Food
provides the basic materials required for growth, healing
and all bodily functions. Eating even the most perfectly balanced
diet won't help you unless you are able to break it down
into absorbable nutrients. This process is known as digestion.
Digestion
takes place in the mouth, stomach and intestines, which are
components of the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract. A properly functioning GI tract is vital for our well being and long term
health.
On the other hand, a poorly functioning stomach and
intestines can be a source of many acute and chronic health problems
that may seriously interfere with your quality of life.
The
Digestive Process
The
process of digestion begins in the mouth. The enzymes amylase and
lipase present in saliva start the breakdown of carbohydrates and
fats, while the chewing of food stimulates the production of digestive
enzymes in the stomach.
The stomach produces hydrochloric acid and
various digestive enzymes that break down proteins, fats and
carbohydrates in preparation for absorption.
The
bulk of digestion and absorption takes place in the small intestine.
Additional digestive enzymes (trypsin, chymotrypsin, pancreatin and
papain) produced either by the lining of the intestines or by the
pancreas continue the breakdown of fats, carbohydrates and proteins.
Bile, produced by the liver, helps with digestion and absorption of
fats.
The
result of this process is that the food is reduced to molecules of
sugars, amino acids and fatty acids, which are then absorbed through
the wall of the small intestine.
Too
Few Enzymes
Enzymes are essential for normal digestion. Unfortunately,
most adults don't have enough of them. The
main reason is the kind of food we eat.
Enzymes are naturally
present in the raw fruits and vegetables, not exactly the most
popular food items for most Americans. To make matters worse,
cooking and food processing destroy enzymes.
As a result, most of the food we eat is enzyme deficient.
In
addition, as we get older, there is a definite decline in the level
of digestive enzymes produced in the stomach, pancreas and small
intestine, usually after age 30 to 35. The reason for this is not
clear, but it is an established medical fact.
The
lack of enzymes leads to poor digestion, poor absorption, as well as
accumulation of undigested food, material, metabolic waste and
putrefied fecal matter in the intestinal tract. This can lead to
food allergies, overgrowth of parasites, yeast and unfriendly
bacteria, indigestion, constipation, belching, bloating and many
other health problems.
As
the digestive process deteriorates further, you may notice decreased
energy, headaches, fatigue, general malaise and reduced resistance
to infections.
Other
Enzyme Functions
Research
shows that enzymes are important not
just for digestion, but for a variety of functions within the body:
-
Circulation - Enzymes are vitally
important in preventing excessive blood clotting and reducing
the "stickiness" of the platelets and red blood cells.
Trypsin and chymotrypsin are used in fibrinolysis, a process that
dissolves blood clots. Enzymes help remove metabolic waste and
generally improve circulation.
-
Inflammation - Regardless of the
reason for inflammation, enzymes are essential for tissue
repair. They reduce swelling and pain, decrease the duration or
inflammatory process and help speed up the recovery rate. These
effects are also important in the treatment of injuries.
-
Other
benefits - There are many
other uses for enzymes, including autoimmune conditions,
arthritis, chronic diseases, pre and post-surgery and multiple
sclerosis.
Research
in the field of enzyme therapy is
ongoing so it's likely that more benefits will be discovered.
Minimal
Digestive Enzymes = Poor Health
The
lack of enzymes is detrimental to health because enzymes are
essential not only for digestion but also for many other vital
functions.
Scientists are finding new ways to use enzymes over and
above their traditional value as digestive
aids. Research shows that enzymes are important in maintaining
health, preventing or fighting many diseases and possibly extending
life.
Unfortunately, we live in a stressful, polluted world where
enzyme-rich foods are the exception rather than the rule.
Processing, preservatives and extended shelf lives kill off many of
the active enzymes in the foods we consume. The aging process
reduces our enzyme levels even further.
That's
why every adult over 30 should supplement his or her diet with a
comprehensive plant-based enzyme formula.
A good digestive enzyme
complex should include tipase for fat digestion, protease for
protein digestion, amylase for carbohydrate digestion, lactase for
milk digestion and cellulase for fruit and vegetable digestion.
