Not having enough enzymes in your system can be dangerous and unfortunately for us, it’s now easier to not get enzymes in our daily diet than it is to get them!

What are Enzymes?

Enzymes are a protein essential in over 4000 different biochemical processes necessary for the body to maintain normal function. They are involved in cellular communication and repair, digestion, metabolism and many other important actions. They come in three varieties – digestive, metabolic and food. Digestive enzymes, obviously, are the ones essential to digestion, metabolic work inside single cells and food enzymes are enzymes our bodies cannot produce which must be absorbed in the food we eat.

How do Enzymes work?

Enzymes works by being catalysts – that is, enzymes are facilitate chemical reactions by reducing the amount of energy that’s required to perform a particular process. This makes them faster. This makes your body efficient.

In the digestive system, enzymes are responsible for breaking down the food we eat into the particles small enough for the body to absorb. They are in the saliva, the pancreas, the stomach and the small intestine. Different enzymes break down different types of substances.

Enzyme Defiency

In the event of an enzyme deficiency, the digestive process may be hindered. Gas, bloating, acid reflux, diarrhea, constipation, cramping, and heartburn can all indicate that you are not getting enough enzymes. Enzyme deficiency can also lead to severe problems like hypertension, high cholesterol, weight changes, IBS, colitis, diabetes and Crohn’s disease.

Enzymes are harder to get now because we don’t always get them from the food we eat anymore. Cooking, processing, canning and several other procedures that are often performed on foods, particularly fast, convenience foods, destroy the natural enzymes in the foods. The best way to get enzymes from foods is to eat raw foods, but these are often difficult to consume, especially if you’re in a hurry and looking for a hot meal. Think of it this way: inhibitors are things that prevent enzymes from working at their maximum capacity. Enzymes can be inhibited by other chemicals as well as temperature. Cooking and processing inhibit enzymes. Most drugs and poisons are inhibitors. Enzymes are important, and they decrease naturally when we get older!

To keep your enzyme levels up to par, you can consciously eat more raw fruits and vegetables to ensure your enzyme intake. You can also supplement your diet with enzyme supplements which will contain a special blend of key enzymes designed to keep your enzyme levels high. Good enzyme levels will strengthen your digestive system and allow maximum efficiency when it comes to nutrient absorption and waste elimination.