Enzymes

[kallik]

Who has had success using enzymes, either with tics or behavioral issues? What kind of enzymes are you using and how did you know what to use?

[Calicat]

All I know is that when my daughter went off her enzyme pill, tics started coming back within the week. Once I put her back on the enzyme, tics tapered off (although I have seen them here and there... I think partly/mostly due to slip-ups with her having artificial ingredients). She doesn't even take the recommended amount, which is one with each meal. I wanted to go easy because she started when she was five, and the bottle said ages six and up. So she takes one each morning with her other supps and breakfast. I believe it is NuLife KidZyme, but I'm too lazy to get up and go to my cupboard to check right now. I'll repost later if I got it wrong. It is possible that the enzyme helps in her case with the supplements, not just with food digestion.

 

Calicat

[faith]

Calicat,

When you started using the enzymes, was your daughter on any restrictive diet or were you eliminating any foods prior to starting? Is it okay to just give enzymes without totally restricting any foods they may be sensitive to?

 

Does anyone know if it is necessary to eliminate things like gluten and casein for a time BEFORE stqrting enzymes or not necessarily?

 

Thanks

Faith

[Caryn]

Faith,

I talked with a representative from Houston Nutraceticals that claims it works better with a 'healed' gut. Some families will start them and get an increase in symptoms, sort of an 'opiate' withdrawal effect. Some have a bad time with them and then after six months doing a diet, like GFCF, can go back to them no problem. I guess it depends on the kid and severity. Some can never use them for whatever reason.

It can't hurt to at least try, especially if you have a child that is not really cooperative with an elimination diet. Just be sure that the enzymes are taken with every offending meal. (Can be quite expensive if you take them with each meal). Your ds is older than mine, so he would be more able to navigate his food choices and avoid allergens when necessary, and also take the enzymes as needed.

I have given them to ds for milk/cheese but not yet for gluten. We are still doing the diet, but I have them for 'reserves' to use when we go out to eat and can't avoid cross-contamination. I have tried them on myself (I'm gluten intolerant) and found that they work digestively. I still had inflammation in my hands the next day though. I ate a burger on a bun-- (so it included yeast, and I have a problem with yeast personally). So for Tigger, I am hoping that the enzymes will eliminate puking episodes and explosive diarrhea from gluten cross-contamination (doesn't take much, poor little guy). Right now he has no neurological symptoms at all. Hasn't ticked in about a month. I am a bit gun-shy on using the enzymes with gluten and yeast, as he is so reactive. (And because the enzymes don't really break down the yeast well). I think candida overgrowth may make them less effective. Just my opinion, not based on hard evidence, so take it for what it is. I finally feel like we have conquered the beast after a year of careful dieting. I really don't want to give the candida a chance to re-colonize.

Caryn