FAQ

Enzymes are protein molecules which carry a vital energy factor needed for every chemical action and reaction that occurs in our body. There are several thousand different enzymes found in the human body. These enzymes can combine with co-enzymes to form nearly 100,000 various chemicals that enable us to see, hear, feel, move, digest food and think. Every organ, every tissue, and all the 100 trillion cells in our body depend upon the reaction of enzymes and their energy factor. Nutrition cannot be explained without describing the part that enzymes play. Enzymes are the single biggest contributing factor to health and longevity.

The “energy factor” is the energy that triggers or starts the chemical reactions between enzymes. This “energy factor” is separate and distinct from the chemical make-up of the enzymes itself. A good example of this energy factor can be seen by placing a raw bean into a pot of boiling water. The cooked bean will fail to sprout. It’s life force (“energy factor”) has been taken away from it. Science tells us that only living organisms can make enzymes possessing this “energy factor”. Chemicals that serve as catalysts work by chemical action only, while enzymes function by both biological and chemical action. Catalysts do not contain the “energy factor” which is measured as a kind of radiant energy which enzymes emit. The “energy factor” of enzymes has never been synthesized. Simply stated the energy factor is the “electricity” that makes the light bulb (the enzyme) work.

Research from over a hundred years revealed that there has not been one report of side effects from enzyme consumption. Plant enzymes are food.

When we eat raw foods the enzymes in the food are activated by heat and moisture in the mouth. Once active, these enzymes digest a significant portion of our food and make it small enough to pass through the villi (small projections found in the small intestines) and into the blood. Metabolic enzymes found in the blood then take the digested 45 known nutrients and build them into muscles, nerves, bones, blood, lungs, and various glands. Every cell in the body which is referred to as enzyme specificity. A protein digestive enzyme will not digest a fat and a fat enzyme will not digest starch. Enzymes act upon chemicals and change them into another chemical, but remain unchanged themselves. Simply stated our chemicals are changed from their original identity by the enzyme to another chemical with a different identity. Without enzymes nothing in our body would work.

Bartos and Groh enlisted 10 young and 10 old men and used a drug to stimulate the pancreatic juice flow. The juice was then pumped out and tested. It was found that considerably less of the enzyme amylase was present in the pancreatic juices of older men. It was determined that the enzyme deficiency of the older group was due to exhaustion of the cells of the pancreas. Other research indicates that not only are there fewer enzymes in the pancreas but also in the trillion cells in our body as we age. One explanation for this might be that our pancreas, which weighs only three (3) ounces, can not begin to supply the vast amount of enzyme activity required for the pancreatic secretion, not to mention the tremendous need for protein to equip the enzyme complex. The pancreas must borrow these entities stored in the cells to make the enzyme complex. This could be a definition of “old age” because old age and debilitated metabolic enzyme activity, then we might delay the aging process and possibly increase the life span to its genetic potential.

Not really. Because we eat so much cooked, processed and refined food, we must supplement our body’s natural production of enzymes required for digestion. If we do not then the food we eat will not be completely digested and the by-products of incompletely digested food will be deposited in areas of our body where it can create toxicity, lead to declining health, contribute to the development of chronic conditions and impair immune system functioning.

Research supports that there is a difference. Normal non-diabetic and diabetic subjects were fed raw starch and then had their blood tested for sugar. It is well documented that eating cooked starch causes the blood sugar of diabetics to increase significantly. The diabetics who participated in this research found that their sugar level rose only 6 milligrams the first half-hour. Then it decreased 9 milligrams after 1 hour, and 14 milligrams 2 hours after ingestion of the raw starch. In the non-diabetic persons there was a slight increase followed by a slight decrease in blood sugar in 1 hour. This research indicates that there is a difference between raw and cooked calories.

There is some evidence that obese individuals do have a shortage of lipase. Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine conducted some tests on the abdominal fat of 11 extra heavy individuals (average of 340 pounds) and found a lipase enzyme deficiency in their fat cells. This could be explained by the fact that obesity and abnormal cholesterol deposits both have their beginnings in our failure to permit fat predigestion of cooked or processed foods in the upper stomach due to the fact that the natural lipase content of fatty foods has been destroyed by cooking.

Yes, if they are taking plant enzymes. Animal enzymes should not be taken by pregnant women. Plant enzymes make a great deal of sense since the baby is the recipient of the nutrients that are transported.

No, not if your body cannot utilize the vitamins and minerals that are taken. Vitamins and minerals are really co-enzymes themselves. As such they require that other enzymes act on them in order to release their beneficial powers. If the body is unable to supply those necessary enzymes in the proper quantities at the proper time, the vitamins and minerals simply become inert materials and pass unused through your body.

Simply stated nutrition is: the body’s ability to consume the 45 known nutrients in their proper amounts; digest these nutrients; absorb these nutrients; carry these nutrients into the cells; metabolize these nutrients; and eliminate the waste. Eating foods containing these elements (along with their enzymes) in their proper amounts will normally ensure good nutrition.  Enzymes are responsible for digestion, absorption, transporting, metabolizing, and eliminating the waste of these nutrients. Again, every organ, every tissue, and all the 100 trillion cells in our body depends upon the reaction of enzymes and their energy factor.

Supplemental enzymes are enzymes that have been extracted in some manner, from either plant or animals, and are given in addition to a normal diet. Pepsin (an enzyme that digests proteins) was the first enzyme used by doctors to help with protein digestion. Pepsin was extracted from the stomach of pigs and requires a very low pH to be used by the body. It is best used in skin products for exfoliation of the skin and for meat tenderizers. Another enzyme supplement was made from the pancreas of slaughterhouse animals, which could not only digest proteins, but carbohydrate and fats as well. However, the pancreatic enzymes work best in an alkaline medium, which is present in the duodenum. Pancreatic enzymes will not work in the acidic stomach and cannot perform predigestion. There is little need to take these supplemental enzymes for digestion purposes. In order for supplemental enzymes to work they must be able to help with predigestion in the upper stomach (fundus). The Japanese have developed a method for extracting protease, amylase, cellulase and lipase enzymes from fungi which work throughout the entire digestive system. Although there are hundreds of varieties of aspergilli, the strains (Aspergillus Oryzae and Aspergillus Niger) used in the fermentation of plant enzymes have been tested to be free of mycotoxins. Extracts of these enzymes are dried into powders and put into capsules. These enzymes should be taken with a meal if predigestion is to be most effective. The reason for this is if you wait until finishing the meal, you delay the action of the enzymes on the food.

Food entering the stomach is called a bolus. The stomach has two distinct divisions—Fundus (upper part) and Pylorus (lower part). The bolus remains in the upper part for approximately one hour. This is where predigestion takes place. The fundus is where digestive food enzymes begin to break down the food into carbohydrates, fats and protein. Raw foods supply their own digestive enzymes, thus saving the stomach from supplying all the enzymes. Cooked foods, which has no enzymes, must wait in the fundus until the stomach supplies the enzymes. Predigestion by food enzymes occurs in every creature on earth. The only exception is the human being on and enzyme-free diet. The upper section has no peristalsis (movement of food), acid, or pepsin and therefore, if enzymes are not provided in the diet, only minimal digestion can occur. The lower stomach (pylorus) performs the second step in digestion, but of protein only. In the lower part of the stomach, pepsin (a powerful digestive enzyme) and hydrochloric acid continue the digestive process. The predigested food now enters the small intestine and is called chyme. Here, the pancreas and small intestine cells secrete their enzymes to further break down the chyme into glucose (carbohydrates), fatty acids (fats) and amino acids (proteins) for absorption into the villi (absorption cells in the small intestine). The human stomach is really two stomachs with separate functions. Our stomachs have been provided with the means of permitting outside enzymes to help with the burdens of digesting food. Thus, we don’t have to make all of our own digestive enzymes to digest our food. This will allow us to make more metabolic enzymes as needed and make us more healthy.

The following are ways in which enzymes may help improve health: Purifies the blood. It is a known fact that fungal forms, parasites and bacteria are made up of protein. Viruses also have a protein coating as a shell that protect them. The enzyme protease breaks down proteins, and since the invaders of our blood system are proteins, it makes sense that ingesting protease could break down the protein invaders. Strengthens the immune system. enzymes have been found to deliver nutrients to our cells, carry away toxic debris, digest food, purify the blood, deliver hormones by feeding and fortifying the endocrine system and balance the cholesterol and triglycerides levels while doing no harm to the body. Break down fats. Research has shown that the enzyme lipase breaks down and digests fat. This takes stress off the gallbladder, liver and pancreas. This will enhance weight loss. Enzymes lower cholesterol and triglycerides levels. The body uses glucose called from the liver to feed and fortify the hypothalamus. Glucose is made from the protein stored in the liver. Most all plant foods contain protein enzymes. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the brain and along with glucose to feed the brain cells. When there is a dysfunction with this mechanism we become fatigued and are unable to think clearly. The hypothalamus directs the endocrine system and is responsible for water balance, body temperature, appetite and emotions. Enzymes cleanse the colon. Foods that are not digested properly are stored in the colon and digestive problems can begin. Some researchers estimate that nearly 70% of all illness starts in the colon. Undigested protein putrefies, carbohydrates ferment, and fats turn rancid in the colon. enzymes will break down foods properly and keep the colon free of these toxins. In fact, it is recommended by many researchers that it is healthy to have at least two bowel movements per day. Enzymes help sleep. Enzymes enhance the endocrine glands. The under nourished endocrine system may create a malfunction in the hormonal system which can upset the nervous system and sleep patterns. When we are unable to digest food or deliver the nutrients to keep the endocrine and nervous system in balance, we can not rebuild our lifestyle or energy level. Enzymes help us shed excess weight and fat. Many overweight people have a metabolic imbalance or will soon create one. Remember that the endocrine system regulates metabolism. Once we are able to fortify the endocrine system, have our bowels working regularly and can digest our food rather than turning it into fat, we have a successful combination. enzymes, especially lipase, will break down fats properly, which will help bum fat, thus promoting weight loss. Improves aging skin. An adequate supply of enzymes are absolutely essential for keeping the skin young-looking and healthy. enzymes fight the aging process by increasing blood supply to the skin, bringing with it life-giving nutrients and carrying away waste products that can make your skin look dull and wrinkled. Our circulation slows down as we get older. To counteract this we need to consume more enzymes. Enzymes maintain proper pH balance in the urine. Research has shown that a balance of the enzymes (lipase, protease, and amylase) eaten by individuals produce a proper urine pH of 6.3 to 6.6 in 24 hour urinalysis.

It depends. Please understand that plant enzymes are not “magic pills”. Rather, they supplement the work of your body’s organs and glands to completely digest the food you eat. Some people will notice a dramatic improvement in the functioning of their digestive tract and relief of long-term chronic conditions. Some people’s recognition of improvement will be more subtle and gradual. It all depends on the underlying condition of deficiency and how quickly the imbalance can be corrected.

Most everyone has an enzyme deficiency to one degree or another. As long as we eat enzyme deficient food’ which is simply defined as any food that has been processed or cooked, our bodies need an enzyme supplement to aid digestion, deliver the nutrients and eliminate the waste. The logical conclusion is that we will need to take enzymes supplements for as long as we live.

No, raw food provides only enough enzymes to digest that particular food. There are no extra enzymes in raw food to digest cooked or processed food. Due to the risk of bacterial contamination many foods should not be eaten raw, including meats, poultry, eggs and beans. Also, the fiber content normally found in raw food is very difficult to digest due to the body’s inability to produce cellulase.

Yes. Children usually eat the same enzyme deficient foods as their parents. It should be pointed out the importance of breast feeding in comparison to bottle feeding and acquiring enzymes. Children that are breast-fed acquire dozens of enzymes from their mother’s milk. Bottle-fed babies receive pasteurized milk that has been heated, which destroys the milk enzymes. This causes the baby’s own enzyme factory to begin using its enzyme potential from day one. Research indicates that this could be harmful for the child. Their study involved 20,061 babies that were divided into three groups (breast-fed, partially breast-fed, and bottle-fed). They studied the morbidity (sickness) rate for the first nine months of the infant’s life. They found that 37.4% of the breast-fed babies had sickness in comparison to 53.8% of the partially breast-fed and 63.6% of the bottle-fed. It is obvious that babies who were entirely breast-fed had far less sickness than babies who were only partially breast-fed or who were bottle-fed. Research is trying to tell us that we, which includes pregnant women and children, must eat raw foods that contain enzymes and/or take supplemental enzymes.

Yes. There is a connection between the strength of our immune system and our enzyme level. The more enzymes we have, the stronger our immune system will be and the healthier and stronger we will be. For example, leukocytes (white blood cells) have eight (8) different amylase enzymes which assists the white blood cell to engulf foreign substances and reduce them to a form that the body can eliminate, Research has shown that leukocytes increase after one has eaten a cooked meal. This indicates a definite compensatory measure on the part of the body to transport more enzymes to the digestive tract for digestion. There is no increase in leukocytes after one has consumed a raw food meal. Research has shown that enzymes are related to all diseases via the immune system, whether the disease is acute or chronic. If the pancreatic output of enzymes is hindered, the whole body is affected. Therefore, we must eat raw foods or take supplemental enzymes to enable our body’s immune system to fight against infections.

Yes, continue taking all medicine prescribed by your doctor and follow all of his instructions. Plant digestive enzymes, since they are completely from natural organic products and are classified as food by the FDA, will not adversely effect your medication program.

A probiotic is any supplement containing one or more species of beneficial bacteria intended for human consumption. Probiotics are good bacteria that promote healthy structure and function of your digestive tract and immune system. Most probiotic supplements use probiotic bacteria of human origin, typically from the Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus species. Other bacteria, such as those from the Bacillus and Staphylococci families, can be probiotic in nature as well. The soil-based probiotics (SBO) designation is for bacteria that is not of human origin but may confer probiotic benefits.

We recommend separating probiotics from antibiotics by at least 2 hours with more time preferred. For best results, consult with your healthcare provider to discuss your options.

Typically, the best way to take probiotics is with a glass of water (or drink of choice) because it takes longer for the bacteria to pass through the stomach safely when taken food.

Yes! In fact, Probiotic deficiency is more common than you think! Numerous lifestyle factors can influence the balance of beneficial bacteria in your intestinal tract including, but not limited to: stress, poor diet, alcohol, travel, and aging. To be honest, it's hard for a modern person not to have some kind of probiotic deficiency!

Probiotic bacteria attach to the soft lining (wall) of your intestinal tract and help reinforce the healthy structure and function of your GI system. Lactobacillus probiotic strains colonize best in the small intestine whereas Bifidobacterium probiotic strains primarily grow within the large intestine (colon). Beneficial bacteria repopulate your digestive tract with billions of living organisms that support healthy digestion, elimination, and encourage the optimal absorption of vitamins and minerals.

CFU (colony-forming units) is a unit of measurement used to estimate the number of viable bacterial colonies that form on a petri dish. Viability is an organism's ability to reproduce. CFU is calculated by counting the number of viable colonies that form on a petri dish. Colonies are only visible if they have reproduced significantly which implies that the sample is both viable and healthy. Once a plate has visible colonization, the CFU can be calculated for that sample.

Probiotic bacteria work by attaching and adhering to the soft lining of your intestinal tract. After adherence, they begin to eat the same food you eat, converting it into lactic acid. Lactic acid is the primary mechanism probiotic bacteria use to promote a healthy digestive system. As they grow and reproduce, probiotics keep your digestive tract healthy by promoting the growth of all beneficial bacteria which colonize the intestinal walls which further stimulates the growth of other beneficial microorganisms. Lactobacillus ("lacto") strains are most active in the small intestine while Bifidobacterium ("bifido") strains work best in the large intestine.

Probiotics are living microorganisms, typically bacteria native to the human digestive tract, which aid the body in a plethora of digestive processes and support the healthy structure and function of your gut. Commonly found probiotic bacteria include, but are not limited to species from the Lactobacilli, Bifidobacterium, and Bacillus genera. Prebiotics, on the other hand, consist of anything that stimulates the growth of probiotic bacteria. Vegetables are our primary source of prebiotic nutrition. Garlic, onions, and asparagus all contain high quantities of fiber, promoting the healthy growth and stimulation of probiotics.

For daily users, keep your probiotics refrigerated to guarantee potency through expiration. For infrequent users, keep probiotics frozen for long-term storage. All of our probiotic supplements are kept in freezers at our Minnesota warehouse to optimize freshness and maximize shelf life. We manufacture our supplements with overages to account for decreases in potency over time and we post third party lab tests that guarantee the potency, activity. and purity of our probiotic supplements online. You can view the independent analysis by entering your lot number at quality.master-supplements.com.

Probiotics are living microorganisms, typically bacteria native to the human digestive tract, which aid the body in a plethora of digestive processes and support the healthy structure and function of your gut. Commonly found probiotic bacteria include, but are not limited to species from the Lactobacilli, Bifidobacterium, and Bacillus genera. Prebiotics, on the other hand, consist of anything that stimulates the growth of probiotic bacteria. Vegetables are our primary source of prebiotic nutrition. Garlic, onions, and asparagus all contain high quantities of fiber, promoting the healthy growth and stimulation of probiotics.

There is no truly "best" time to take probiotics because each of us lives at the behest of countless environmental factors like diet, family, or additional supplementation. Our general recommendation is to take your probiotics before bed because, while you're asleep, digestive motility slows, enabling the probiotic bacteria additional time to colonize your digestive tract.

Typically, you want to keep probiotics separated from food by about 30 minutes because most probiotic supplements do not have a method to protect the bacteria through the acidic environment in the stomach. Instead, many probiotic manufacturers rely on excessive overage or select strains with mild acid tolerance. Yet, even in the best case scenario, 99% of these bacteria die in the stomach, long before reaching your small intestine. Because of this failure rate, many probiotic companies recommend taking their supplements 30 minutes before a meal with a glass of water. The stomach digests liquids in 15-20 minutes because they don't require a lot of acid or digestive effort which minimizes the bacteria's exposure to stomach acid. On the other hand, it takes closer to 60-90 minutes for your body to begin digesting food which is a lot more time for unprotected probiotics to spend in the stomach. More time spent in the stomach during the digestive process means fewer probiotic bacteria survive. Because the majority of probiotic activity occurs outside the stomach and in the intestinal tract, you can see why they make this recommendation. However, when using our probiotics, it does not matter whether or not you take them before, during, or after mealtime.
How do we do it? Our patented delivery system utilizes dehydrated sodium alginate to ensure that all the bacteria and enzymes pass through the stomach unharmed with or without food or drink. If you're unfamiliar with sodium alginate, it helps to think about seaweed -- not the sushi kind, but the type that gets washed up on beaches and wrapped around your ankles in the ocean. You know how it's slimy and mildly gross to touch? Sodium alginate is responsible for that slimy texture seaweed is known for! In an acidic environment, sodium alginate forms a gel matrix (a fancy word for that slimy feeling you're familiar with), creating a protective barrier between the probiotic bacteria in one of our capsules and the hydrochloric acid produced by your stomach. Once it's past the stomach and in the pH-neutral environment in your small intestine, the protective barrier dissolves, safely releasing the probiotic bacteria deep into your digestive tract where they can proliferate and promote the healthy function of your digestive system.

Stir Granular Theralac into soft foods like applesauce or yogurt or add 1/4 tsp. to your next smoothie! Our arrive alive technology prevents this probiotic powder from dissolving in water so we do not recommend adding it to liquids directly.

Your intestinal tract contains over 100 trillion microorganisms from over 1,000 different species. Probiotic bacteria, including those in our products, have been used in dosages of one trillion CFU/day or more without harmful effects. Human beings have been eating fermented foods and beverages since time immemorial but only recently has the connection between gut health and probiotic consumption been probed by researchers. Probiotic bacteria are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA; however, not all strains are created equal and some may be more potent than others which is why it's important to always read the labels on whatever supplement you're considering. Try to find a probiotic that uses strains that are both of human origin and have a history of evaluation by independent researchers. With the advent of cell phones, it has never been easier to run a quick Google search to see if the strains in your probiotic have been studied and to learn about the potential benefits they may provide. Lastly, we recommend consulting with a doctor before attempting to take an extra large dose of probiotics. Because everyone's microbiome has a unique bacterial footprint, even small doses of probiotics may lead to gas, bloating, and digestive unrest in certain individuals so it's important to consult with a healthcare provider to find a probiotic supplement that will work for you.

Prebiotics are foods or supplements that stimulate the growth of probiotic bacteria. Foods high in prebiotic nutrients include: garlic, jerusalem artichokes, leeks, asparagus, onions, oats, cocoa, and chicory. Our probiotics contain two prebiotics: Lactostim, a prebiotic comprised of lecithin and oleic acid that works by emulsifying fats and rehydrating the bacteria so they can start propagating faster in your digestive tract and sodium alginate which works double duty as both a protector and a food source for our probiotics.

Yes. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are prebiotic carbohydrates that stimulate probiotic growth. Some foods rich in FOS are artichokes, garlic, chicory, onions, and bananas. As a soluble fiber, FOS absorbs water to help your body maintain regularity. Additionally, some fructooligosaccharides are low-calorie sweeteners that can be used as a sugar alternative; however, they can cause gas in some individuals when taken as a supplement.