Enzymes
FAQ Page
(Frequently
Asked Questions)
What
are enzymes?
What
is meant by "nutrition"?
Can
enzymes help fight diseases?
Can
enzymes control obesity?
Do
some foods contain enzyme
inhibitors?
Can
enzymes help fight allergies?
Can
enzymes lower cholesterol?
Should
children take enzymes?
Does
eating raw foods in
a meal (like a salad)
guarantee enough enzymes
for total digestion
of the complete meal?
Can
you overdose on enzymes?
How
can enzymes improve
my health?
Can
pregnant women take
enzymes?
What
are nutritional enzyme
supplements made from?
How
do digestive enzymes
work in the stomach?
Does
our body produce less
enzymes as we get older?
What
effects will I notice
if I take supplemental
enzymes?
Will
taking supplemental
enzymes interfere with
other medicines?
What
are enzymes?
Enzymes
are protein molecules
that are made by all
plant and animal cells.
Enzymes are catalysts.
A catalyst makes chemical
reactions occur in a
more optimum manner.
Digestive enzymes
cause food that we eat
to be broken down much
faster, and much more
effectively, than
would occur without
them.
All cells
require different enzymes
for every chemical action
and reaction that occurs
in our body. There are
several thousand different
enzymes found in the
human body. These enzymes
can combine with co-enzymes
to form nearly 100,000
various chemicals that
enable us to see, hear,
feel, move, digest food
and think. Every organ,
every tissue, and all
the 100 trillion cells
in our body depend upon
the actions of enzymes.
What
is meant by nutrition?
Simply
stated, nutrition is
the body's ability to
consume the 45 known
nutrients in their proper
amounts; digest these
nutrients; absorb these
nutrients; carry these
nutrients into the cells;
metabolize these nutrients;
and eliminate the waste.
The following
is a list of the 45
known nutrients:
Amino
Acids Water Lipids (fats)
13
Vitamin Proteins
19
Carbohydrates
9
Minerals
4
Enzymes
are responsible for
digestion, absorption,
transporting, metabolizing,
and eliminating the
waste of these nutrients.
Can
enzymes help fight diseases?
Yes.
There is a connection
between the strength
of our immune system
and our enzyme level.
The more enzymes we
have, the stronger our
immune system will be
and the healthier and
stronger we will be.
For example, leukocytes
(white blood cells)
have eight (8) different
amylase enzymes which
assists the white blood
cell to engulf foreign
substances and reduce
them to a form that
the body can eliminate.
Research
has shown that leukocytes
increase after one has
eaten a cooked meal.
This indicates a definite
measure on the part
of the body to transport
more enzymes to the
digestive tract for
digestion.
There
is no increase in leukocytes
after one has consumed
a raw food meal. Research
has shown that enzymes
are related to all diseases
via the immune system,
whether the disease
is acute or chronic.
If the pancreatic output
of enzymes is hindered,
the whole body is affected.
Therefore, we must eat
raw foods or take supplemental
enzymes to enable our
body's immune system
to fight against infections.
Research
has shown that people
who have a chronic disease,
or have low energy levels,
also have lower enzyme
content in their blood,
urine, and tissues.
While there is a direct
relationship between
disease and a person's
enzyme levels, only
recently has that relationship
been understood.
Researchers
are investigating if
a person's enzyme levels
were low because they
were sick or were they
sick because their enzyme
levels were low. The
researchers found something
surprising.
A person
does not have a low
enzyme content because
he/she is sick or aged,
but instead, the reason
a person may be sick
or aged is because of
low enzyme content.
Can
enzymes control obesity?
Very
definitely. Obese individuals
have been found to have
a deficiency in the
enzyme lipase. Lipase
is found in abundance
in raw foods. Cooking
destroys lipase. Lipase
is the enzyme that aids
the body in the breaking
down of fats. Without
lipase, our fat stagnates
and accumulates in our
arteries which could
lead to heart disease.
Lipase also helps us
to burn fat for energy.
Cooked foods which have
no enzymes will put
weight on faster than
raw foods. For example,
pig farmers will not
feed their pigs raw
potatoes because the
pigs will then stay
lean.
However,
when the farmers feed
the pigs boiled potatoes
the pigs become fat.
Another reason why enzymes
reduce obesity is because
cooked foods cause drastic
changes in the size
and appearance of the
pituitary gland. Research
has found that enzymes
affect our hormone producing
glands and hormones
influence our enzyme
levels. Cooked foods
causes our pancreas,
thyroid, and pituitary
glands to exhaust their
enzymes to digest our
foods. This causes our
body to become sluggish
and weight is gained.
Raw food calories are
relatively non stimulating
to glands and stabilize
body weight more so
than cooked food calories.
Do
some foods contain enzyme
inhibitors?
Yes.
Tree nuts, seeds, beans,
and grains contain enzyme
inhibitors, along with
a very active number
of enzymes. But because
enzymes are very active
entities, nature had
to put a rein on them
and make them dormant
until such a time as
the seed could fall
to the ground and be
adequately covered with
soil. This slowing down
by nature could be called
enzyme inhibition.
However,
nature will inactivate
these enzymes inhibitors
when moisture is absorbed
by the seed that is
covered with soil. This
is the time the seed
begins germinating (sprouting)
to form a seedling.
Eating too many nuts
and seeds, which has
an abundance of enzyme
inhibitors, could cause
Gl tract problems.
So, you
have only two options
open to you: you can
wait until the seed
or nut begins germination,
or you can take enzyme
supplements with them
to neutralize their
enzyme inhibitors.
Can
enzymes help fight allergies?
Many
researcher theorize
that being allergic
to a raw food may be
nature's way of telling
us that the food's enzymes
are incompatible with
some unhealthy bodily
condition, and the body's
immune system is trying
to destroy it. This
confrontation between
food enzyme and disease
could result in the
classic symptoms of
itching, nasal discharges,
and rashes.
Scavenger
enzymes are believed
to patrol the blood
and dissolve the waste
that accumulates from
the millions of metabolic
reactions that takes
place each second within
each cell of the body.
In fact, some of our
scavenger enzymes are
present in white blood
cells. The main function
of these enzymes include
the attempt to prevent
the arteries from clogging
up and the joints from
being filled with arthritic
deposits.
If the
scavenger enzymes find
the right substrate
they latch on and reduce
it to a form which the
blood can eliminate.
If these scavenger enzymes
cannot handle the waste,
nature causes some of
the wastes to be thrown
out through the skin,
or membranes of the
nose and throat, which
produces the familiar
symptoms that we call
allergies.
Other
researchers believe
that some allergies
are caused by incompletely
digested protein molecules.
Allergies may be helped
if certain enzymes are
taken that can act as
scavenger enzymes or
as protein digestive
enzymes.
Since
enzymes themselves are
proteinaceous compounds,
an allergic reaction
is possible. Some individuals,
particularly those sensitive
to molds and penicillin,
may experience nausea
or gastric upset. If
gastrointestinal sensitivity
occurs, the use of enzyme
products should be discontinued.
Can
enzymes lower cholesterol?
Yes,
in most individuals.
Remember, cholesterol
is a form of fat. Research
has substantiated that
consumed animal fats
tend to cause cholesterol
to settle in the arteries
and cause atherosclerosis.
However, it has also
been found that the
crystal clear "purified"
vegetable oils (not
heated) do not raise
the blood cholesterol
level.
One answer
for this might lie with
the fact that lipase
is found in these unheated
vegetable oils. One
researcher found that
the tissue in obese
humans has less lipase
than the fat tissues
in a thinner person
which means that supplemental
lipase may be needed.
British
researchers tested the
enzymes in individuals
with atherosclerosis
to find the relationship
between cholesterol
and clogged arteries.
They found that all
enzymes became progressively
weaker in the arteries
as persons became older
and also as the hardening
became more severe.
These researchers believe
that a shortage of enzymes
is part of a mechanism
which allows cholesterol
deposits to accumulate
in the inner part of
the arterial walls.
Another
researcher found a progressive
decline in lipase in
the blood of atherosclerotic
patients with advancing
middle and old age.
Yet another researcher
found that not only
was lipase low in older
persons, but that older
atherosclerotic persons
had slow fat absorption
from the intestine.
He also found that some
absorbed fat was in
the unhydrolyzed state.
When he fed lipase extracted
from animal pancreas
to the older and younger
persons he found a definite
improvement in fat utilization.
Think of the advantage
of taking the enzyme
lipase at the beginning
of the meal to help
in the predigestion
of food.
Can
children take enzymes?
Yes.
Children usually eat
the same enzyme deficient
foods as their parents.
How many times have
you noticed an obese
child, only to see that
the parents are obese
as well?
"Like
Father - like Son" is
an old, but true, saying.
Does
eating raw foods in
a meal (like a salad)
guarantee enough enzymes
for total digestion
of the complete meal?
The
cells of all raw foods
contain just enough
live enzymes to digest
THAT cell, and that
cell only. There are
no extra enzymes in
raw food to digest cooked
or processed food as
well. So, just
because you eat a salad
with your steak and
baked potato, that won't
help you digest the
meat and starch.
Can
you overdose on enzymes?
Data from over sixty
years revealed that
there has not been
one report of side
effects from enzyme
consumption. More
long term studies
may be needed.
How
can enzymes improve
my health?
Purifies
the blood.
All pathogen (virus,
fungus and bacteria)
are made up of protein,
or use a protein coating
to protect themselves
(as a virus does). The
enzyme protease breaks
down proteins, and since
the invaders of our
blood system are protein,
it makes sense that
ingesting protease could
break down the protein
invaders.
Strengthens
the immune system.
Enzymes deliver nutrients
to our cells, carry
away toxic debris, digest
our food, purify our
blood, deliver hormones
by feeding and fortifying
our endocrine system
and balance our cholesterol
and triglycerides levels
while doing no harm
to our body
Breaks
down fats.
The enzyme lipase breaks
down and digests fat.
This takes stress off
our gallbladder, liver
and pancreas. This will
enhance weight loss.
Enzymes
lower cholesterol and
triglycerides levels.
Cholesterol and triglycerides
are fats that circulate
in our blood stream.
The enzyme lipase will
control the release
of these fats which
could protect us from
certain forms of heart
disease, like atherosclerosis.
Enzymes
enhance mental capacity.
Our body uses glucose
from the liver to feed
and fortify the hypothalamus.
Our red blood cells
carry oxygen to the
brain, along with glucose
to feed the brain cells.
When there is a dysfunction
with this mechanism
we become fatigued and
are unable to think
clearly. The hypothalamus
directs our endocrine
system and is responsible
for our water balance,
body temperature and
appetite.
Enzymes
cleanse the colon.
Foods that are not digested
properly are stored
in our colon and digestive
problems can begin.
Some researchers estimate
that nearly 70% of all
illness starts in our
colon. Undigested protein
putrefies, carbohydrates
ferment, and fats turn
rancid in our colon.
Enzymes will break down
our foods properly and
keep our colon free
of these toxins.
Enzymes
help us sleep.
Enzymes enhance our
endocrine glands. The
under nourished endocrine
system may create a
malfunction in our hormonal
system which can upset
our nervous system and
sleep patterns. When
we are unable to digest
our food or deliver
the nutrients to keep
our endocrine and nervous
system in balance, we
cannot rebuild our body
or it's energy level.
Enzymes
help us shed excess
weight and fat.
Many overweight people
have a metabolic imbalance.
Remember, our endocrine
system regulates our
metabolism. Once we
are able to fortify
the endocrine system,
have our bowels working
regularly and can digest
our food rather than
turning it into fat,
we have a successful
combination. Enzymes,
especially lipase, will
break down our fats
properly, which will
help us bum fat, thus
promoting weight loss.
Improves
aging skin.
An adequate supply of
enzymes is absolutely
essential for keeping
the skin young looking
and healthy. 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. Our circulation
slows down as we get
older. To counteract
this we need to consume
more enzymes.
Maintains
proper pH balance in
our Gl tract.
Friendly flora such
as L. Acidophilus and
bifidobacerium are important
to the intestinal tract
for maintaining proper
pH and also for controlling
the population of potential
pathogenic organisms
like clostridium and
Candida. Enzymes have
been proven to be very
effective in the control
of beneficial bacteria.
Another role of 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.
Enzymes
maintain proper pH balance
in the urine.
Research has shown that
a balance of the plant
enzymes (lipase, protease,
and amylase) eaten by
individuals produce
a proper urine pH of
6.3 to 6.6 in 24 hour
urinalysis.
Can
pregnant women take
enzymes?
Yes, if
they are taking ONLY
plant enzymes.
Animal
enzymes should not be
taken by pregnant women.
There is a high risk
of prenatal infection.
What
are nutritional enzyme
supplements made from?
Enzymes
can be derived from
either plant or animal
sources. Both
are effective, though
many people can't tolerate
(physically, emotionally
or religiously) animal
products. Enzymes made
from animal sources
are usually derived
from the pancreas or
the gall bladder.
Ox Bile and Pepsin are
such animal derived
enzymes and are highly
effective.
Betaine
HCL, Papain, Cellulase,
Bromelain and Lactase
are plant derived enzymes.
Some digestive enzymes
actually use enzymes
from both groups, to
"cover all bases". These
are known as "wide
spectrum digestive enzymes".
INFINITY
Super Enzymes
fall into this catagory.
How
do digestive enzymes
work in the stomach?
The
stomach has two distinct
divisions: Fundus
(upper part) and Pylorus
(lower part). The eaten
food remains in the
upper part for approximately
one hour. This is where
predigestion takes place.
The fundus is where
digestive food enzymes
begin to break down
the food into carbohydrates,
fats and protein.
Raw foods
supply their own digestive
enzymes, thus saving
the stomach from supplying
all the enzymes. Cooked
foods, which have no
enzymes, must wait in
the fundus until the
stomach supplies the
enzymes. Predigestion
by food enzymes occurs
in every creature on
earth. The only exception
is the human being on
an enzyme free diet.
The upper
section has no peristalsis
(movement of food),
acid, or pepsin and
therefore, if enzymes
are not provided in
the diet, only minimal
digestion can occur.
The lower stomach (pylorus)
performs the second
step in digestion, but
of protein only. In
the lower part of the
stomach, pepsin (a powerful
digestive enzyme) and
hydrochloric acid continue
the digestive process.
The predigested
food now enters the
small intestine. Here,
the pancreas and small
intestine cells secrete
their enzymes to further
break down the food
into glucose (carbohydrates),
fatty acids (fats) and
amino acids (proteins)
for absorption into
the villi (absorption
cells in the small intestine).
The human
stomach is really two
stomachs with separate
functions. Our stomachs
have been provided with
the means of permitting
outside enzymes to help
with the burdens of
digesting food. Thus,
we don't have to make
all of our own digestive
enzymes to digest our
food. This will allow
us to make more metabolic
enzymes as needed and
make us more healthy.
When we
eat raw foods the enzymes
in the food are activated
by heat and moisture
in the mouth. Once active,
these enzymes digest
a significant portion
of our food and make
it small enough to pass
through the villi (small
projections found in
the small intestines)
and into the blood.
Metabolic
enzymes found in the
blood then take the
digested 45 known nutrients
and build them into
muscles, nerves, bones,
blood, lungs, and various
glands. Every cell in
the body depends on
certain enzymes. Each
enzyme has a specific
function in the body
which is referred to
as enzyme specificity.
A protein
digestive enzyme will
not digest a fat and
a fat enzyme will not
digest starch. Enzymes
act upon chemicals and
change them into another
chemical, but remain
unchanged themselves.
Simply stated our chemicals
are changed from their
original identity by
the enzyme to another
chemical with a different
identity. Without enzymes
nothing in our body
would work.
Does
our body produce less
enzymes as we get older?
Bartos
and Groh (researchers)
enlisted 10 young men
and 10 old men and used
a drug to stimulate
the pancreatic juice
flow. The juice was
then pumped out and
tested. It was found
that considerably less
of the enzyme amylase
was present in the pancreatic
juices of older men.
It was determined that
the enzyme deficiency
of the older group was
due to exhaustion of
the cells of the pancreas.
Other
research indicates that
not only are there fewer
enzymes in the pancreas
but also in the trillion
cells in our body as
we age. The pancreas
must borrow these entities
stored in the cells
to make the enzyme complex.
This could be a definition
of "old age" because
old age and debilitated
metabolic enzyme activity
are synonymous. If we
postpone the debilitation
of metabolic enzyme
activity, then we might
delay the aging process
and possibly increase
the life span to its
genetic potential.
What
effects will I notice
if I take supplemental
enzymes?
It depends.
Enzymes are not "magic
pills". Rather, they
supplement the work
of your body's organs
and glands to completely
digest the food you
eat. Some people will
notice a dramatic improvement
in their energy levels
and feeling of vitality.
Others might notice
significant improvement
in the functioning of
their digestive tract
and relief of long term
chronic conditions.
Some people's recognition
of improvement will
be more subtle and gradual.
It all depends on the
underlying condition
of deficiency and how
quickly the imbalance
can be corrected.
Remember:
every body
is different.
Will
taking supplemental
enzymes interfere with
other medicines?
Unless specified
by your doctor, you
may continue your
supplemental enzymes,
since they are organic
products and are classified
as food by the FDA.

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