Enzymes are like keys. Without them,
it wouldn't matter how much nutrient-dense food we ingest, those
nutrients would be useless to us. Enzymes “unlock” nutrients
from our food, making it possible for our bodies to utilize those
nutrients, in turn making it possible to live. When we ingest raw
fruits and vegetables, the fruits and vegetables contain enough
active enzymes to digest the food they came from.
When we cook foods, the enzymes become
deactivated and useless. Thankfully, our bodies can create their own
digestive enzymes. However, the body is not meant to create its own
enzymes to the extent most people expect it to be able to.
Some cooking is necessary. But we
probably all know that the amount of cooked and processed foods we
eat puts undue amounts of stress on our bodies. But just how is
that? There are three basic types of enzymes: Food enzymes (that
come from food), digestive enzymes (that our bodies produce on an
as-needed basis) and...
drum roll please...
Metabolic enzymes. What are metabolic
enzymes? They are “keys” that are responsible for almost all
actions in our bodies, from the heart, to the eye, to the skin, to
the lungs.
Because food digestion is such a high
priority in our bodies, when we eat insufficient food enzymes
(forcing our bodies to make up the difference to an excess) our
bodies “steal” metabolic enzyme resources to digest our food.
This keeps all our body systems from being able to function
properly. Over time, enzyme deficiency can become very serious, even
causing disease.
For example, when someone is deficient
in protease (an enzyme that digests proteins), they may suffer from
hypoglycemia which can lead to irritability. They can also become
immune compromised. All pathogens are made of protein, or in the
case of a virus they use a protein coating to protect themselves.
Without sufficient protease in the blood, we have one less defense
against illness. When someone is deficient in lipase (an enzyme that
breaks down fats), this can lead to high cholesterol.
Not surprisingly, there are many types
of health problems that “enzyme therapy” is good for, including
reversing some cancers. Enzyme therapy is basically taking large
amounts of enzymes therapeutically and it requires the supervision of
a medical health professional. But, why let it get that serious?
Most people, even if they begin to eat
healthfully with what would be sufficient food enzyme intake for a
“healthy” body, find they experience a lot of gas at first, as
increased fiber and enzymes start to break down and move waste that
hasn't been dealt with efficiently due to a previously poor diet. In
order to get to the point where this doesn't happen, you likely need
to supplement enzymes in your diet to help your body “catch up.”
It is also advisable to use a probiotic supplement.
If you find yourself at the health food
store scanning the enzyme products available, you may be a bit
overwhelmed. To start, try a broad spectrum enzyme supplement. As
with any supplement, do your research on whatever brand you try to
ensure premium quality.
