Enzymatic Theories: Do Enzymes Really Work?
Angela Marks

Do you suffer from heartburn, bloating, indigestion, chronic fatigue, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, intestinal & colon problems, temporary or chronic constipation? Of course you are familiar with at least one or two of these ailments because you are human, but does that mean that because you experience them from time to time that you are enzyme deficient and need to take enzyme pills? The answer might surprise you!

What are enzymes & What Do They Do?
Enzymes are catalysts in the body, protein-like substances, which help maintain the tissues, orchestrate the many functions of the body, and digest food. Enzymes can be broken down into three categories: metabolic enzymes, digestive enzymes and food enzymes. Metabolic enzymes spark many of the reactions inside the cells of our body. Our organs, tissues and cells would not work without the help and direction of metabolic enzymes. Digestive enzymes secreted by our own pancreases break down the nutrients contained in the foods we eat. Food enzymes are supplied to us through those foods. Food enzymes help to break down the foods before our digestive enzymes are called upon.

Not only do enzymes break down compounds, but they also synthesize others. Some act as antioxidants, halting free radicals from damaging cells. Enzymes are very specific in the functions they perform. Found in all living matter, enzymes are chemical enablers, and life could not exist without them. So, we do need enzymes every day because they play such an important role in the healthy functioning of our bodies, but we do not need them from a bottle.

What Claims about Enzymes are Bogus?
While it is true that enzyme-deficient diseases do exist, they have to be treated with special injectible or pharmaceutical preparations of oral enzymes, not over-the-counter supplements. And, for the majority of us, our bodies manufacture all of the enzymes that we need, so we do not need additional supplementation. In the digestive tract, most enzyme pills are treated like proteins, so they are efficiently digested and reabsorbed, rendering them useless. They are short-lived, and even if some of them survive the digestive tract, they would not last long enough to make it in the bloodstream to travel to where they might do some good. Therefore, the products that contain superoxide dismutase (SOD), pepsin, lipase, protease, or amylase which claim to help you digest your food are a waste of money. There is no truth to statements claiming that enzyme pills will help prevent aging, strengthen your immunity or eliminate toxins.

What Enzyme Pills Are Beneficial?
While there are many enzyme pills that are simply unbeneficial, there are some that can work if used properly. Lactose intolerance is an enzyme deficiency that many people are familiar with. Although we are not sure why this deficiency develops, we know that a person starts producing less lactase, the enzyme that helps to break down milk sugar (lactose). For these people, it can be helpful to take lactase tablets while you are eating a milk product or consume lactose-reduced dairy products. Other products such as Phazyme and Beano, which help to dissipate intestinal gas, can also be very helpful if taken simultaneously with food.

What about Enzymes in Food?
One last thing to consider is your diet. Enzymes are a very important part of how our body functions and therefore, we should be careful to choose a wide variety or fruits and vegetables, which are full of enzymes. Try to eat them in their raw state because they retain the highest enzymatic properties. Also, be sure that when you cook your vegetables you do not drain them of their nutrients and enzyme content. Steaming them in the microwave is preferable and if you should cook them on the stove, make sure that they are still crisp, not limp. Food enzymes are destroyed at high temperatures, so take care in the way you prepare your meals.

Next time you are tempted with purchasing that bottle of “enzymatic therapy,” be sure to remember that most enzymes, if not all, are destroyed before they ever make it into your blood stream. Your best bet is to eat a well-balanced diet including plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Contact Us

Ordering Info:
(877) 2-HEALTH
(888) 393-2221

 

General Info:
12200 Preston Road
Dallas, TX 75230
Phone: 972/560-2702
Fax: 972/560-3260
Send us an e-mail