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Enzymes: The Spark of Life
Kathi Keville
Enzymes are essential to health. These tiny proteins initiate chemical reactions
throughout the body to keep it running smoothly. Enzymes help the body break
down and assimilate nutrients, as well as eliminate toxins. In all, more than
3,000 different enzymes assemble and disassemble human molecules.
Good Digestion Is Vital
Let's focus on enzymes that promote digestion, which is the key to good health.
Each of the many enzymes released into the digestive tract plays a specific
role. For example, protease digests protein into small amino acids. Amylase
helps break down carbohydrates into simple sugars such as glucose and fructose.
Lipase turns fat into tiny fatty acids and maintains cell permeability to allow
nutrients to flow easily into cells and waste to be eliminated.
Having too few enzymes can create digestive problems like nausea, belching,
burping, gas, and diarrhea or constipation. Worse, a lack of protease can lead
to food intolerance and allergies when the immune system mistakes large,
unbroken protein compounds for an invader and attacks them. The consequence can
reach far beyond simple digestive disorders and may include seemingly unrelated
symptoms such as skin rashes, hives or headaches.
Without enough protease enzymes, the resulting protein deficiency can interfere
with calcium metabolism, increasing the risk of developing osteoarthritis. The
deficiency can also compromise your immune system, making you more vulnerable to
bacterial and viral infections - - possibly even cancer – and can encourage
fluid retention and the formation of blood clots.
An adequate supply of protease helps prevent these conditions as well as
infections such as gum abscesses, herpes, shingles, canker sores and
inflammatory conditions (including skin rashes and allergic reactions to bug
stings, poison oak and poison ivy). Lipase, amylase and trypsin are some enzymes
found in commercial anti-inflammatory combinations to reduce arthritic pain.
There aren't many cautions about taking enzymes, but don't take protease if you
have digestive tract inflammation, such as a peptic ulcer or hiatal hernia,
because it increases acidity.
Eating Your Enzymes
If you think you're low on digestive enzymes, try eating more raw foods. Heat
(about 118 degrees) destroys enzymes. One probable reason why there is
considerable enzyme deficiency in the modern world is the reliance on processed
foods.
Most digestive enzymes depend upon each other. For example, lipase needs other
enzymes to ensure there is sufficient bile in the intestine and stomach acid to
operate. Most digestive enzymes are activated at a specific pH, so they also
rely on a healthy digestive tract.
Cellulase is one enzyme that's not made by the body and is found only in raw
fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Cellulase is responsible for obtaining
glucose from soluble parts of fiber, and it helps prevent food allergies. So eat
your fruits and veggies!
Supplemental Enzymes
If food isn't sufficient to boost your digestive enzymes, try enzyme
supplements, which are available at health-food stores. Both plant- and
animal-derived enzyme supplements are available. Plant enzymes such as papain
(from papaya peel) and bromelain (from pineapple) help aid digestion. They are
available in chewable forms and taste quite sweet and pleasant.
Herbalists will tell you the taste of bitter herbs in teas or tinctures
stimulates the release of digestive enzymes. Look for "bitters" formulas that
include such herbs as dandelion leaf and root (Taraxacum officinate) and gentian
root (Gentiana lutea). Just remember that you need to taste bitters for them to
be most effective. Take supplements or herbs about 30 minutes before each meal.
If you're using enzymes to relieve a non-digestive disorder, such as
inflammation or infection, take the supplements between meals. An enteric
coating on metabolic enzymes allows them to pass through the stomach and be
released in the small intestine.
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Kathi Keville is director of the American Herb Association and author of 11 herb
and aromatherapy books, including "Herbs for Health and Healing" (Rodale, 1996).
The above article was taken in its entirety from "Herbs For Health"
Bi-monthly magazine; July/August 2003; pages 16 & 17. To Subscribe:
1-800-456-6018.
WARNING from HeavenScent : Anyone taking
prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications for digestive or inflammatory
drugs had better read: "Prescription for Disaster" by Thomas Moore
or books my Sherry Rogers, M.D., or books by Raymond Strand, M.D., or the
book, "Bitter Pills: Inside the Hazardous World of Legal Drugs" by
Stephen Fried and many other books and articles! Whatever synthetics or
over-the-counter medications you may currently be using . . . could be killing
you.
** This information is provided for educational use only. It is
not provided in order to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, illness, or
injured condition of the body. Responsibility nor liability will be incurred to
any person or entity with respect to any loss, damage, or injury caused or
alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained above.
Consult your health care professional if necessary.
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