You probably are hearing a lot of talk about enzymes. Usually the information is shared by medical professionals with very thorough knowledge and advanced vocabularies. So, I’d like to help clarify some of the confusion in this article by pointing out—in simple terms—some things you need to know. Let’s start with this… Enzymes are a very important part of life. In fact, enzymes are the spark of life! Today, I want to share with you some information about food enzymes.
You Can’t Live Without Enzymes!
Enzymes are the mechanics that make your body function. Although the action of enzymes cannot be seen, they are the driving force behind virtually every biochemical process that occurs in the body. There are hundreds of thousands of enzymes active in every organ, tissue, and fluid; and each has its own function. Enzymes activate our muscles, stimulate our nerves, and make our hearts beat, keep us breathing, and even help us think.
There Are Three Distinct Types Of Enzymes
Food enzymes which are contained in all raw food.
Metabolic enzymes which run other biochemical processes.
Digestive enzymes which are secreted by the body to digest food.
What Food Enzymes Do
Plant enzymes bring the plant to maturity or ripeness. Enzymes are released by either chewing or cutting the plant. All enzymes require the following in order to work:
- Presence of water
- Proper temperature
- The correct pH range (Acid vs. Alkaline)
- Something to digest
There Are Four Types Of Food Enzymes
Food enzymes can digest protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fiber.
Proteases break down protein (meats, beans, etc.)
Amylases break down carbohydrates (potatoes, pasta, cookies, etc.)
Lipases break down fats (olives, avocadoes, etc)
Cellulases break down fiber (celery, carrots, etc)
Food enzymes work in a very wide pH range and can be used to “pre-digest” food in the stomach. Pre-digestion enables food enzymes to assist the body’s digestive response and relieve digestive symptoms.
Three Amalyses Are Essential For The Digestion Of Carbohydrates
Lactase breaks down lactose (milk)
Sucrase breaks down sucrose (refined sugar)
Maltase breaks down maltose (malt sugar)
Nutritionally Balanced Diet And Enzymes
If you eat food—no matter how it’s prepared from raw to microwave—you need enzymes! When food enzymes are missing, the body is forced to produce all the enzymes necessary for digestion. This stresses our organs to supply the enzymes needed to complete the digestive process. This can lead to indigestion and a wide variety of avoidable conditions.
Are You Enzyme Deficient?
In the United States alone, more than $80 billion is spent each year to relieve heartburn, excess acid, bloating, and other symptoms of indigestion. You might be enzyme deficient if you regularly experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Bowel irregularity
- Abdominal gas
- Headaches
These are just a few of the symptoms known to occur from consuming enzyme deficient foods. ALL of these symptoms can be attributed to POOR DIGESTION. If permitted to progress, chronic degenerative diseases may become evident in later years. The good news is that you don’t have to live with these conditions.
How to Avoid Enzyme Deficiency
We live in an age of fast foods and processed food. This may be convenient, but most likely not nutritious. To explain why we’re often tired after eating this food, understand they contain little to no plant enzymes. This means our body must produce all of the enzymes needed to digest that “fast meal.” To balance that, taking plant enzymes with every meal will lessens the stress on your digestive system and digestive organs. Of course, it’s wiser to skip the fast food and processed food and choose more healthy options.
What Are Your Options
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned earlier, you can schedule a palpatory exam and a 24-hour urinalysis. This will help your medical practitioner determine how well you are digesting food nutrients. This procedure will indicate the enzyme supplements you need to bring your body back into balance. Additionally, there will be recommended changes to your diet and lifestyle to reduce the likelihood of redeveloping an enzyme deficiency.
Keep in mind, the best food choices are those that don’t require you to read labels!
