What is Enzyme Nutrition Therapy?

Enzyme Nutrition Therapy is a cutting-edge science of using nutrition to restore, maintain, and promote health. It works by allowing the body to absorb and utilize the essential nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes) and eliminate waste materials at an optimal level. Today, our supermarkets are filled with processed foods that are high in calories and low in nutrients. Unfortunately, many vital nutrients have been lost in those artificial foods. Enzymes especially are deliberately removed or destroyed to extend the shelf life of the merchandise. Enzymes have an important role in digestion. Without them, our digestive organs are forced to do extra work, and eventually they will become exhausted. Many people have severely compromised digestive systems. With a compromised digestive system, it is extremely difficult to maintain health.

Some of the main symptoms associated with digestive dysfunction are: stiff and sore joints, headache, heartburn, gas pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, insomnia, and depression. If you have suffered from one or more of these symptoms on a consistent basis, enzyme nutrition may be just what you need. I am trained to recognize when enzyme nutrition may be needed, and will perform a special examination and create an individualized treatment plan for each patient.

What to Expect and Frequently Asked Questions:

• Is a Digestive Evaluation performed at my initial chiropractic visit? A digestive/nutritional evaluation is a separate exam, and is not performed on the same day as a typical chiropractic evaluation.

• How should I prepare for my Digestive Evaluation? Before your digestive evaluation, it is important to completely fill out the paperwork given to you. Included in this paperwork is a food diary and a set of questions that will help Dr. McClain treat your condition to the best of her ability. On the day before the examination, she will instruct you to fast for 12 hours. During this fast, it is okay to drink water but please stay away from all other liquids and foods.

• What should I expect at my initial visit? On the day of the digestive examination, Dr. McClain will perform a personal interview, go over all of the paperwork that was filled out, and discuss your current complaint(s) and treatment goals. Following this, a non-invasive examination will be performed. This examination involves a structural exam (checking posture and performing orthopedic tests to determine if any misalignments in the spine are present), and palpation of certain muscular stress points on the body linked to digestive dysfunction. These stress points may be tender indicating a digestive disturbance is present. After palpating the various stress points, you will drink a supplement that has a balanced source of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. The exam will then be performed again and the stress points re-palpated. Often times stress points will either diminish or worsen, giving the doctor clues about the underlying issue. This evaluation takes between 60 and 90 minutes to complete.

• What happens after my initial evaluation? After the examination, the doctor will schedule a follow-up visit to discuss the findings, treatment plan, and if any other special tests are needed. The treatment plan usually consists of supplementation with plant enzymes and regular chiropractic adjustments.

• How much does this type of treatment cost? Insurance does not cover the digestive/nutritional examination. The cost is $60 for the examination and $15 for the follow-up visit.