Raw foods are a great source of enzymes. But why aren’t other types of foods a good source? Well, it has to do with what exactly an enzyme is and how it responds to various processes.

Enzymes

Enzymes are proteins involved in over 4000 different logical functions, principally chemical reactions. Enzymes work as a catalyst, lessening the amount of energy necessary for certain chemical reactions vital to the body. Without enzymes, processes in the body would simply cease to work. Enzymes are absolutely vital to life.

Digestion

One of the major functions enzymes are integral to is digestion. There are several types of digestive enzymes, each of them serving to break down a particular time of substance, from starches to carbs to fats to proteins.

Apart from digestive enzymes, there are two other types enzymes, those being metabolic enzymes (enzymes that work inside single cells) and food enzymes (enzymes we get from food) such as cellulose, the enzyme responsible for breaking down fiber.

Enzymes are regulated by accelerators and inhibitors. As their names would logically suggest, accelerators speed up enzyme action, while inhibitors slow it down. Most poisons and drugs are some type of inhibitor.

In food production, cooking and processing, most of the natural enzymes are eliminated. It is exclusively raw foods still maintain one hundred percent of their enzyme potential. Actually eating only raw foods, unfortunately, is often impossible or hard to do, when you factor in the tremendous amount of processed food that is readily available compared to raw foods and the amount of time people actually have. Oftentimes, people would opt out of raw foods with all the necessary nutrients in favor of fast food, which is quick, hot and cheap. The danger of eating no raw foods is that there are some enzymes that are only contained in foods.

Production of Enzymes

As the human body grows older, there is a natural decline in the production of enzymes, which may over time, take its toll on one’s overall health. Cellular and body repair can be put on hold if the digestive system requires more energy to perform. This can happen if not enough enzymes are present.

To avoid enzyme deficiency, it’s a good idea to actively, willfully increase your consumption of raw fruits and vegetables. If you would rather eat a cooked meal, try lightly steaming vegetables to prevent complete enzyme loss. Eating your raw foods first can help with enzyme production and digestion. Another alternative can be enzyme supplements. Supplements are all-natural and have no side effects.

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Sources:
http://www.living-foods.com/articles/rawvscooked.html
http://www.livescience.com/health/060704_bad_raw_food.html