Home Guests Enzymes: Nature’s Life Force

Enzymes: Nature’s Life Force

Written by Dr. John Heinerman

Enzymes are fundamental to all life. They are substances that make life possible - the true "life-force" of every living thing. Without enzymes, biological activity would not occur, because they are needed for every chemical reaction in the body. Enzymes are catalysts, made of either whole or partial protein molecules. They are able to cause or accelerate chemical changes in living organisms, without being changed themselves. Function of Enzymes Enzymes have certain designated functions ascribed to them. As an example, thousands of enzymes are active in human metabolism. These "metabolic" enzymes move muscles, stimulate nerves, enable the heart to beat, control breathing, and allow thoughts to process. Enzymes are so critical for metabolic functions that a lack thereof can affect health. One of the most important responsibilities of enzyme function is digestion and assimilation of food. No matter what specific foods we eat; our diets are composed of protein, fat, carbohydrates, sugar, and fiber. "Digestive" enzymes break these foods down into progressively smaller components, so that essential nutrients can be easily distributed throughout the body where they are needed most. If we think in terms of enzymes as being similar to an ethnically diverse population with assorted moods and personality differences, then we can better understand them and appreciate their presence in the culture of good health. The following enzymes handle these specific types of food. Enzyme:    Food: Lipase       Fats Lactase     Lactose or milk sugar found in dairy products Protease    Proteins Amylase    Carbohydrates, starches, and other food sugars Cellulase    Plant fibers Why Take Enzyme Supplements Naturally-occurring digestive enzymes are found in raw foods, such as fruits and vegetables. These enzymes boost the level of digestion in the stomach, increasing the break-down of food. The modern diet consists of predominantly enzyme-deficient food. This is because heating any food over approximately 115 degrees destroys the digestive enzymes, which are naturally in raw food. When naturally-occurring raw food enzymes are not available, the pancreas must supply the digestive enzymes. With diets of cooked and heavily processed foods, the body is then forced to place heavy demand on the pancreas. Metabolic enzymes are also taxed, which is frequently evident when a large meal is consumed and then sleepiness occurs. Both supplemental enzymes and raw food enzymes begin the process of digestion earlier in the digestive tract, thus allowing for more complete digestion before the food reaches the colon. In their absence, the amount of undigested food entering the colon is increased, with the bulk of digestion occurring in the small intestine. This can produce more toxins, gas, bloating, and other signs of digestive discomfort. When raw food enzymes are destroyed due to the cooking and processing of foods, supplemental digestive enzymes become necessary. The addition of digestive enzyme supplements can result in a more thoroughly digested meal, with fewer symptoms of indigestion. This relieves the extra burden on the pancreas, allowing it to conserve more of the digestive enzymes it produces, resulting in less metabolic stress, less chance of disease, and overall - slows the aging process! Digestive Enzyme Differences The selection of a quality enzyme supplement, which would benefit the body, should be more important then choosing what you like to wear, or what kind of vehicle you prefer riding in. A supplement this important is not picked for how it looks, tastes, or smells, but rather for how it works. Source plays a major role in enzymatic activity and can affect not only what is done, but also how the task is performed. Pancreatic enzymes come from animal tissues. Plant enzymes are obviously derived from plants, and fungal (microbial) enzymes originate out of fermentation with selected micro-organisms. All three supplemental enzymes are intended to enhance food digestion and nutrient assimilation. However, the latter two, from non-animal sources, take more of a "proactive" approach in the way they work. Their processing of absorbed foods commences very soon, while pancreatic enzymes take a full thirty minutes (or more) to realize their actions. Non-animal derived enzymes are more stable within the acidic environment of the upper stomach. This means ingested food can begin to digest at once, instead of lying there for a while waiting to be broken down. Supplemental microbial enzymes are active in a pH range varying from as little as 3.0 on the acidic side to a high of 9.0 on the alkaline side. This means that they are capable of digesting a much greater quantity of protein, fat and carbohydrates before stomach hydrochloric acid production kicks in to neutralize their breakdown activities. Common sense tells us that such microbial enzymes can contribute significantly in food nutrient assimilation, as well as its ultimate utilization. The process of fermentation, by which such enzymes are created, has been around for a very long time. The ancients well understood this process by which enzymes are made, even if they did not know anything about enzymes per se. Ancient civilizations were very familiar with fermentation and the many health benefits bestowed on friendly flora in the gastrointestinal tract. Such cultured bacteria, rich in enzymes, bring life and vitality to the entire digestive system. Microbial enzymes are usually more compatible with the body's own internal temperature than pancreatic or plant enzymes. After all, it required a certain amount of heat, to begin with for their creation. Ultimately, they need warmth again in order to perform their maximum best. In the long run, microbial enzymes are more effective due to their greater stability in an acid environment and their enlarged capacity for more complete break down of food nutrients. Unless one consumes primarily raw foods, digestive enzymes are necessary for today's diets. Choosing a digestive enzyme supplement wisely can help the complete digestion process to be more thorough, thus enabling nutrients to be more easily absorbed. As the nutrients are better assimilated, the body will function more at its peak, and less health problems will arise. Nature’s "life-force" can indeed be a force for good health!

Next >