Enzymes for Digestion
Raw food, much like our bodies, is highly perishable. When subjected to temperatures exceeding 116 degrees, raw foods undergo rapid decomposition, akin to the effects of a high fever on our bodies. Among the constituents of food susceptible to breakdown are enzymes, which play a crucial role in aiding digestion. Enzymes are proteins with a specific three-dimensional structure in space. However, heating them beyond 118 degrees can alter this structure.
Once enzymes are exposed to heat, they lose their ability to fulfill their intended functions. Consuming cooked foods can contribute to chronic illnesses because their damaged enzyme content necessitates our bodies to produce extra enzymes for the digestion process. Digesting cooked food demands more energy and utilizes valuable metabolic enzymes. In contrast, raw food is more easily digested, passing through the digestive tract in approximately half to one-third of the time it takes for cooked food.
The consumption of enzyme-depleted foods places a burden on organs such as the pancreas, gradually exhausting their capacity. This can lead to impaired pancreatic function and a progressive loss of the ability to digest food, particularly after a lifetime of consuming processed foods.
Insufficient digestive enzymes can also be a contributing factor to food allergies, with symptoms including bloating, belching, gas, bowel disorders, abdominal cramping, heartburn, and food allergies.
Digestive enzymes, which are specialized proteins, facilitate the breakdown of food into nutrients that our bodies can readily absorb. The human body naturally produces around 22 different digestive enzymes, while many more can be found in fruits, vegetables, meats, grains, and other foods.
- Here are a few examples of natural digestive enzymes:
- Bromelain: Derived from the stems of pineapples, this enzyme is renowned for its healing and anti-inflammatory properties. It may also serve as a helpful dietary aid. Pineapples have a long history as a medicinal plant among the indigenous populations of South and Central America.
- DGL (Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Root): As a natural antacid, DGL has had the glycyrrhizinic acid component removed. It may stimulate our body's defense mechanisms, leading to improved mucous quality, prolonged intestinal cell life, and enhanced microcirculation in the gastrointestinal lining.
- Papaya: This tropical fruit contains active enzymes that enhance digestive and metabolic functions. Papaya enzymes, derived from the fruit, inner bark, and stems, possess a high concentration of papain, a protein-digesting enzyme that efficiently metabolizes proteins in food.
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