What are enzymes?
Enzymes are the spark of
life. Without them, life would not exist. They are the workers that make your
body function. Although the action of enzymes cannot be seen, it is 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. These complex biochemical substances
are also able to convert nutrients from food to strong, healthy bodies.
There are three distinct
types of enzymes:
Food Enzymes which are contained in all raw food.
Digestive Enzymes which are secreted by the body to digest food.
Metabolic Enzymes which run other biochemical processes.
What do enzymes do?
Plant
enzymes bring the plant to maturity or ripeness. If the conditions are right,
they will “digest” the plant when properly activated. The enzymes are released
by either chewing or cutting the plant. All enzymes require the following in
order to work: the presence of water, the proper temperature, the correct pH
range (acid vs. alkaline), and something to digest. The body is provided with
enzymes every time raw food is eaten because all raw food contains just the
right amount and type of enzymes to digest itself. Nature put enzymes in raw
food to aid in the digestive process so that the body’s enzymes would not have
to do all the work.
What are the different
types of food enzymes?
There
are four main types of food enzymes:
Proteases break down protein (meats, beans, etc.).
Amylases break down carbohydrates (potatoes, pasta, etc.).
Lipases break down fats (olives, avocados, etc.).
Cellulases break down fiber (celery, carrots, etc.).
Three amylases are essential
to the digestion of carbohydrates:
Lactase breaks down lactose (milk sugar).
Sucrase breaks down sucrose (refined sugar).
Maltase breaks down maltose (malt sugar).
I eat a balanced diet, so
why would I need enzymes?
If you eat food that is
steamed, boiled, roasted, broiled, fried, stewed, canned, pasteurized, or even
microwaved, you need food enzymes. Enzymes are the most heat sensitive
nutrients found in food. When food enzymes are missing, the body is forced to
produce all the enzymes necessary for digestion. This puts unwarranted stress
on the organs of digestion, which must rob enzymes from your immune system to
digest your food.
How can I avoid an enzyme
deficiency?
Digesting
food is one of the most energy-consuming tasks performed by the human body on a
regular basis. When foods deficient in enzymes are eaten, the body uses a
considerable amount of energy making enzymes for digestion. This often explains
why we feel tired after eating. To avoid enzyme deficiencies, eat as many raw
fruits and vegetables as possible. We live in a modern age where food needs to
be convenient and nutritious, so taking plant enzymes with each meal will help
digest your food, lessen the work of your digestion system, and reduce stress
on the digestive system.
What are the symptoms of enzyme deficiency?
Consumers
spend over 80 billion dollars each year to relieve heartburn, excess acid,
bloating, and other symptoms of indigestion. Fatigue, diarrhea/constipation,
gas, headaches, colon problems, hardening of the arteries, and high cholesterol
are just a few of the conditions that stem from a shortage of enzymes. All of
these symptoms can be attributed to poor digestion. If allowed to progress,
chronic degenerative diseases may become evident in later years. If you are
showing any signs of these symptoms, it is possible that you are enzyme
deficient.
What do I do if I experience symptoms?
A
palpatory exam and a 24-hour urinalysis will indicate how well your body
digests and uses food nutrients. The results of a 24-hour urinalysis combined
with a palpatory exam will clearly indicate what enzyme supplements will help
to return the body to health. Because no two people are alike, there are
different enzyme formulations for different people. Your health care
practitioner will recommend the correct enzyme supplements for you based on
information from the physical exam and urinalysis and also recommend a diet
modification program to reduce the likelihood of redeveloping an enzyme
deficiency. This program has helped thousands return to a state of health and
it can do the same for you.
How long will I have to take food enzyme supplements?
The length of time to correct imbalances in body chemistry will depend upon how long the imbalances have existed and how well you follow the health care practitioner’s dietary recommendations. Most people begin to notice a positive difference within a relatively short period of time, some even at their very next meal. However, healthful balance is only regained when major stressors have been removed.
After
body chemistry is restored to normal, a multiple enzyme supplement should
continue to be taken to help maintain sufficient enzyme levels. Diet
modification is strongly suggested as a means of taking care of the body and
therefore preventing disease.
Are all enzyme supplements the same?
Food
enzymes can digest protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fiber. They are pH balanced
to work throughout the entire digestive tract. Supplements of pepsin, trypsin,
bromelain, and papain can only digest proteins, and pancreatic enzyme
supplements can only break down three of the four food groups.
Only
supplements with the pHBS symbol are recommended. The pH Balancing System is
your guarantee that the supplement you take will work in the proper pH and
deliver the herbal nutrient, whether you can digest them or not.
Food
supplements with the pHBS symbol are your only guarantee that the food
supplements are formulated by Dr. Howard F. Loomis, the world’s foremost
authority on enzymes, and that the formulations are perfectly pH balanced for
nutrient bioavailability.