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Digestive
Enzymes
What They Are and How They Work
Many of our customers have asked
us about digestive enzymes and
their importance. We decided to
answer some commonly asked questions
about digestive enzymes, their
role in the human body and why
they are so important for good
health.
What
Are Digestive Enzymes?
Enzymes are an organic catalyst
produced by living cells but capable
of acting independently of the
cells producing them. They are
complex colloidal substances which
are capable of inducing chemical
changes in other substances without
themselves being changed in the
process. Many enzymes have been
isolated in pure crystalline form
and all have proved to be protein
in nature. There are also Metabolic
enzymes which help convert foods
to fuel and waste to manageable
substances for removal. These
Metabolic enzymes will not be
discussed in this article.
Some
digestive enzymes are decomposing
in nature, breaking down proteins,
carbohydrates and fats that we
eat. Some enzymes are also important
in reaction of assimilation helping
us to absorb nutrients and energy
from foods. All digestive enzymes
require minerals to activate them.
Some need trace minerals and other
enzymes need macro minerals. Macro
minerals are those minerals that
your body uses most like calcium
and magnesium.
Digestive
enzymes are found particularly
in digestive juices, acting upon
food substances causing them to
break down into simpler compounds.
Many enzymes are produced in the
body and many are contained in
live whole foods (foods that are
still living; such as a fresh
apple or fresh garden salad.)
Enzymes are capable of accelerating
greatly the speed of chemical
reaction (digestion).
Many
enzymes come from living foods.
These living foods have enzymes
which help break down food during
digestion. Enzymes are temperature
sensitive and most are destroyed
if the cooking temperature exceeds
118° F. Needless to say most
cooked foods are void of active
enzymes as are most processed
foods on the market today. It
is a good thing that there are
many digestive enzyme supplements
on the market today. Many Americans
live a fast paced fast food lifestyle
and routinely do not get enough
active digestive enzymes.
The
rate of Gastro Intestinal disorders
is on the rise in the United States
and some experts say that over
50% of people will develop problems
in their lifetime. This is an
alarming number of people who
will be affected by digestive
problems that may be easy to prevent
using digestive enzymes on a daily
basis. Since most of us eat foods
that contain little to no active
digestive enzymes it is easy to
see where G.I. disorders start
and how they may compound over
time. Simply taking digestive
enzymes with every meal could
and may keep you from ever developing
a G.I. disorder or disease. Digestive
enzymes are also helpful in keeping
disease at bay.
Some
Common Diseases Linked to Poor
Digestion
Leaky
Gut Syndrome
Colitis
Crohn’s
Disease
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Chronic Bloating/Gas
Lupus
Rheumatoid
Arthritis
Chronic
Fatigue
Fibromyalgia
Cancer
A Closer Look at Digestive Enzymes
· Protease-
proteolytic enzymes which are
responsible for breaking down
and for the utilization of proteins.
Important for muscle and tissue
repair as well as immune function.
· Amylase-digests
starch and carbohydrates. Acts
in concert with proteases to stimulate
immune system function. Act in
association with lipase to digest
fragments of viruses and reduce
inflammation and infections.
· Lipase-digests
fats, therby aiding in weight
control, maintaining and enhancing
cardiovascular health, and helping
to maintain proper liver and gall
bladder function.
· Maltase-digests
maltose, malt and grain sugars.
May help relive environmental
sensitivities and allergies.
· Invertase-digests
sugars. Beneficial in helping
prevent gastrointestinal problems
and discomfort.
· Alpha-Galactosidase-aids
in the digestion of difficult
to digests foods such as beans,
legumes and cruciferous vegetables
such as cabbage, broccoli and
cauliflower.
· Lactase-digests
the milk sugar lactose. Extremely
useful for individuals suffering
from lactose intolerance. May
be beneficial for those suffering
from irritable bowel syndrome
and other digestive disorders
in which a high percentage are
adversely affected by dairy products.
· Cellulase-digests
fiber cellulose into smaller units,
which include d-glucose. Helps
remedy digestive problems such
as malabsorption. Cellulase is
a very important enyme because
the human body cannot produce
it on its own.
· Xylanase-breaks
down the sugar xylose
· Pectinase-breaks
down carbohydrates called hemi-celluloses,
which are found in plant foods.
· Hemicellulase-breaks
down carbohydrates, specifically
phytates (phytic acid), present
in many difficult to digest grains
and beans. Especially useful for
those suffering from serious bowel
disorders which results in an
inability to handle phytates from
soy and gluten from wheat, oats,
rye, and barley. Phytase may increase
mineral absorption and the bioavailability
of iron, zinc, calcium and magnesium.
· Beta-Glucanase-breaks
down polysaccharides and fibers
known as beta glucans.
· Arabinosidase-digests
the sugar arabinose.
· Bromelain-an
enzyme from the stem of pineapples,
breaks down protein and fight
inflammation and reduces swelling.
May speed the recovery of injuries
and swelling resulting from athletics,
child birth and surgery.
· Papain-similar
to the chymotrypsin, a protein
digesting enzyme produced by the
body. Used to treat chronic diarrhea
and celiac disease. Treats gastrointestinal
discomfort due to intestinal parasites.
These
enzymes and other whole foods
not only effectively aid digestion
in general, but also help to remove
accumulated, sticky waste adhered
to the lining of the intestines
and colon-what some health experts
term “mucoid plaque”-
that originates a whole array
of digestion contingent diseases.
If
you are at all skeptical about
the effectiveness of digestive
enzymes, we challenge you to take
two to four capsules of one of
the below listed digestive enzymes
with each meal for about three
to four days; then stop taking
them altogether for one to two
days. You will immediately notice
the contrast as your body goes
back to what you will now realize
was your earlier sub-par state
of poor digestion.
Digestive Enzymes Available Through
Spirit of Healing
Omega Zyme Powder
Omega
Zyme Caplets
Similase
90 count
Similase 180 count
Digestine
In
Conclusion
Final words on digestive enzymes
are that no one should be without
these important substance. Digestive
enzymes are important for keeping
us healthy and helping to prevent
gastrointestinal disorders and
chronic bad digestion. Increasing
the amount of whole foods can
help increase digestive enzymes
but most of us don’t eat
a diet of 50% or more whole foods
so we should use a good digestive
enzyme supplement with each meal.
Digestive enzymes are a catalyst
to many life functions, and no
one should be without these important
enzymes. We hope this information
has helped you understand the
functions of digestive enzymes
and their importance. Have a great
and healthy day.
________________________________________________________________________
REFERENCES: Jordan
S. Rubin, N.M.D, C.N.C. Patient
Heal Thyself by Freedom Press
2003 / James F. Balch M.D., Phyllis
A. Balch, C.N.C Prescription for
Healing 2nd edition Avery Publishing
Group 1997
