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Digestive enzymes assist and speed up the chemical processes associated with digestion. In most cases, our bodies naturally produce enzymes that are capable of digesting food. However, individuals with certain health conditions and disorders may require the use of supplements to supply enzymes that aid digestion. Although many people with pancreatic disorders often require the use of prescription pancrelipase, the benefits of digestive enzymes in healthy individuals remains uncertain.

Digestive Enzymes

The following digestive enzymes are classified by the type of biochemical molecules on which they exert their effects:

• Lipase-(Fats, Lipids)
• Protease-(Protein)
• Amylase-(Sugars, Carbohydrates)

Within each group, there are many subtypes of enzymes that are naturally produced by our body. In addition, digestive enzyme may also be contained in the foods that we eat. Some of the most common digestive enzymes found in supplements are derived from fruit sources.

Bromelain Supplements

Bromelain is a protease enzyme that is harvested from the stem of pineapples. Besides assisting in the digestion of proteins, it may also stimulate the muscles of the intestinal walls. Bromelain is often included a major ingredient in many digestive enzyme supplements. Since it is derived from pineapples, it may trigger an allergic reaction in people with pineapple allergies.

Papain Supplements

Papain is also a common ingredient included in digestive enzyme supplements. In contrast to bromelain, papain is a protease enzyme that is harvested from papaya fruit. Papain is also used to aid in the digestion of proteins. However, it can trigger an allergic reaction in person with allergies to papaya.

Digestive Enzyme Benefits

Although evidence to support the benefits of digestive enzyme supplements in healthy individuals is inconclusive, certain dietary enzymes have shown to be beneficial in people with specific health conditions. Lactase is an amylase that helps to break down lactose, a carbohydrate commonly found in dairy products. It can be of great benefit for individuals who suffer from lactose intolerance. Also, patients who suffer from a disorder of the pancreas are often prescribed pancrelipase to aid in the digestion of meals.

Digestive Enzyme Side Effects

An allergic reaction can occur in those who are sensitive to enzymes derived from certain plants or fruits. An allergic reaction may include the appearance of an itchy rash. More severe cases that include swelling of the mouth and throat, or difficulty breathing requires immediate medical attention. Since digestive enzymes exert their effect in the stomach and intestines, patients may experience symptoms of upset stomach or diarrhea. In addition, patients may experience nausea and vomiting.

The use of digestive enzymes may cause a fibrosing colonopathy. This occurs when enzymes cause damage and irritation to the inner linings of the intestinal tract. Although the mechanisms causing this adverse effect are unclear, fibrosing colonopathy is a serious medical condition. In theory, digestive enzymes can interfere with the healing of intestinal ulcers or perforations. Since digestive enzymes can interfere with medications and exacerbate certain health conditions, patients should always contact a physician before using digestive enzyme supplements.

Disclaimer:The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.

At 2600 meters above sea level, running the 21km of Bogotá’s half marathon is not a feat for those of faint heart or sea level lungs. An endeavour of this magnitude takes time, dedication and above all, acclimatisation. For those not up to competing in the 21km event there is also an alternative Bogota 10km on the same day that takes in a different route bus ends in the same place.

One glance over the top ten finishers will tell you what you already know; the list is smattered with names from traditional distance running powerhouses and high altitude experts from Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia.

The Favourites

This year’s favourite in the Men’s category to take home the 21,000,000 Colombian Pesos (US$10,800) of prize money and the Renault Logan is the Kenyan, Paul “the Gentleman” Tergat.

Tergat is the current Marathon World Record holder finishing the prestigious Berlin event in a swift 2:04:55. In addition to this he has two Olympic silver medals for the 10,000m  and in 2005 won the New York Marathon.

In the Women’s event the field looks to be more open but two serious challengers are Argentina’s Claudia Camargo and Nataliya Berkut from the Ukraine.

The Event in last year

Men’s Winner – Fabiano Joseph – Tanzania – 01:02:34

Women’s Winner – Catherine Ndereba – Kenya – 01:12:56

A total of 58,000 people participated in both the 21km and 10km courses. This year the organisers are confident that this number will have significantly increased as the popularity of the event continues to grow in this its eighth edition.

What Makes Bogota so Special?

Like most international sporting events a city’s marathon or half marathon will take in the major sites of that location. Bogota is no different. Both the half marathon and the 10km will start in the opulent surroundings of the Plaza de Bolivar, the seat of Colombian power, overshadowed by the Law Courts, the Cathedral and the Presidential Palace in the Candelaria district with Monserrate towering above, click over here.

Continuing from there down Carrera 7 will take the runners past the world renowned Gold Museum, the National Museum, past the Javeriana University and through the Chapinero district.

The route then moves west before returning back into the wealthy zones of Northern Bogota and towards the elite Country Club. The big turn for the homecoming to the finish line occurs around Pasadena and then through Salitre before the final stretch into the verdant refuge of the expansive Parque Simon Bolivar.

Here at the finish line like in next year there will be a jamboree and celebrations for the runners and well wishers with Colombian artists putting on a concert with all the dancing that can only be conjured in a Latin country.

One only hopes that the weather holds and the runners are presented with a clear and crisp Bogota day.

In the current situation of economic crisis, unemployment is raging like fire. It is the main issue haunting many individuals as they have either faced a layoff or on the verge of being handed over the pink slip. It is in this scenario that an individual gets stressed up and seems to have fallen into a tavern and not know how to escape.

The first and foremost thing that an individual should understand is that he should not panic. It is not the case of anyone individual losing their livelihood but of thousands and millions around the world. At the same time one must understand that even during this period of recession still many of them are employed and thriving in their businesses.

So what is the reason that one is employed and another is unemployed? The difference is employability skills. Those who are still employed have a higher degree of employability than those who are not. And how does an individual find out what he lacks in his own set of employability skills. It is at this juncture, the SWOT analysis comes to play.

SWOT analysis stands for analysis of an individual’s strength, weakness, opportunity and threats. A person needs to do his own SWOT analysis and focus it to get better results with more self improvement you can try this out with an ultimate goal to get out of the recession.

The first step in SWOT analysis is strength. An individual should write down in a sheet of paper what are his strengths. Rather what are his skills both technical as well as non-technical that would make him more employable? He needs to then analyze how many of them he is currently using and must devise a strategy for those skills that he is not using currently, however must put into use as soon as possible.

The next step in SWOT analysis is the weakness. After carefully writing down all his weaknesses, an individual must put in efforts to find out how he can minimize his weaknesses and make all those into his strength areas.
Next, he should think about his opportunities during his SWOT analysis and find out what are the current openings or opportunities for him to improve, to get better position and be safeguarded against recession.
Finally, SWOT analysis will reveal the individual’s threats and an individual who really has an instinct to improve and get out of recession will find them and be cautious enough to avoid them or should plan accordingly to tackle them and get out of harm’s way.

Thus, SWOT analysis is a method which every individual must implement for self-improvement and to get out of recession.

The best and the fast. When it comes to muscle growth one of those can not happen. My teenage son has started working out with the weights and wants my help. Sure, would love to. He has been training for about a month and got his first pump in his biceps. He thought it was great, like most of us. “I’m getting bigger now” he said to me. I had to let him know that was just a pump and it would go away soon. But him and his friends chase that pump, everyday new muscle group. They think that the more they pump the bigger the will get. Wrong. That pump is a lot like a lot of problems I see in the gym today. Quick. I need muscles fast. New cable machine and everyone is on it. Waiting there turn. New supplement came in and everyone is trying to get there hands on it. New bodybuilder in town and everyone is trying his routine. Latest and greatest. Funny how it never seems to stay around. I remeber pre-exhaution with Arthur Jones and the Joe Wieder principles. All that is gone now. What is left is what works and that is the best for muscle growth.

So what is left? The basics. How boring. Yeah, I know, but it works. Always has and always will. The big basic multi joint exercises. Low reps. high reps. The bench press and the deadlift. The power clean and the squat. Full reps. No half ass stuff. That is the best muscle growth, when you stop training and you have dieted down. What stayed? Protein powders, they stayed, whey and all. The multi vitiamns stayed. The pro-hormones are gone( but not because they did not work, thanks big brother). Gaint sets are gone.

Fast never works, it just will not stay long enough to prove itself. But the best always stays around. Regroup with the basics. Three days a week, full body workouts. Protein powder shakes with milk , that stayed. Twice a day routines left, who has time for that. Give me one heavy set of deadlifts for max reps, to the point of passing out that will build real muscle and the real muscle is what stays. That is the best.