What’s in this Article:
- Enzymes Explaining these internal workers
- Where they come from
- Chew!Chew! Chew
- The role-of-white-blood-cells and enzyme population density
- The-Role-of-Enzymes
- Finding Enzymes
ENZYME USE:
What are Enzymes?
Enzymes are workers
There are over 5000 enzymes or workers in your body. Each enzymes/worker has a specific task. Digestive enzymes are little workers who split apart food molecules for absorption and utilization for your good health. The digestive enzyme, for example, Protease splits protein molecules for digestion and absorption, Lipase splits lipid or fat molecules. Enzymes are integral.
Enzymes are involved in tissue repair, they clean, they are part of the Immune system Army. They are previous to our good health.
Enzymes are at the very core of life. No metabolic function can occur without enzymes being present to perform that function.
Enzymes are specialized workers. Enzymes are also described as catalysts. A catalyst is a substance that initiates a chemical reaction. Digestive enzymes, the focus of this article, are tiny workers that split or break nutrient molecules for the specific purpose of absorption and utilization by organs in the body. Enzymes are present in every cell in the body.
Enzymes, like all health giving components in our body, work best in a clean environment, at the proper pH balance.
The following analogy might best describe how enzymes work:
Imagine a construction zone, there is dry wall, hammer and nails but no workers. Nothing gets done until the workers show up. Same thing with digestion. All live foods, foods that have not been alerted by heat (108 degree heat) contain little workers that, once you have thoroughly chewed and swallowed your food, get to work taking the rest of the nutrients apart and to optimize digestion. Enzymes are those workers that break apart food molecules to be absorbed through the intestinal wall to the blood stream to the liver. Each nutrient has its own little worker; fats or lipids are disassembled by the enzyme Lipase. Protiens are disassembled by the enzyme or worker, Protease. You see the connection.
There are over 5000 different enzyme workers found in the body, they fall under three basic categories.
- Metabolic enzymes that run the body
- Food enzymes found in raw food
- Digestive enzymes that digest food.
For our purposes we are going to examine digestive and food enzymes.
Where they do enzymes come from?
Enzymes are found in fresh, live food. Fresh vegetables and fresh fruits are rich with digestive enzymes. Cooking any food over 108 degrees destroys these critical little workers.
Enzymes are also present in your saliva. Therefore, when you chew, chew chew, your food, you are mixing digestive enzymes with your food and beginning the digestive process.
Saliva is abundant with enzymes like amylase, to breakdown carbohydrates and with lipase, to break down fats or lipids.
The fact we cook a lot of our food, which means that you can also benefit from supplemental enzymes, which I am very enthusiastic about.
Supplemental Enzymes purchased from high quality and trusted Nutraceutical companies, are very beneficial:
- Plant Enzymes
- Full Spectrum Enzymes
- Pancreatic Enzymes
Physiologically speaking, where do enzymes also derive from:
Enzymes are also produced by the pancreas, one of our other main digestive organs. Enzymes are also present all along the digestive system. There are three main enzymes that break down the three main food groups.
- Amylase – to breakdown carbohydrates
- Lipase – to breakdown fats or lipids
- Protease – to breakdown protein
Good enzyme contact and the release of nutrients for absorption can only be accomplished by breaking down the cell walls of food.
This means:
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Chew! … Chewing your food efficiently is necessary to break down cell walls where nutrients are protected. Chewing releases those nutrients and enhances the absorption of those nutrients, easing the digestive process.
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Remember this: swallowing chunks of food sets up three very disruption and oft time, destructive digestive situations:
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Loss of nutrient value is one. Your teeth are in your mouth, not in your stomach
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Susceptibility to food sensitives is a second. ‘Food clumps’ excite your immune system into action. ‘Food clumps’ are recognized as foreign, hostile bodies. White blood cells, whose job is not to spend time on your poor eating habits, reacts, largely by creating a defensive histamine reactions, which in turn creates inflammation and in turn, injuries your digestive tract and in turn, as white blood cells are integral to other immune functions, you deplete that army as well.
- You create an environment where GERD or Acid Reflux, a painful, destructive condition, is ripe for the progression of.
YOU SHOULD KNOW:
90% of all food sensitivities are capable of being eliminated with proper chewing. Breaking down food components neutralizes the allergens. (pg. 93 – Allergies, Disease in Disguise )
Chewing your food well, mixed with enzymes begins the digestive process, allows for more efficient digestion through the stomach and intestinal tract.
Studies show a diet low in food enzymes or poorly macerated food, stresses the pancreas.
A diet deplete of either supplemental or food enzymes (fruits and vegetables) also burdens the pancreas. Chronic stress on the pancreas can cause it to become enlarged. Enlargement is typical of any organ stressed beyond normal function.
A diet deplete of fresh foods or supplemental enzymes also stresses the immune system.
The role-of-white-blood-cells vs Natural Enzyme density
White blood cells or leukocytes play an integral role in our immune system. They engulf and destroy invading organisms, bacteria and viruses.
White blood cells are rich with enzymes. When food enzymes are not present white blood cells are called to duty, to assist with the digestion of food. Digestion is NOT the primary role of white blood cells, immunity is.
Here is why you do not want your Immune Army called to digest your food:
White Blood cells first job are Soldiers of your Immunity. Does it make sense to deplete that Army? When you do, you:
- Renders the body vulnerable to incoming foreign bacteria because your white blood cells/leukocytes are busy digesting food.
- Your leukocytes are then fortified with fewer enzymes and therefore fewer defenses to destroy bacteria
Fewer Enzymes can:
- Over stimulate your pancreas. disrupts the sensitive acid/alkaline balance of the body.
- When food particles are emptied from the stomach into the small intestinal tract they are very acidic. One role of your pancreas is to neutralizes the acidic contents to a more alkaline state with bicarbonate.
- An over stressed pancreas can not effectively neutralize stomach acids, digestion is inefficient and the body is in danger of becoming acidity.
- Harmful bacteria love an acid pH environment where they bask and proliferate.
- Finally, insulin production is compromised. Insulin is critical to the efficient transport of glucose (cell food) across the cell wall. Diabetes, ketosis, and cell starvation can be implicated.
These very unpleasant side effects of diminished food enzymes and insufficient ‘chewing of your food’, which also include other unpleasant reactions like:
Headaches, fatigue, moodiness, constipation, inflammation in joints. All can be greatly minimized.
Be also, prudent in your food choices.
Are you guilty of prepackaged, reconstituted, convenience “foods”? At no other time in history has food ended up on tables looking like it does today.
Shop the outer aisles of your Grocery store, where you do find fresh foods
Shop the middle aisles of your Grocery store, for condiments that add to the flavours and nutrients of your food, such as delicious deli mustards, sauerkrauts, pickles, spices, canned tomatoes, nuts and seeds (that should go directly to your freezer when you get them home, to preserve the precious oils)
Eat simple. Start with your roster of vegetables first, then the protein, which ought to be largely poultry and seafood based.
ALWAYS wash your vegetables before cooking – I use a couple of drops of liquid soap in a large basin where I then wash the cauliflower, broccoli, lettuces, tomatoes, etc and in a second basin with a colander, the vegetables are given a thorough rinsing and into a bag with some paper toweling to absorb any extra water. And into the fridge.
Lightly steam your vegetables and/or use only a small amount of water in the bottom of a pan to steam them. Add half a tablespoon of butter to the water, after you have removed the vegetables and use that over your vegetables with a dash of salt and pepper. YUMMY!
Do use Supplemental enzymes. Capsules are far superior to caplets. Online companies such as Piping Rock at www.piping rock.com offer an amazing variety of quality Nutraceutical companies, including their own brand. They also offer amazing pricing, not often enjoyed these days. I very much, recommend shopping at Piping Rock for all your Nutraceuticals.
Take your enzymes at the very beginning of your meal. If you forget, which will happen, take them regardless. Ideally you want enzymes present when you begin to eat but ideally you want enzymes any other time.
The Role of Enzymes and weight control:
- Enzymes are also intimately involved in weight loss. Obesity is truly at epidemic proportions in our Society. Consuming for convenience is not what Nature has taught us.
- Enzymes improve digestion, reduce inflammation, relieve that uncomfortable full feeling.
Undigested foods in a hot internal environment, is not health promoting. Undigested food creates an environment where water retention, inflammation, toxicity, sluggish metabolic rate, gas and bloating are the more likely end results.
Feeling yucky, carrying excess water retention, aka edema, does not promote natural energy, nor build muscle or burn fat and inspire you to get outside and move in our beautiful outdoors where the air is fresh and the legs ought to move.
Enzymes will greatly assist you while you start your new adventure into the world of how Nature intended for you to truly eat.
Enzymes will greatly assist while you add to the density of the nutritious foods you eat and while you make the necessary adjustments to chew – chew – chew your food.
You can also take enzymes on an empty stomach which will greatly assist, as enzymes are those workers, that when they are present in excess, do clean up and are very energizing.
- Enzymes are an important factor to our good mental health. As mentioned, enzymes are made of amino acids. These amino acids are precursors to neurotransmitters. Tryptophan and tyrosine are precursors to serotonin. Serotonin, in brain, is a feel good chemical. Most popular pharmaceutical anti-depressants are known as serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. The result is to, hopefully keep serotonin circulating at the synapses longer.
- Enzymes also help the body scavenge toxins and allergens, leading to clearer thought processes, and diminished brain fog.
- Enzymes play an active role in the anti-inflammatory process. Inflammation, resulting from either injury or infection, is painful.
- Whether it’s arthritis, or any ‘itis’, supplemental enzymes can be effective.
Enzymes are present in the processes of inflammation reaction, repair and renovation. Proteolytic or protease enzymes help eliminate or clean up inflammatory debris and promote renovation or healing. Supplemental enzymes accelerate that process. They also, contain the affected area and keep it from spreading. They also play an active role in breaking up blood clots.
Proteolytic enzymes perform key functions in inflammation and repair.
- Enzymes reduce swelling and pain.
- They can inhibit and assist in dissolving blood clots. They improve blood supply and increase nutrient supply to promote healing and they improve blood circulation.
- Proteolytic enzymes along with zinc, bioflavonoids and vitamin C can improve healing
Dr. John Beard:
Enzyme therapy has had a long standing role to play in cancer therapy. Dr. John Beard, a Scottish embryologist, studied enzymes and incorporated them in an active role against tumor growth. He used the pancreatic juice of young animals and injected it into the veins or gluteal muscles of his cancer patients. He also injected it directly into the tumor where possible. His studies showed the tumor growth was inhibited and the patients enjoyed a longer survival time.
In the 1950’s, Dr. Wolf and his colleague Helen Benitez treated cancer patients with enzyme therapy and noted they were effective in degrading cancer cells. Cancer cells are deceptive in their attempts to out wit the immune system. They grow a fibrin coating to hide their identity. This allows them to grow out of control with out detention until they travel through the blood stream and lymphatic system. Certain enzymes can strip the fibrin coating exposing the antigens and leaving them susceptible to be devoured by macrophages of the immune system.
Keep your enzyme count high
Stay out the prepackaged, processed middle aisles of the grocery store.
- Enzymes can help against red blood cell stickiness, and clotting. They improve blood flow equilibrium.
- Enzymes can be taken without fear of side effects or negative effects on the immune system.
- Enzymes decrease healing time, decrease scarring, improved immunity, are imperative for digestion.
We are the sum total of what we absorb in our nutrients. Enzymes are an integral part of any anti-aging protocol.
Generously consume your enzymes
Super Digestive Enzymes
Directions for Use:
If you are under the age of 25 years, you probably already produce ample pancreatic enzymes. If you eat very late at night, especially if you have eaten a heavy protein or pizza or fries, hamburger, you get the picture, you will benefit from taking one super digestive enzyme before bed.
Between the ages of 25- 40 years: If you have a history of chronic indigestion, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, bad eating habits, here are a couple of things to consider:
- While you are healing your digestive system, take 1 – 2 super digestive enzyme before each meal for the next three months. This will facilitate the healing process.
- Chew your food more efficiently.
- Continue to use a super digestive enzyme and plant enzymes.
40 and over: You ought to benefit from regular use of a Pancreatic enzyme, such as the Super digestive and plant enzymes. You can take up to 2 of each before each meal, or with each meal or after you have eaten, if you have forgotten to take them.
Broad Spectrum Plant Enzymes:
This is a broad spectrum plant enzymes which is generally not as strong as a Pancreatic enzymes but does not require to be.
Direction for Use:
These enzymes can be used more liberally.
In fact your beautiful older pets can benefit from the additional of enzymes. Their digestive system has the same enzymes profile as ours. If you don’t want to sprinkle on your pet’s food, then stick the enzymes in food, for example, potatoes. Pets love vegetables so add some mashed potatoes to your pet’s food and in there, stick a couple of enzymes. Cats, sprinkle and mix in their high quality wet food.
When you think about it, how much enzyme activity is present in your pet food?
If your animal was living in the wild and feeding, the food would be fresh and live with enzymes.
Thankfully, our pets are safe and sound in the loving comfort of our homes. But, there food is devoid of enzymes and consequentially they, like us, can suffer depleted enzyme sources as a result.
- Bromelain
Directions for Use:
Bromelain is derived from the delicious pineapple. Bromelain is a protein enzymes. Protein enzymes are both designed to assist in the digestion of proteins and acts as anti-inflammatory agent when taken on an empty stomach. So Bromelain or Papain, derived from the Papaya, are a protein enzyme. They are not as strong as pancreatic enzymes though.
Take two before meals that have proteins present, especially meats.
If you have problems with inflammation anywhere in the body, internally and externally, take two to four between meals on an empty stomach and before bed
- Vegetarian Pancreatin
Directions for Use:
These are safe for use anytime you are experiencing any amount of gastric distress as well as for good digestion.
- Lactase Enzymes found in Super Digestive Enzymes
Directions for Use:
Lactase enhances digestion of milk protein lactose. If you are lactose intolerate, you truly do need to adjust your diet to ensure you are minimally exposed to lactase. Having said that, you can use lactase enzymes when you are not sure or as a precaution.
Lactose intolerance can be unbearable for individuals who suffer.
Generally, lactose intolerant individuals can consume products like yogurt, kefir, that contain less than 70 grams of lactose. Organic yogurts would be trusted than commercial. Quality counts.
Piping Rock.com has quality Probiotics that also assist greatly with any Irritable Bowel or digestive issues. If you are lactose intolerant, look for the non dairy probiotics.
Pancreatic enzymes and low HCI levels;
The pH of your stomach is important for:
- The proper absorption of B12
- To stimulate pepsinogen to pepsiu and begin the digestion of proteins in the stomach.
- To kill viruses and bacteria that have made their way to digestive system.
To name just a few. And this is where Pancreatic enzymes greatly assist.
They are better taken with food.
Enzymes truly are the gift that keeps on giving.
They are a wonderful source of energy for healthy digestion
More Reading on Enzymes – their Role and Importance
- The Nutrition Desk Reference – Robert Garrison Jr. M.A. R.Ph.
- The Enzyme Cure – Lita Lee Ph.D. Lisa Tumer Burton Goldberg
- Enzymes Nature’s Energizer – Anthony Cichoke D.C.
- Allergies Disease in Disguise – Carolee Bateson Koch D.C. N.D.
- Enzymes The Key to Health – Howard F. Loomis, Jr, D.C.F.I.A.C.A.
- Eating alive Prevention Thru Good Digestion – Dr. John Matsen N.D.
- The Power of Super Foods – Sam Graci
- Human Physiology – Schauf Moffett, Moffett
- Prescription for Natural Healing – James F Balch M.D., Phyllis A Balch CNC
