29 Sep All About Enzymes and Why They are So Important

I have gone my entire life not knowing anything about enzymes – well except those classes in Nursing school, which I’d like to forget.  This all changed several months ago, when it was suggested to me that I try taking some enzyme supplements as part of my wellness routine.  Curious, I started taking some dietary enzymes and was so excited about the results and how I felt, that I started digging around to learn more about them.  I wanted to learn all about enzymes and why they are so important. Now, with a little knowledge under my belt, I’m convinced that everyone HAS to hear about them!

What are Enzymes?

First, a technical definition (just to be official):  Enzymes are proteins produced by living organisms and are made up of amino acids.  They are powerful catalysts that create many of the essential biochemical reactions in our bodies.  Here’s just a few of the things they do:

• digest fat and clean up plaque in our circulatory system
• can support weight management
• digest fiber (most people today do not digest fiber)
• digest carbohydrates
• support the immune system
• help maintain the normal pH of the stomach and the gut, supporting healthy digestion
• support faster healing because they improve circulation and provide the protein and necessary nutrients for new tissue growth
• provide a foundation for a more restful sleep
• support glandular function and hormone production, including insulin
• facilitate toxic waste disposal
• digest protein
• stimulate the brain for memory retention and alertness

I think of enzymes as a cook at a great restaurant.  This cook is always putting together high quality ingredients to create meals that nourish and satisfy his clients.  When needed, this cook will go to the garden or the pantry to get the ingredients he needs to continue cooking. But what would happen if nobody tended the garden or stocked the pantry?  One day, the cook would go to the garden and there would be no produce.  He would look in the pantry and there would be nothing stored there.  Without his high quality ingredients, he can no longer create those incredible dishes and his customers would start to suffer.

How to Destroy Your Enzyme Supply

We are born with a garden and pantry full of enzymes to use throughout our lives.  Our bodies are created so that when treated properly, the enzymes will do their jobs well, creating health and vitality. Then they will be reprocessed and returned to storage to be used, again, as needed.

As with the cook, the problem arises when we do not properly care for our bodies.  Enzyme deficiency (or depletion of our enzyme storage) is a growing problem.  Here’s a few things that we do that will destroy your enzymes and prevent them being reprocessed:

• Consuming acetaminophen, aspirin and ibuprofen
• Receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• Use of antibiotics
• Use of a microwave oven
• Eating fast food, frozen, boxed or highly processed foods
• Stress
• Disease
• Petrochemicals
• Aging
• Cleaning solvents and household cleaners
• Heating food over 120 degrees

Without enzymes, metabolic processes slow down and some stop altogether, leaving us with a host of problems including allergies and gluten intolerance, exhaustion and poor sleep, digestive issues and hormone imbalances.

How to Replenish Your Enzyme Supply

So what can we do about enzyme depletion?  Just as the cook must tend to the garden and stock his pantry, so must we start to care for our bodies by consistently supplying it with high quality nutrients. You can find enzymes in all raw food products that are not genetically modified.  We can replenish our enzyme supply by eating live (raw) food, drinking live juices and by taking high quality enzyme supplements.

If you want to live a life of health and vitality, take care of your body!  Build up your enzyme reserves! They may be so depleted that you have a lot of catching up to do – it may even take years – but the life that you get back is so worth it!

If you are interested in replenishing your enzymes and would like a recommendation, send me a note in the comment section or through the Contact Us page. I have some great suggestions!

Want to learn more about high quality supplements? Read about the fish oil supplement I take HERE.