The Role of Enzymes ​in the Body and ​Their Importance

The Importance of Enzymes

Enzymes maintain balanced cellular metabolism. When cellular metabolism is ​stressed or chronically out of balance, enzyme supplementation may be ​necessary to restore harmony.

• Pepsin: A crucial digestive enzyme that ​breaks down proteins in the stomach.
  
• Stomach Acid (HCL): Low levels of HCL ​require supplemental digestive enzymes ​to aid in the breakdown of food.
  
• Pancreatic Health: Insufficient enzymes ​can weaken the pancreas, leading to ​digestive issues and other health ​problems.
  

Types of Digestive Enzymes

Understanding the specific roles of different types of digestive enzymes helps in ​understanding the role each plays in the body. If the body is deficient in one one ​of these enzymes, the body may have an issue breaking down that particular ​type of food and cause subsequent health issues. Here is a list of the most ​known digestive enzymes.:

• Protease: Breaks down proteins.
  
• Amylase: Breaks down carbohydrates.
  
• Lipase: Breaks down fats.
  
• Lactase: Breaks down dairy and lactose.
  
• Cellulase: Breaks down plant fibers (not ​produced by the pancreas; obtained ​from food).
  
• Invertase: Breaks down sucrose found ​in cane and beet sugar.
  
• Maltase: Breaks down maltose (sugar ​found in bread and carbs).
  
• Alpha-Galactosidase: Breaks down ​beans.
  

Why You Need Enzymes

The body possesses a finite "enzyme potential," meaning the pancreas can ​produce only a limited amount of enzymes throughout a lifetime. Overproduction ​due to enzyme-depleted foods can enlarge the pancreas, leading to long-term ​health issues.

Consuming raw, organic foods provides ​essential enzymes that help the body ​efficiently break down food. Enzymes from ​food reduce the burden on the pancreas ​and enhance overall health.

Impact of Enzyme ​Deficiency and Health Risks

Enzyme deficiencies occur when the body lacks sufficient levels of specific enzymes necessary for ​various metabolic processes. These deficiencies can lead to incomplete a range of health issues, ​depending on the enzyme involved. For example, lactase deficiency can cause lactose intolerance, ​leading to gastrointestinal symptoms, while more severe enzyme deficiencies, like those affecting ​metabolic pathways, can result in genetic disorders, such as phenylketonuria. Understanding enzyme ​deficiency is crucial, as it can increase the risk of chronic conditions, malnutrition, and organ ​dysfunction if left unaddressed. Here are some common, lesser known, results of enzyme deficiency.

• Leukocytosis: Consuming cooked, enzyme-depleted ​food triggers an immune response, increasing white ​blood cells and stressing the immune system.
  
• Pancreatic Swelling: Resulting from the ​overproduction of enzymes due to insufficient intake ​of raw foods.
  
• Leaky Gut Syndrome: Undigested food particles ​(chyme) entering the bloodstream can lead to ​Circulating Immune Complexes (CIC) and cause ​inflammation.
  
• Intestinal Toxemia: Chyme stagnation in the ​intestines leads to putrefaction, rancidification, and ​fermentation, creating toxins that enter the ​bloodstream.
  
• Sugar Cravings: Poor protein digestion leads to ​unstable blood sugar levels, causing sugar cravings.
  
• Nutrient Absorption: Digestive enzymes ensure ​proper nutrient absorption, converting food into ​usable building blocks for the body.
  

Supplementing with Enzymes

• Reduced Food Intake: People who ​take enzymes regularly may need ​less food and experience more ​energy.
  
• Natural Energy Production: Enzymes ​help create energy components like ​ATP, supporting sustained energy ​levels without the crash associated ​with stimulants like caffeine.
  

Common Enzyme ​Misconceptions

• Limited Production: While the body does ​produce enzymes, the pancreas has a finite ​"enzyme potential." The liver manufactures ​metabolic enzymes from digested proteins, but ​this requires fully digested protein as raw ​material.
  
• Dependency on Diet: If proteins are not properly ​digested due to insufficient enzyme activity, ​partially digested proteins (chyme) can become ​toxic and enter the bloodstream, leading to health ​issues.
  
• Pancreatic Health: Studies show that consuming ​enzyme-depleted foods weakens the pancreas.
  

Activation Process: Supplemental enzymes are deactivated in the stomach by HCL but are ​reactivated in the small intestines where they perform their digestive functions.

No Dependency: The body requires enzymes to digest food properly. ​Supplementing enzymes meets this need without causing the body to ​become dependent, as the body will always produce enzymes based on ​dietary intake and pancreatic capacity.

Why Modern Diets Lack ​Enzymes

• Depleted Soil: Modern agricultural practices like crop rotation have ​reduced soil diversity, diminishing the nutrient and enzyme content ​in plants.
  
• Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs): The body often treats GMOs ​as toxins, increasing the need for enzymes to digest them.
  
• Food Processing and Irradiation: High heat and radiation used in ​processing destroy enzymes and nutrients, leaving food nutritionally ​depleted.
  
• Cooking: Cooking foods above 118°F deactivates their enzymes. ​Incorporating more raw vegetables helps replenish enzyme levels.
  
• Microwaving & Pesticides: Both practices destroy enzymes and ​introduce toxins into food, heightening the demand for enzymes to ​detoxify the body.
  
• rBGH (Bovine Growth Hormone): Treated as a toxic stressor by the ​body, necessitating increased enzyme use to process it.
  
• Antibiotics: Disrupt gut bacteria, forcing enzymes to work harder to ​manage the resulting toxic stressors.
  

Enzymes for Longevity

• Dr. Edward Howell, MD: "The length of one's life is ​inversely proportional to the rate of exhaustion of the ​enzyme potential of an organism. Increased use of ​food enzymes promotes a decreased rate of ​exhaustion of the enzyme potential and thus results ​in a longer, healthier, and more vital life."
  
• Dr. Karl Ransberger: "If you take enzymes regularly, ​you can arm your body with a natural defense against ​the aging process."
  
• Dr. David Greenberg, UCSM: "For optimal health, ​longevity, and reduced risk of disease, the use of ​enzymes should commence around the age of 40 and ​continue for the remainder of one's lifespan."
  
• Dr. James B. Sumner, Nobel Prize Winner: "The ​feeling of 'getting old' is due to lower enzyme levels in ​the system [which break down toxic waste] than ​older cells— which are loaded with toxic waste."
  

• Slows Aging: Maintains enzyme levels, reducing the rate at ​which enzyme potential is exhausted.
  
• Supports Healthy Digestion: Ensures efficient nutrient ​absorption and waste elimination.
  
• Enhances Vitality: Provides sustained energy and reduces ​the need for excessive food intake.
  

Enzyme Deficiencies in ​Babies & Young Children

Enzyme deficiencies in babies and young children can significantly impact their ability to digest and ​absorb nutrients. Breast milk naturally contains enzymes like lipase and amylase, which help babies ​digest fats and carbohydrates more easily. These enzymes support immature digestive systems, ​promoting healthy growth and development. In contrast, most formula lacks these beneficial enzymes, ​making it harder for some babies to digest. While formula is designed to mimic breast milk, the absence ​of natural enzymes can sometimes lead to digestive issues, such as gas or constipation, particularly in ​infants with enzyme deficiencies.

Manage Enzymes Like a ​Bank Account

• Balanced Diet: Incorporate both enzyme-rich and raw foods to maintain enzyme balance.
  
• Supplement Wisely: Use enzyme supplements to "deposit" when dietary intake is insufficient.
  
• Weight Management: Enzymes support a healthy metabolism and can reduce cravings by ​ensuring optimal nutrient absorption, aiding in weight loss.
  

• Deposits: Think of every enzyme-rich food or ​enzyme supplement you consume as a deposit ​into your enzyme "bank account." These deposits ​increase your enzyme reserves, giving your body ​more resources to break down food and fuel ​various bodily functions.
  
• Withdrawals: When you eat processed, ​overcooked, or enzyme-depleted foods, you ​make a withdrawal from your enzyme bank ​account. Your body is forced to pull from its finite ​supply of enzymes to digest those foods, which ​depletes your enzyme reserves.
  

Much like a bank account, if you constantly ​make withdrawals without enough deposits, ​you’ll run out of resources—leading to enzyme ​deficiency. This can slow digestion, cause ​fatigue, and stress the pancreas. But by ​consistently making deposits (through raw, ​enzyme-rich foods or supplements), you ​maintain or grow your enzyme reserves, ​supporting better digestion, energy, and ​overall health.

Your Body Chemistry ​and Enzymes

Healthy Cells: Depend on three basic ​elements:

1. Quality of nutrients intake

2. Effective nutrient assimilation

3. Efficient waste removal

• Compromised by Toxins: Modern ​diets introduce numerous toxins that ​burden cellular detoxification ​mechanisms.
• Built-in Sensors: Our senses detect ​and protect against toxic invaders, ​but over time, exposure can lead to ​cravings and desensitization.
  

Conclusion: Why ​Enzymes Matter

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