A to Z Blog Challenge - E is for Enzymes

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.