Amazon Herbal Club

Enzymes are energized protein molecules found in all living cells. They catalyze and regulate all biochemical reactions that occur within the human body. They are also instrumental in digestion.

There are three classes of enzymes:
metabolic enzymes speed up the chemical reaction within the cells for detoxification and energy production. They are produced by every living cell. However, the liver, pancreas, gallbladder and other organs play a vital role in their production;
digestive enzymes are secreted along the digestive tract to break food down into nutrients and waste;
and food enzymes from raw foods, which start food digestion.

Our bodies- all organs and tissues-are run by metabolic enzymes. These enzyme workers take proteins, fats, carbohydrates, starches and sugars, etc and structure them into healthy bodies, keeping everything working well.
Digestive enzymes have only three main jobs: digesting protein, carbohydrate, and fat. Proteases are enzymes that digest protein; amylases digest carbohydrate, and lipases digest fat. The body does not make cellulase, an enzyme necessary for proper digestion of fiber, so it must be introduced through the raw foods we eat.

Proper digestion can't occur without the necessary digestive enzymes. If they aren't present in foods, they must be synthesized by the body (a process that requires tremendous metabolic energy and machinery) or added as a supplement. If right amount of enzymes are not supplied, the digestive process is not function properly. This burden is what's known as digestive stress. Unfortunately, the typical American diet is almost entirely cooked or processed fare, with very few raw foods and therefore very few food enzymes.

A fruit left on the counter for too long becomes over-ripe and turns to mush. The ripening process is due to living enzymes breaking down and digesting the fruit. In contrast, pasteurized fruit juice can remain fresh for a year because the enzymes have been destroyed by heat

The digestion of a banana requires very few stomach secretions. What about a piece of fried chicken? Chicken contains no enzymes to help digestion. If the chicken has been eaten quickly, there will be little enzyme activity from the saliva. It will sit in the stomach like a lead brick. The body is forced to produce strong acid secretions to build up to do some of the digestion. A coffee or two splashed down, dilutes the digestive juices. The barely-digested chicken then moves on to the small intestine where bile from the gallbladder emulsifies the chicken fat. The chicken is still in need of more digestion so the remainder of the work will require the help of the pancreas. To accomplish such a difficult task, the pancreas must produce large quantities of enzymes which place a heavy burden on it.

In general, a high-stress diet has one or more of the following characteristics.

It contains foods that cannot be adequately broken down because they are loaded with preservatives or are highly processed.

It triggers an immune response in a susceptible person.

It contains too much or too little carbohydrate, protein, or fat, so the nutrients are out of balance with the body's metabolic requirements.

The nutrients are not available to the body because the necessary enzymes are in short supply.

All of these factors cause the digestive system to work very hard to squeeze whatever nutrients it can from the foods that are eaten. Over time, the combination of poor nutrient absorption and digestive system overload can trigger a host of symptoms, including:

Lack of energy

Bloating, indigestion, and gas

Poor elimination (constipation or frequent loose stools)

Poor weight control (underweight or overweight)

Hormone imbalances

Dry or oily skin

Thin and/or brittle bones, as in osteoporosis

Frequent illness resulting from a poorly functioning immune system

Plant based enzymes are the most popular enzymes found in natural food supplements. Amazon Herb Co. Digestive enzymes may help with indigestion, heartburn, irregularity, gas, bloating, constipation, etc. that is often a direct result of digestive stress. Digestazon Plus, Digestazon.

When considering the ideal diet for optimal digestion and nutrient absorption, please keep in mind that what's "ideal" can vary from one person to another. It depends on a number of factors, including metabolism, current health status, and any existing food sensitivities.

Yoga and Digestion

One of the digestive benefits of yoga is that it restricts the blood flow to certain parts of the body while holding some poses. Once these poses are released, this area of the body is then flooded with blood and oxygen. Oxygen has healing properties and is necessary for proper organ function.

Another major benefit of yoga is the breathing. Breath alone has healing properties. Simply forcing ourselves to breath into our bellies during certain yoga poses, sends breath and healing to the digestive area. Regular focused breathing can also open up blocked areas of energy in the body- blocked energy, or chi, in the stomach/intestines, is often the cause of digestive problems.

The source:
Enzyme Nutrition, by Dr. Edward Howell
The Stress of Poor Digestion By Ellen W. Cutler, D.C., with Jeremy E. Kaslow, M.D.;
The New Optimum Nutrition Bible, Patrick Holford; wikipedia.org.; Amazon Herb Co. resources; web.

Disclaimer: All the information presented on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or any other medical professional.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.