the blood. If this barrier does not function properly, the body becomes susceptible to diseases such as Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis. But there are natural remedies and measures you can take to protect your blood-brain barrier.
The tasks of the blood-brain barrier
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a barrier between the blood and the brain. It is permeable to nutrients, so that the brain is supplied with everything it needs. The blood-brain barrier is impermeable to most pollutants and pathogens – it thus serves to protect the brain. However, the BBB cannot protect against all pollutants: Drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy make you high because they can cross the blood-brain barrier. As a result, they inflict long-lasting harm.
How the blood-brain barrier works
How exactly does the blood-brain barrier work? It consists of the following components that cooperate with each other – if one component fails, it no longer works properly (1) (2) (3):
Endothelial cells: The brain is crisscrossed by a network of blood vessels. So-called endothelial cells line the blood vessel walls from the inside and control which substances are allowed to enter the nerve tissue of the brain and which are not. The endothelial cells are so close together that they can seal the small cell spaces (“tight junctions”) between them if necessary. The cell layer, which consists of the adjacent endothelial cells, is called the endothelium.
Basal membrane: The endothelium is surrounded by a membrane that, in simple terms, holds everything in place. In addition, it communicates with the surrounding cells and is thus also involved in deciding which substances enter the brain and which do not.
Pericytes: The pericytes are embedded in the basement membrane. These cells communicate with the endothelial cells, but their functions are not yet clearly understood. Presumably, they are involved in maintaining the blood-brain barrier.
Astrocytes: Astrocytes sit around the basement membrane. Among other things, these cells help the endothelium to defend the blood-brain barrier and contribute to the supply of nerve cells. They emit messenger substances that make the endothelium more or less permeable.
These substances damage the blood-brain barrier
The blood-brain barrier is not only permeable to substances that benefit the brain. Some substances, such as alcohol, nicotine and cocaine, consist of particles that are also small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier. They not only cause damage to the brain, but can also affect the blood-brain barrier, so that it suddenly becomes permeable to many other substances that are toxic to the brain (4) (5).
The well-known cold hands after smoking, for example, indicate circulatory disorders of the small vessels, which can also have a negative effect on the blood-brain barrier.
Researchers suspect that the damage to the blood-brain barrier caused by drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine can persist even years after the drug has been taken. This is especially tragic when drugs are used from an early age. Many young people thus lay the foundation for later illnesses (61) (62). The consumption of nicotine, alcohol, other drugs and many other pollutants also always causes oxidative stress, which can also damage the blood-brain barrier.
Oxidative stress damages the blood-brain barrier
Oxidative stress can occur anywhere in the body and have a wide variety of causes: psychological stress, too little sleep, overexertion of the body, nicotine, alcohol, drugs, etc. If oxidative stress occurs in the brain, individual components of the blood-brain barrier (e.g. pericytes and astrocytes) that are central to the functioning of the BBB are damaged (6) (7).
Cell phone radiation damages the blood-brain barrier
Electromagnetic radiation, such as that emitted by mobile phones, WLAN devices, microwaves and light, surrounds us around the clock. Chinese researchers found that the blood-brain barrier of rats became more permeable when irradiated at 900 megahertz over a period of one month. By way of comparison, the frequency spectrum of mobile communications, Wi-Fi and microwaves ranges from 300 megahertz to 3 gigahertz. Officially, research on humans hasn’t been conducted yet (8) (9).
Artificial additives: glutamate, aspartame and citric acid
Additives in food are also suspected of causing damage to the brain – officially they are considered harmless.
The flavor enhancer glutamate
Natural glutamate produced in the brain is a neurotransmitter that performs important functions for memory. Artificially produced, glutamate, on the other hand, serves as a flavor enhancer in food. It is found in spice blends and all sorts of ready-made meals.
According to the current state of research, the glutamate formed in the brain can be transported across the blood-brain barrier into the bloodstream. Conversely, glutamate from the bloodstream (i.e. glutamate that is ingested through food) should not be able to pass through the BBB (10).
However, not all researchers agree with this finding. The discussion is important because glutamate is suspected of being involved in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis. However, it has not been conclusively clarified whether the flavor enhancer glutamate, the naturally formed glutamate or both are responsible (11).
The sweetener aspartame
Aspartame is a synthetically produced sweetener used in the food industry. It is found, for example, in desserts, jams, sauces and soft drinks.
A 2017 review, published in the journal Nutrition Reviews, summarized the findings of numerous studies on aspartame. It has been shown that aspartame leads to oxidative stress in the brain and damages the blood-brain barrier – not only in high amounts but also in amounts that are actually considered safe (less than 40 mg per kg of body weight). So far, however, the investigations have only been carried out on animals (12).
The food additive citric acid
Citric acid is added to various finished products, beverages and sweets as a preservative and acidifier. It is found, for example, in gummy bears, lemonades, jam and canned fruits, but also in processed cheese.
Citric acid has the property of binding metals to itself. Since it can cross the blood-brain barrier, it enters the brain together with the bound metals, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, but also aluminum. The combination of aluminum with citric acid is called aluminum citrate and is harmful to health (13).
Aluminum passes through the blood-brain barrier
Aluminum enters the brain even without citric acid. However, studies show that citric acid additionally promotes the absorption of aluminum. This means that with the consumption of foods containing citric acid, the absorption of aluminum into the brain is increased. This is where the aluminum citrate is deposited (14).
Aluminum is also degraded, but much more slowly than it is absorbed. With increasing age, more and more aluminum is deposited in the brain, where it can lead to cognitive dysfunction. In addition, aluminum is suspected of playing a role in neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease) and autoimmune diseases (e.g. multiple sclerosis). To prevent aluminum from being stored in the body you can start by avoiding cookware from which aluminum could come loose.
Viruses and bacteria damage the blood-brain barrier
Some bacteria and viruses are able to cross the blood-brain barrier. For this purpose, they attach themselves to brain-permeable substances and use them to reach the brain – similar to a Trojan horse (15).
Bacteria that are known to pass through the BBB are, for example, pneumococci. In the case of pneumococci, it is assumed that they form a toxin that causes the endothelial cells to die. In the brain, they can lead to meningitis.
Viruses that are known to pass through the blood-brain barrier are, for example, the mumps virus or the herpes simplex virus. Both can trigger inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).
Not all viruses and bacteria that travel in our body migrate into the brain. However, if the immune system is weakened, it can sometimes not prevent pathogens from spreading in the body. In the worst case, they then make their way through the blood-brain barrier.
The blood-brain barrier is impaired by brain inflammation
If a pathogen crosses the blood-brain barrier, it can trigger inflammation in the brain. The brain’s own immune cells are responsible for this: the microglia. The microglia keep the inflammation going until the pathogen is rendered harmless. This is a natural defense mechanism (16).
However, such inflammations can also damage the blood-brain barrier and other sensitive parts of the brain by leading to the death of nerve cells. Research suggests that a damaged blood-brain barrier contributes to the development of autoimmune diseases (16).
Diseases damage the blood-brain barrier
Diseases can also lead to inflammation in the brain. In multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease, there are repeated episodes of inflammation. With each episode of inflammation, the blood-brain barrier becomes more permeable. This leads to a vicious circle in which the diseases continue to progress and the blood-brain barrier becomes weaker and weaker.
A stroke or traumatic brain injury can also cause the blood-brain barrier to become permeable, for example by damaging the blood vessels or closing temporarily. Other diseases associated with a permeable blood-brain barrier include Parkinson’s disease and diabetes (17).
Research assumes that diabetes damages the barrier effect of the blood-brain barrier. Too high blood sugar is said to make the BBB more permeable and increase the risk of secondary diseases. This is said to be related to the transport of glucose and insulin across the blood-brain barrier. However, the exact mechanisms have not yet been sufficiently researched (18).
In many cases, researchers are also unsure whether diseases are caused by a disturbed blood-brain barrier in the first place, or whether they themselves are the cause of the damage to the BBB. Both factors are suspected to play a role.
The blood-brain barrier is an obstacle to medication
The blood-brain barrier is usually so effective that it even complicates the drug treatment of many neurological diseases. This is because the foreign substances are treated like toxins and repelled by the blood-brain barrier. For example, the barrier causes problems in the treatment of brain tumors, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease – i.e. diseases in which the drugs are primarily intended to act in the brain.
Parkinson’s, for example, is treated with dopamine. Since dopamine cannot pass through the BBB, precursors of dopamine are used. The precursors pass through the BBB and are only converted into dopamine in the brain (19). Other ways science is trying to circumvent the blood-brain barrier include the following (20) (21) (22) (23):
For example, by transporting the active pharmaceutical ingredients through the BBB with the help of other substances that serve as transporters;
The development of active ingredients with certain properties that pass through the barrier in a simplified manner (e.g. fat solubility, small molecular size, etc.)
The opening of the barrier by means of ultrasound or bypassing the blood-brain barrier by injecting the drug directly into the brain.
However, overcoming the barrier is far from being sufficiently researched and will probably keep science busy for many years to come.
The blood-brain barrier in babies and toddlers
Again and again it can be read that the blood-brain barrier in newborns and infants is not yet fully developed. Many pediatricians and neurologists also assume this. However, if you look for studies that prove this, you will hardly find what you are looking for.
On the contrary, the authors of a 2012 research paper uncover some fallacies that are said to have led to this assumption. The researchers believe that the blood-brain barrier of infants and young children is by no means “leaky” or “immature” (24). A review from 2018 comes to the same conclusion: The blood-brain barrier in infants and toddlers is not immature, it says, but the brain is fundamentally more sensitive to toxins and pollutants during its development (25).
The fact is that there are still many unanswered questions about the development of the blood-brain barrier, e.g. when (in which phase of pregnancy) the blood-brain barrier in the unborn baby is fully formed. This is important in order to understand how, for example, taking medication during pregnancy affects the baby.
How to protect your blood-brain barrier?
Once the blood-brain barrier is damaged, it can no longer regulate itself sufficiently. People are already looking for ways to “repair” the blood-brain barrier. Nonetheless, it’ll take a while before this becomes feasible. However, with a healthy lifestyle, you can already do a lot to protect the blood-brain barrier from damage.
Omega-3 fatty acids are very important for the nervous system and many brain functions. Researchers at Harvard Medical School have found that omega-3 fatty acids maintain the blood-brain barrier. In order for them to perform this function, the omega-3 fatty acids must be in the correct proportion to the omega-6 fatty acids (26) (27) (28).
2. Consume enough minerals
Minerals are essential for optimal brain function: they are involved in the transmission of stimuli in the nervous system and protect nerve cells from dying. Magnesium also makes the blood-brain barrier less permeable. According to an American review, magnesium deficiency plays a role in the development of Alzheimer’s, strokes, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease (29) (30) (31).
You can find more information about mineral deficiency here. There you will find a useful overview of the minerals, learn more about how a deficiency is diagnosed and how you can take a blood test at home.
Vitamin B12 protects the nervous system and helps in the regeneration of nerve cells. A vitamin B12 deficiency is also closely related to Alzheimer’s disease. The disease, in turn, is associated with decreased function of the blood-brain barrier, as we described above.
Vitamin B12 deficiency affects far more people than you would think. But the other B vitamins also perform important functions in the brain and should not be ignored. Therefore, have your vitamin balance checked and adjust your diet if necessary.
4. Caffeine protects the blood-brain barrier
In Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, the blood-brain barrier usually becomes more permeable. Studies show that regular consumption of caffeine can protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease by maintaining the blood-brain barrier.
For Alzheimer’s prevention, just one cup of coffee per day was enough – in Parkinson’s disease, the protective effect only occurred at 5 cups per day. Whether so much coffee is healthy for other parts of the body is another question (18) (19).
5. These plant compounds protect the brain
The following phytochemicals can cross the blood-brain barrier and have a positive effect on the brain. In parentheses, examples are given in each case of the foods in which the substances occur. In higher doses, they can also be taken via dietary supplements (20) (21) (22) (23) (24) (25) (26) (27) (28) (29) (30) (31).
Sulforaphane (broccoli, cabbage): May prevent disorders of the blood-brain barrier and is said to help fight cancer and arthritis. In addition, sulforaphane can reduce the permeability of the BBB after a traumatic brain injury.
Curcumin (cabbage vegetables): Protects nerve cells and helps reverse the damage that alcohol abuse leaves in the brain.
Astaxanthin (algae): Astaxanthin protects the nerve cells of the brain and is considered one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants.
Alpha-lipoic acid (spinach, broccoli): Slows the progression of Alzheimer’s and protects the nerve cells of the brain.
Lutein and zeaxanthin (spinach, kale): Lutein and zeaxanthin are both said to be good for memory.
Of course, there are many other phytochemicals that can cross the blood-brain barrier that have not yet been investigated by science in this regard.
6. Eat a healthy and balanced diet
Researchers have found that an unhealthy diet harms the brain: it reduces cognitive performance and intensifies inflammatory processes. Above all, you should avoid industrially processed foods and reduce the following pro-inflammatory foods (32) (33) (34) (35):
Ready meals, ready-made sauces, etc.
Sugary foods, such as sweets
Products made from wheat flour
Dairy products
Meat (especially sausage)
Alcohol
Cytokines play an important role in inflammation – they are formed in the body. Some of these cytokines cause or increase inflammation, while others attenuate or stop inflammation. It is believed that an unhealthy diet promotes the formation of pro-inflammatory substances in the body. Cytokines are able to cross the blood-brain barrier and cause inflammation in the brain (36) (37).
Instead, you should incorporate anti-inflammatory foods into your diet.
7. Gut health influences the blood-brain barrier
A healthy diet is also the be-all and end-all for a healthy intestinal flora. A well-known proverb says: “Health begins in the gut.” And that includes the health of the brain. The intestine and the brain are in close contact with each other via the so-called gut-brain axis where they communicate via nerves and hormones.
In recent years, more and more researchers have discovered that a disturbed intestinal flora plays a role in the development of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and depression, among other things. Bacteria from the intestinal flora are said to be able to influence the blood-brain barrier and thus the course of diseases. Nevertheless, investigations in this field are still in their early stages (38) (39).
However, it is already clear that a healthy intestinal flora can prevent diseases and help treat them through its close connection with the immune system – even if they affect the brain.
8. Get enough sleep
A study in mice showed that the functioning of the blood-brain barrier was significantly impaired after only 6 days, during which the mice only slept between 4 and 7 hours each. Of course, this cannot be transferred one-to-one to humans – after all, most mouse species usually sleep half of the day, so they have a greater need for sleep than humans. However, the study suggests that too little sleep in humans could also damage the functioning of the blood-brain barrier (40).
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends at least 7 hours of sleep for healthy adults. On the other hand, only adolescents, sick people or people who are recovering from a previous lack of sleep should regularly sleep more than 9 hours (41).
The above-mentioned study also showed that it is possible to make up for lost sleep: After the 6 days, the mice were allowed to sleep for a whole day. During this time, the permeability of the blood-brain barrier dropped back to its normal level.
9. Ketogenic diet protects the blood-brain barrier from inflammation
The blood-brain barrier plays a major role in the ketogenic diet. Those who eat a ketogenic diet eat only a few carbohydrates. In this process, the body enters a special state: instead of glucose from carbohydrates, the body now uses its fat reserves.
Normally, glucose serves as a source of energy for the brain. It is passed through the blood-brain barrier and then utilized in the brain. With the ketogenic diet, however, the brain is naturally supplied with energy despite the lower glucose intake. During fat loss, so-called ketones are produced in the body. Ketones can also pass through the BBB and serve the brain as a replacement source of energy for glucose.
According to a study, the ketogenic diet reduces inflammatory processes in the brain. The researchers suspect that the lower glucose intake is the reason for this. However, the precise correlation remains unclear at present. In any case, this reduces inflammation in the brain, which of course can also affect the BBB. The ketogenic diet is already being used successfully for epilepsy.
10. Avoid stress
Stress can trigger inflammation in the brain and aggravate existing ones. Such inflammation, as mentioned above, is closely related to disorders of the blood-brain barrier. For example, researchers found that stress makes the blood-brain barrier more permeable (43) (44) (45).
11. Do sports
Regular physical activity stimulates the formation of new nerve cells at the blood-brain barrier – and this continues into old age. With exercise, you are not only doing something good for your muscles and joints, but also for your brain. Previously, it was long assumed that dead nerve cells in the brain of adults could no longer be replaced.
Scientists are now using this knowledge to develop therapies that rebuild the BBB and other parts of the brain, e.g. after a stroke (46).
12. Essential oils for the brain
Scent molecules of essential oils are also able to cross the blood-brain barrier. They are transported through respiration – and when applied directly to the skin also via the surface of the skin – into the blood and from there into the brain. In studies with mice, the fragrances were detected in the brain.
Scent molecules are also able to bind to receptors in the brain, such as the sleep receptor. For this reason, essential oils such as lavender and jasmine have a sleep-inducing effect (47).
Other essential oils are also said to have a positive effect on the brain: rosemary, peppermint and lemon have a stimulating effect and strengthen concentration. Bergamot, lavender and rose reduce stress and thus indirectly have a protective effect on the blood-brain barrier (see point 10). For good essential oils that won’t harm your body click here
Preventing disorders of the blood-brain barrier
A healthy lifestyle with a plant-based diet that is as varied as possible, plenty of sleep, exercise and little stress is the basis for preventing disorders of the blood-brain barrier and even protecting it from harmful influences.
Also keeping your microbiome healthy and active by regularly coming in for a check-up or reminder of what else you can do to improve your gut health, will support your blood-brain barrier.
By integrating modalities, individuals access tailored interventions that alleviate pain, enhance cellular function, provide emotional support, and embrace natural fertility processes. Embark on a transformative, multidimensional approach that enhances your overall well-being.
Laser Therapy
Laser Therapy is technically Low-level laser therapy. This is because high level laser therapy is used with the intention of cutting out or removing tissue, where as LLLT uses low-power lasers to stimulate and to encourage cells to function.
LLLT is a complimentary modality which is often integrated with mainstream medicine for the relief of pain and inflammation due to chronic states in the body like arthritis or neck & joint pain.
Podiatry/Chiropody
Chiropodist and Podiatrist are the same practice. How we refer to this treatment modality depends on what country you are in.
Practitioners diagnose and treat injuries or maladies that occur in the feet, ankles and lower leg stopping at the knee.
Podiatrists treat patients who suffer from issues such as bunions, corns, ingrown toenails and warts and heel and foot pain. Treatment regimes center around a range of orthopedic products and education.
Doulas
Doulas do not take on the role of a practitioner, they work together with their client’s as care providers, offering support to their clients based on the clients needs and wishes. As a practitioner a doula does not diagnose or treat patients.
The main focus of this modality is to provide emotional and practical support, for mothers and couples, through pregnancy and post natal care.
Holistic Midwife
Holistic Midwives are medically trained and registered midwifes who utilize the ideals, principles and practices of Holistic medicine as a complimentary treatment regime to their Mid Wife practice. See Holistic Medicine
Natural Fertility Management
Natural fertility management is different to Family planning because there is no management of the fertility process, no limits set on the amount of children born to a couple and no time frame limitations. Natural fertilities core premise is to make no conscious efforts about fertility submitting to the physiological factors that affect fecundity
By integrating Laser Therapy, Podiatry/Chiropody, Doulas, Holistic Midwife, and Natural Fertility Management, individuals can explore a diverse range of modalities and approaches to promote well-being, address specific health concerns, and support natural processes within the body.
