Enzymes:
What are they? They are almost
invisible protein molecules which are contained in the food we eat and are
produced by our bodies. Scientists believe there are thousands of different
enzymes, many of which have yet to be discovered. We can divide enzymes into
three primary categories for purpose of discussion: metabolic, digestive and
food.
Metabolic enzymes are those enzymes
that catalyze various chemical reactions within the ceils such as
detoxification and energy production. Digestive enzymes are secreted along the
gastrointestinal tract to break down food so the nutrients can be absorbed into
the bloodstream. Food enzymes are naturally present in all raw foods, providing
an exogenous source of digestive enzymes when consumed. Plant enzymes are a
special preparation of the enzymes present naturally in raw food in supplement
form.
Plant enzymes, as your probably
guessed, come from plants and they can assist the body in the digestion of the
food we eat if taken with meals. Taken between meals they can fortify the blood
and be stored in the liver and other organs to be used when needed. In short
they enhance our body's nutritional health.
Why are plant enzymes important? It is
thought that our body's organs and glands have a lifetime "enzyme
potential". This means that based on our genetics and other environmental
factors our body can produce only so many enzymes during our lifetime. As we
age our body automatically tries to conserve its dwindling resources and to
produce fewer and fewer enzymes of all types. When this lifetime enzyme
potential is reached, the body can no longer sustain life. We die because
nothing takes place in the body without enzymes. Enzymes constitute the '`life
force" which powers our whole system.
Raw food contains its own enzymes
necessary for its digestion. But there is nothing extra to help with the digestion
of other food. Cooking and processing of food kills all enzymes. Since we
cannot and should not eat a diet comprised only of raw foods, when we consume
cooked or processed food our body has to draw on its "enzyme
potential" and produce metabolic enzymes to do duty as digestive enzymes.
This is important because nature did not tailor metabolic enzymes to perform
digestive functions very efficiently. Therefore, we frequently experience the
problems associated with incomplete or partial digestion. Our digestive tract
deposits a large quantity of "toxic trash" (undigested food) into our
blood which is carried throughout our body and which accumulates over time and
contributes to many chronic problems. Large quantities of partially digested
organic material remains in the colon and rots, putrefies and ferments over
time. Plus, by metabolic enzymes having to perform digestive work, our body
diverts its attention away from infection fighting and cell repair. In other
words, we have our "A- Team" (our body's metabolic army against
infection, disease and illness) doing "B-Team (digestion) work. This
diversion by the body is automatic since it places a higher priority on
digestion than it does on repair, maintenance and infection fighting.
When we eat cooked or processed food,
the body receives a signal that it needs to produce enzymes to take care of the
digestion task. Some of the enzymes pressed into service are metabolic enzymes
normally used for cell repair, DNA strand repair, infection fighting, etc.
These special purpose enzymes, including white blood cells, find themselves
trying to digest fats, protein, starches, cellulose and carbohydrates. They do
the best they can but often it is not enough. And frequently they have to do
their digestive work in the blood rather than the digestive tract because the
products of incomplete digestion have already been purged to the blood stream.
And all of this takes place while the body ignores the infection fighting/cell
repair functions which need constant attention. Again, your A-Team is doing B-
Team work. And your body and general health pays the price. This is critical
because it just does not happen once or twice. This is the "constant'
which most of our bodies experience. It is constant' continuous, daily and
regular because the digestive process takes hours to complete and most of us
have a diet that is comprised 99% of cooked and processed foods.
It is important to understand that we
can free our body's A-Team to do A-Team work by supplementing our diets will
plant enzymes to handle the job of digestion and clean up our blood of
impurities. This not only frees our A-Team to do the job that nature intended
but also reduces the demand on our "enzyme potential", especially
important as we get older. If we do this what effect will we notice? First, you
will experience improved digestion. For many people, this alone will be a
blessing. Second, nagging, chronic problems which we have had so long that we
almost assume they are part of living, may begin to clear up. Energy levels can
improve and our general feeling of well being can be heightened.
While improvement in health will be
experienced it is important to recognize that plant enzymes are not magic pills
but are simply special purpose supplements designed to help our body's natural
functions. Plant enzymes don't cure any illness or disease. Rather, they reduce
the burden on the body's natural curative powers allowing it to perform its
natural, healing function.
WHAT ARE ENZYMES ? Enzymes are a
delicate life-like substance found in all living cells whether animal or
vegetable. Enzymes are energized protein molecules necessary for life. They
catalyze and regulate nearly ail biochemical reactions that occur within the
human body. In other words, enzymes turn the food we eat into energy and unlock
this energy for use in the body. They are difficult to see even with the most
powerful microscope, but their presence and strength have long been known to
scientists based on improved blood and immune system functioning.
PLANT ENZYMES are grown from food such
as soybean and wheat in a laboratory setting with specific actions rendered in
units. They are nonpathogenic Aspergillus species and are free of mycelium
contamination. Removal of all the aspergilli and fungi leave only the enzymatic
action. Aspergillus enzymes have a strong record of safe use in the food
industry. They are considered food by the FDA. The plant enzymes available from
this pharmacy are of the highest quality. These enzymes are to be taken with
meals to aid in the digestion of al/ foods. They may also be taken following or
between meals to feed and fortify the body.
NATURAL ENZYME FORTIFIERS available
from our pharmacy do not contain fillers. This is very important since the
primary job of an enzyme is to facilitate delivery. That means any fillers in
the product would be delivered as well.
Furthermore, our enzyme products do not
contain vitamins and minerals from a chemical source, but instead contain
nutrients that are found naturally within the herbs of the formulations.
Plant enzymes are not sloughed off as
if the body has no need for them. They exit only after there is no more
activity in them to do the work. Since they are food which is natural to the
body, and since they are proven to be a catalyst, they are completely different
from other supplements. Some enzymes can be stored in the organs for future
work and used to rebuild cells.
Enzyme Supplementation Humans that eat
a diet void of enzymes will use up a tremendous amount of their own enzyme
potential. Enzymes act as energy or a catalyst and every action of our organs
and glands needs this energy to work. We receive energy from the nutrients in
out blood. These nutrients are put there through the digestion of food and
carried to and thr oughout our system by the energy of enzymes. A lack of
enzymes can create illness, lower resistance to infection and aggravate all
types of stresses and physiological environments that can lead to a shortened
life span and chronic physical conditions.
Does the addition of raw food or
juicing to the diet guarantee enough enzymes to meet our needs? Raw food
provides only enough enzymes to digest that particular food. There are no extra
enzymes in raw food to digest cooked or p ocessed food. Although a totally raw
diet may appear to be the best solution, it is generally not practical, and in
most cases, not medically advisable. Due to the risk of bacterial
contamination, many foods should not be eaten raw, including meats, poultry,
eggs and beans. Many people find the fiber content in large quantities of raw
food difficult to digest.
What Constitutes A Healthy Body? It is
probably safe to say that our complete health is the sum total of the health of
our individual cells, organs and glands. When we are ill, it is because our
organs and glands individually or collectively, cannot function at ideal
levels. Diet is an influence on the health of our glands and organs and it
interacts directly with our genetics. Good nutrition can help you attain the
genetic potential of your organs and glands in terms of the highest level of
functioning. When your nutrition is not adequate, your glands and organs cannot
receive the specific nutrients that they require. Among the many consequences
of such deficiencies is an increased susceptibility to infection, an inability
to deal with stress and an overall degeneration of the body.
What About the Aging Factor? Another
factor affecting health is the process of aging. As you grow older, many of
your nutritional requirements increase and your glands and organs do not
function as well as when you were younger. Often organs and glands begin to
atrophy and are not as capable of producing the supply of enzymes which your
body requires. This is why we generally become more susceptible to degenerative
and infectious diseases as we age. Enzymes are connected to every working organ
and gland in our body and run our life's processes.
Uses of Natural Enzyme Fortifiers The
regular use of plant enzymes can accomplish a number of important nutritional
tasks for the body. Listed below are several tasks which our plant enzymes are
specifically designed to accomplish.
PURIFY BLOOD: Is it possible that an
enzyme can clean up or purify the blood? When you look at it from the simplest
perspective it makes sense. It is a known fact that fungal forms, parasites,
and bacteria are made up of protein. The shell that protects a virus in our
body is in fact a protein coating. The enzyme protease breaks down proteins and
since the invaders of our blood system are protein, would it not make sense
that ingesting protease on an empty stomach would do the job by breaking down
the protein invaders? An empty stomach is recommended since the protease would
not have to be held in the digestive system to digest protein.
STRENGTHEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM: Enzymes
deliver nutrients, carry away toxic wastes, digest food, purify the blood,
deliver hormones by feeding and fortifying the endocrine system, balance
cholesterol and triglyceride levels, feed the brain and cause no harm to the
body. All of these factors contribute to the strengthening of the immune
system.
BREAK DOWN FATS: It is a proven fact
that the enzyme lipase breaks down (digests) fat. When added to your meal as a
supplement it is able to do this job in the digestive tract. This takes stress
off the gallbladder, liver and pancreas. When taken between meals, it will be
stored in your liver and called upon as needed. Lipase is present in all
Natural Enzyme Fortifiers.
BalanceZyme Plus offers an even
higher potency of lipase and chromium, which assists in balancing insulin
levels.
ENHANCE MENTAL CAPACITY: Your body uses
glucose called from the liver to feed and fortify the hypothalamus. This long
lasting glucose is made from the protein stored in the liver. All plant enzymes
are amino acids which come from protein foods. Your red blood cells do the work
of carrying oxygen to your brain. Nutrients have to be delivered throughout
your body by means of the enzyme delivery system. When this is not
accomplished, you become fatigued and are less able to think clearly. Remember,
the hypothalamus directs our endocrine system and is responsible for water
balance, body temperature, appetite, and even emotions. Natural Enzyme
Fortifiers have been formulated to support the hypothalamus functions.
CLEANSE THE COLON: Undigested foods
that are stored in the colon are evidence of a digestive problem.. In the
colon, undigested protein will putrefy; starch, sugars and carbohydrates will
ferment; and fats will turn rancid. We should experience at least two bowel
movements per day (if we eat more than one meal) to rid our body of these
toxins. It is not normal for undigested foods to remain in our colon for long
periods of time. Natural Enzyme Fortifiers aid your natural colon functioning
by offering Plantadophilus for a consistent pH balance and ReleaseZyme to
encourage regularity.
ENHANCE SLEEP: Nutrients that are
unable to get past the brain's barrier create insomnia and depression. The
undernourished endocrine system may create a malfunction in our hormonal system
which can upset our nervous system and sleep patterns. Herb combinations
delivered by enzymes can enhance sleep. However, if we are able to correctly
digest our food and deliver the nutrients to keep the endocrine and nervous
system in sync, we can rebuild our and energy pattern.
Furthermore, CalmZvme can be used to
assist in breaking the pattern of insomnia.
SHED EXCESS WEIGHT AND FAT: Many over
weight people have a metabolism imbalance or will soon create one. The
endocrine system is our metabolism. Once we are able to fortify the endocrine
system, get the bowels working regularly, and digest our food rather than
turning it into fat, we have a successful combination for losing weight. Rather
than creating common "weight loss" which is often nothing more than
water loss, we will instead burn fat and properly digest our food. This process
is not instantaneous because we have to lose fat instead of weight. A person
has to lose a great deal of fat to equal one pound of weight. it takes longer,
but it is more healthy and lasts longer. Best of all, it does no harm.
IMPROVE AGING SKIN: An adequate supply
of enzymes is absolutely essential for keeping your skin youthful and healthy.
According to some researchers enzymes
fight the aging process by increasing blood supply to the skin, bringing with
it life-giving nutrients and carrying away waste products that can make your
skin look dull and wrinkled. Circulation slows down as we get older. Eating a
diet of raw fruits and vegetables, which are enzyme rich, and taking a complete
enzyme supplement becomes more important with age.
PROPER pH BALANCE: Friendly flora such
as L. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium are important to the intestinal tract for
maintaining proper pH and also for controlling the population of potential
pathogenic organisms like Clostridium and Candida.
Plant flora has now been proven to be
most effective in the pathogen control role of beneficial bacteria. A
lesser-known role of the beneficial bacteria is the actual synthesis of highly
favorable natural chemicals in the colon through the fermentation process.
These fermentive products include such molecular species as natural antibiotics
and, very importantly, digestive enzymes. These enzymes can play an extremely
important role in the digestion of otherwise incompletely digested food
substances, especially proteins. The beneficial bacteria are an important
ingredient for the "natural," detoxification of the body.
The organism L. Plantarium its believed
to be especially productive of proteolytic enzymes and capable of clearing
protein wastes from the system.
PROPER pH BALANCE IN THE URINE: After
extensive research, it has been proven that a balance of the plant enzymes, (lipase,
protease and amylase) taken by individuals with meals, produces a proper urine
pH balance of 6.2 to 6.7 pH in a 24 hour urinalysis.