Enzymes and Your Health                                        

Enzymes are amazing nutrients. They have been used to digest food, stop pain, kill viruses, and keep us alive and healthy. Enzymes are essential to the functions of our bodies. Chemical reactions in the body are initiated by enzymes. My experience with enzymes started when I first started learning the natural health ways. I developed really bad indigestion. Since I was a middle-aged college student, as well as helping out in a health shop, I thought it was stress. My mentor mentioned enzymes and so I tried them. Needless to say, my digestion problem became history. Today enzymes are a part of my healthy supplementation. I have observed older people eating antacids like candy. What they don’t know is that their stomachs actually need more acid. Food enzymes contain betaine HCI (hydrochloric acid) and are just one type of enzyme available today. Let’s take a serious look at what enzyme nutrition may be able to do for the body.

As we age our bodies struggle to produce adequate enzymes. In a perfect world where one could go outside and harvest their food directly from the garden to the table, we would probably not need to help our bodies digest protein, fat and carbohydrates. However, today food travels thousands of miles to our table. Enzymes are lost. Freshness is key to keeping the life force in food. A broad- spectrum enzyme will aid the digestion of fats, carbohydrates and protein. Vitamins and minerals absorption may be enhanced.

Other benefits of food enzymes may be an increase in healthy intestinal bacteria, pH levels may become normal and the colon may become less toxic. A good broad-spectrum enzyme will include betaine HCI over 300mg (digests protein), bile salt 80 mg, (digests fats), bromelain 100mg (digests protein), lipase 30 LU (digests fats), alpha amylase 180mg (mycozyme-digests starch carbohydrates), pancreatic(8X USP) 45mg (digests fats, proteins and carbohydrates) papain 90mgs (digests protein) and pepsin (1:10,000) 120mgs (digests protein) . Normally our stomach would secrete betaine hydrochloric acid in adequate amounts to digest our food. As we age, particularly if one eats a lot of processed foods, our stomachs cannot keep up with the demands we place on it. A broad-spectrum digestive enzyme may be the answer.

Enzymes can help with more than just digestion. Studies have shown the benefits of systemic enzymes. Nattokinase enzyme is an ancient health secret of the Japanese. There is a Japanese legend handed down over thousands of years. A famous Japanese warrior by the name of Yoshiie Minamoto was pressed to pack hot cooked soybeans in straw while traveling. The sticky mess was later unpacked and considered spoiled. The warrior’s horses ate them! Most of you probably know horses are picky eaters. When the horses preferred the overcooked soybeans people started eating them and noticing the health benefits. Healthy circulation is needed by 60,000 miles of blood vessels in our bodies. Nattokinase is a systemic enzyme from Japan. The fibrinolytic blood clearing system of the body may be helped by supplementing with nattokinase, a soy enzyme. Nattokinase, pancreatin, bromelain and papain are systemic enzymes which may reduce cellular irritation, balance the immune system, and clear the blood flow for a healthy lifestyle.

There is a new kid on the block! Serrapeptase is not new to Europeans or Asians. These people have used enzymes for many years to repair the ailments of the body. Serrapeptase may digest dead tissue, blood clots, and cysts. Clinical studies have shown serrapeptase, to be superior to other proteolytic enzymes in reducing inflammation, clearing fibrin from the blood anti-edemic activity in tissues of the body. This enzyme has been used to clear arterial blockages in Europe. Other disease states have been helped as well. Many inflammatory conditions have improved. Carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and fibrocystic breast disease, to name a few have responded to supplementing with serrapeptase enzyme.

Of course a healthy lifestyle is key to any supplement being of benefit to our bodies. We need to eat close to nature, lots of vegetables and fruits. Whole organic grains and meat for protein are essential. We need to walk at least two miles daily to keep our circulation flowing freely to all the tissues and organs of the body. Take the right supplements from a quality control company recommended by you health care practitioner, not the cheapest on the store shelf. This information is not meant to diagnose, treat or prescribe anything. Always check with your health care provider before making any changes in your life.

Until next time I am wishing for you good health. Eva may be reached at littleherbshoppe@hotmail.com