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“When other alternatives
failed to bring the improvements they needed, they latched onto
a new breakthrough in digestive enzyme technology. They steadfastly
remained hopeful while working against a resistance to change,
striving to use and refine this new-found alternative.”
[From Karen Defelice who wrote the book Enzymes and Autism and other Neurological
Conditions. She shares her families journey with enzyme therapy.
Check out the website at www.enzymestuff.com]
During the research on this topic,
we discovered that enzymes deal with a variety of issues in maintaining
optimum health. No matter who you are or what your age; enzymes
are an essential aspect to your diet. The environment and processed
foods that we take in all contribute to the desperate need for
our bodies to ingest enzymes.
The body depends on enzymes to help
purify the blood, break down sugars and fats, cleanse the colon,
maintain healthy cholesterol levels and balanced energy levels
along with proper body function and maintenance. With all the
areas that enzymes address, you can see the enormous benefits
to supplementation with enzymes.
Today, most people recognize that
illness is related to improper diet and inadequate nutrition.
Equally as import is supporting the body’s ability to absorb,
breakdown and assimilate the nutrients we do take in. Elimination
is also a critical part of the equation. Adequate elimination
is very often overlooked in our society. It is also where many
illnesses and weight problems get their start.
Fasting, juicing and diets rich in
raw foods and herbs will help restore the body to health but this
is not always an easy routine to introduce to a society saturated
with fast foods, processed and over cooked foods. Introducing
a healthier lifestyle takes time for many people and lifestyle
changes can be done in a balanced format. Understanding that the
cooked foods we eat no longer have the enzymes within them required
to break them down, supplementation of enzymes makes total sense.
Research has shown that disease requires an acidic pH level within
the body to survive. Keeping the body in a balanced, slightly
alkaline pH is an important component to prevent disease and to
slow down ageing. Enzymes react within the different ranges of
pH and temperature and are destroyed easily by conventional and
microwave cooking. All foods contain within them the very enzymes
required to efficiently break them down but heating the food,
even slightly in some cases, destroys the enzymes within the food.
The result is your body is called upon to break down the food.
This pulls from a variety of systems within the body including
the immune system. Eventually, the body can no longer continue
this breaking down and assimilating process, as the required nutrients
for the process becomes depleted. Food becomes trapped and putrefies
within the intestines and colon, leaching toxins into the body
and other organs as it waits for an already over taxed system
to eliminate this waste. The chemistry and biology that takes
place during this process of course has been simplified, but you
get the idea.
Enzymes are complex protein molecules
found in every cell of the body and when activated are capable
of specific functions such as the production of energy, the exchange
of oxygen and carbon dioxide when we breathe and transferring
energy to other molecules making it easier for them to be produced
and utilized by the body. This also creates a type of domino effect
causing the body to speed up its functions. The body contains
1300 enzymes within its design that are used to break down nutrients
for absorption, rebuild cells and cause the body to function disease
free.
By the age of 35, most healthy individuals
have depleted their digestive enzymes. Here are some of the health
issues that can benefit from the supplementation of enzymes.
Indigestion,
heartburn, gastric disorders, hypertension, nervousness, anxiety,
nervous disorders, stress, flatulence, nutritional absorption,
constipation, weight problems, fungal and yeast infestations,
acute inflammation, infections, hypoglycemia, eating disorders,
lack of energy, nutritional disorders, Immune system problems,
hormonal imbalance, heavy metal detoxification, gallbladder stress,
flu, colds, sinus congestion, parasites, cholesterol, hiatal hernias,
duodenal ulcers, hyperactivity, hepatitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
diverticulosis, Crohn's disease, colitis, breast lumps, gout,
back pain, canker sores, herpes, mucous congestion, arterial plaque,
fatty acid balance, obesity, diabetes, PMS, Epstein Barr Virus,
osteoporosis, aching joints, bone density loss, slow tissue repair,
brittle hair and hair loss, insomnia, headaches, migraines and
nightmares just to name a few.
Enzymes are beneficial in treating
various dysfunctions within our bodies. They are absorbed by the
body as intact molecules and are distributed to the body through
the bloodstream as required. Enzymes have a strong supportive
effect upon the entire immune system. White blood cells contain
digestive enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase, lipase, protease,
amylase and peptidase, which are part of the pancreatic juices,
and are just part of the many enzymes that increase immune function.
Enough cannot be said as to the far-reaching
implications and positive impact of enzymes on the body. Here
is a listing of some enzymes and their main function.
Protease assists in the digestion
of protein and increases the production of energy. Protease is
also known to act as a scavenger of oxidized and damaged proteins.
It is active in helping to eliminate blood toxins, enhancing the
immune system, it addresses hormonal imbalances, speeds up wound
and tissue repair, as well as helping to chelate heavy metals
and remove their toxins.
Protease also breaks down protein
to peptides and amino acids and Acid Stable Protease breaks
down Acidic proteins. Papain and Bromelain also
breaks down proteins. Bromelain, found in pineapple, is
used to decrease inflammation in arthritis, rheumatism and muscular-skeletal
injury. Research has proven Bromelain to be more effective than
the commonly prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
and contains no toxic side effects. Using fresh pineapple in small
amounts or juicing pineapple, diluting it with a bit of filtered
water is best. Canned or bottled juices that have been heated
during the process no longer contain the enzymes.
Lipase breaks down fats and
oils. Useful in weight control, maintaining and enhancing cardiovascular
health, and helping maintain proper gall bladder function. Incomplete
digestion of fats or triglycerides and other lipids (fats) allows
fat to coat food particles and therefore interferes with the hydrolysis
of other food components such as protein and carbohydrates. Normal
digestion of dietary fat is accomplished by lipases with the assistance
of bile produced by the liver and normally supplied from the gallbladder.
Bile’s function is to bring ingested fats into emulsion in order
to facilitate the work of the lipases. Incomplete digestion of
fats can result in diarrhea or essential fatty acid deficiency.
Adequate absorption of essential fatty acids is necessary to maintain
membrane structure in cells throughout the body and to maintain
healthy skin.
Amylase breaks down carbohydrates,
starches, and sugars that are prevalent in potatoes, fruits, vegetables
and snack foods. Amyloglucosidase (Glucoamylase) also breaks
down starch and glucan bonds going one step beyond Amylase. Supplementation
with amylase allows the digestion of carbohydrates during their
transit through the gastrointestinal tract.
Lactase breaks down lactose
that is found in milk sugars and aids in the digestion of lactose
from milk and diary products. This is also useful for individuals
suffering from lactose intolerance.
Pectinase breaks down pectin
found in fruits and allows these vital nutrients to be utilized
by our body.
Invertase (Sucrase) is a catalyst
for the inversion of sucrose or table sugar into glucose and fructose
therefore assisting in the digestion of monosacharides (sugar).
Malt Diastase digests maltose,
malt and grain sugars and breaks down complex and simple sugars.
Maltase helps digest maltose
resulting from the amylase hydrolysis of starch.
Alpha Galactosidase breaks
down raffinose, stachyose and melibiose and is the active ingredient
found in Beano. Alpha Galactosidase (Beano) helps to prevent gas,
bloating and pressure caused by many healthful foods like broccoli,
cabbage, carrots, onions, peppers, corn, cauliflower, brussel
sprouts, legumes and peas.
Cellulase helps to digest cellulose
in the diet and increases the availability of anthocyanidins,
which are powerful antioxidants from grapes and other berries.
Cellulase breaks down this fiber so the nutrients from fruits
and vegetables can be easily absorbed.
Hemicellulase is a group of
enzymes that hydrolyzes the complex polysaccharides known as hemicelluloses.
It also increases protein absorption from various grains.
Lactobacillus Acidophilus/Bifobacterium
bifidum - Probiotics are often called "friendly flora
or friendly bacteria" assisting the lower digestive
tract to help maintain the proper distribution of good bacteria.
It also helps with maintaining proper pH balance by encouraging
the formation of lactic acid. Lactic acid lowers the pH of the
colon preventing the growth of harmful bacteria.
Phytase breaks down phosphate
and digests phytate. Phytate is a mineral-binding agent that reduces
the bio- availability of certain minerals such as zinc, iron,
and calcium.
Researchers have proven that processing
or cooking foods kill virtually all of the enzymes contained within
that food. These food enzymes are essential in the first step
of proper digestion, absorption and the usage of vital nutrients
contained in the foods we eat. Supplementation is so essential
to the vitality and functioning of our bodies.
There are also a wide variety of herbs
that assist with the functioning of enzymes and the supporting
of various systems within the body. There is a large volume of
information on the web regarding the positive effects of enzyme
supplementation for maintaining vitality, as well as, their use
in treating severe illness including cancer. There are also many
books on the topic of enzymes and their use.
A very good resource book for information
on enzymes and natural sources for supplementation is Prescription
for Nutritional Healing by James and Phyllis Balch.
We hope this article will peak your
curiosity and help you to see the benefits of this mighty component
towards your own health, vitality and longevity.
The following are some website links offering information on
enzymes and herbs for health.
http://www.anti-aginghealthsolutions.com
http://www.enzymeuniversity.com
http://www.healthynewage.com/symptoms.html
http://www.dr-gonzalez.com/history_of_treatment_txt.htm
http://altmedicine.about.com
Also do check out http://www.enzymestuff.com - This site shares a variety of information and
the story of a family’s journey using enzymes to treat Autism.
To order Prescription for Nutritional Healing by
James and Phyllis Balch from amazon.com, click on the link below.

Prescription for Nutritional Healing: A Practical A-Z Reference
to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs, and Food
Supplements (Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd Ed)
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