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Enzymes

An enzyme is a biological molecule that catalyzes a chemical reaction. Most enzymes are proteins and the word "enzyme" is often used to mean a protein enzyme, but some RNA molecules also have catalytic activity, and to differentiate them from protein enzymes, they are referred to as RNA enzymes or ribozymes.

Enzymes are essential for life because most chemical reactions in living cells would occur too slowly, or would lead to different products without enzymes.

There are three classes of enzymes: metabolic enzymes, which run our bodies; digestive enzymes, which digest our food; and food enzymes from raw foods, which start food digestion. Our bodies- all organs and tissues-are run by metabolic enzymes.

These enzyme workers take proteins, fats, carbohydrates, starches and sugars, etc and structure them into healthy bodies, keeping everything working well.

Foods Rich In Enzymes

While all raw foods contain enzymes, the most powerful enzyme-rich food is sprouted seeds, grains, and legumes. Sprouting increases the enzyme content in these foods enormously.

Lack of digestive enzymes can be a factor in food allergies. Symptoms of digestive enzymes depletion are bloating, belching, gas, bowel disorders, abdominal cramping, heartburn and food allergies.

All of us loose our ability to produce concentrated digestive enzymes as we grow older. In cases where age is a factor, or where lack of digestive enzymes causes food allergies, supplementation may be helpful. You may also want to explore food combining.

The following digestive enzyme supplements aid digestion:

AMYLASE works to breakdown carbohydrates i.e. starches, sugars
BROMELAIN taken from pineapple plant, helps break down proteins
HCL hydrochloric acid stimulates pancreatic secretion, activates pepsin and sterilizes the stomach from bacteria and parasites
LACTASE needed to break down lactose found in milk products
LIPASE works to break down fats into fatty acids and glycerol
OX BILE improves fat digestion, stimulates bile flow, aids gallbladder
PANCREATIN contains protease, amylase, and lipase, functions in the intestine and in the blood
PAPAIN extracted from papaya fruit, aids in protein digestion
PEPSIN breaks down proteins, function depends on availability of HCL
PROTEASE works to breakdown protein into amino

Food Enzymes Tips

The organic foods store near you can be a great resource for raw foods that are full of these digestive enzymes. A raw foods recipe book can be a great source for innovative ways to combine raw foods and add them to your daily diet. By increasing the number of foods rich in Living enzymes in your digestive system, you increase the energy and power of the foods that you ingest, unlocking their full potential to heal diseases or promote healthy activity and generation of healthy body tissues. Our bodies are designed to process raw vegetarian ingredients, and these ingredients are foods enzymes are naturally found in. Enzyme-rich foods include raw grains, beans, and sprouts. Those foods that are pasteurized or processed are no longer rich these digestive elements, as they are destroyed by the heat required for these processes. The best bet is to include raw and organic foods in your daily diet, and abstain from processed and refined foods that are harder for your body to digest.