What are enzymes, and what is enzyme therapy?
American, Dr Edward Howell pioneered research into enzyme therapy in the 1930s. ‘Enzymes are substances that make life possible,’ wrote Howell in his seminal work, Enzyme Nutrition – the Food Enzyme Concept.
We are guilty of being careless with enzymes.
They are the most precious asset we possess and we should welcome outside enzyme help.
Without enzymes our bodies would not be able to harvest the nutrients from the foods we eat. There are thousands of enzymes in the body, but they can all be divided into two main categories: metabolic and digestive. Digestive enzymes break down proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the gastrointestinal tract. They are essential for the body to absorb nutrients from food as well as vitamin supplements.
Metabolic enzymes ensure the efficient running of the body’s biochemical functions, such as detoxification and energy production, helping to repair damaged cells and enabling the body to build new cells. Then there are exogenous, or outside, enzymes that are present in all raw foods. These provide extra digestive enzymes that the body can utilize to break down foods more efficiently.’
Modern dietary habits leave many people enzyme deficient. Cooked and processed foods, fast foods and a stressful and hectic lifestyle all drain the body of natural enzyme reserves. Cooking kills almost 100 per cent of enzymes in food. Raw foods are high in enzymes but a raw foods diet is not a practical solution for everyone. Just by eating the wrong foods and not digesting them thoroughly you build up errors of metabolism and poor absorption. Always read the label. Use only as directed.
