FOOD IS POWER, FOOD IS HEALTH, & FOOD IS ENERGY!
Yet, for many people consuming the “standard American diet” of boxed, bagged, frozen, and canned food, just isn’t able to provide the nourishment our body needs, leaving us hungry and in a state of nutritional depletion, digestive distress, and fatigue.
We need to eat real food to feed our living bodies. Real, whole-food nourishment not only provides us with the typical essential micro- and macronutrients that we so often think of in the form of fiber, protein, and healthy fats, but eating the “rainbow” will also produce enzymes that will help our body digest and convert the food we eat into energy.
DIGESTIVE ENZYMES
High-stress levels, inflammation, poor food and lifestyle choices all wreak havoc on the digestive system. Digestive complaints include bloating, gas, cramping, and feeling tired after eating. (Have you ever felt like having a nap after consuming a big dinner?). In fact nearly one in three people experience some type of digestive problem. After years of eating a poor diet, the gut is one of the first parts of the body to show signs of inefficiencies, in particular, a lack of digestive enzymes. Although the body produces its own
digestive enzymes, it may not be producing enough. For example, anyone with lactose intolerance is likely not producing enough of the lactase enzyme to adequately digest dairy products.
Enzyme production decreases with age. This is why so many older people are not able to enjoy many of the same foods they did when they were younger.
In addition, during cooking and processing, the natural enzymes present in raw foods are denatured. There are few people that adhere to a mainly raw food diet. And even in the case of a raw-food vegan diet, the body doesn’t produce the enzyme cellulase at all, which can be problematic when digesting all that roughage.
SUPPLEMENT WITH DIGESTIVE ENZYMES
Supplements are intended to support an already healthy diet and lifestyle, and in the case of enzymes, they support the breakdown of a whole-real foods diet. The typical benefits of enzyme supplementation include reduced digestive distress, increased energy, and improved regularity. SOOTHE DIGESTION: When undigested foods travel through the intestines, they can irritate and potentially damage the sensitive intestinal wall. Over time, this irritation may reduce our digestive capacity and negatively influence the vital absorption process.
INCREASE ENERGY: According to Yuri Elkaim, author of Eating for Energy, up to 80% of our body’s vital energy is spent on digestion. By aiding the breakdown and absorption of foods, you can free up enormous amounts of energy, increasing physical vitality, and enhancing stamina. PROMOTE REGULARITY: Promoting proper digestion may encourage a healthy intestinal environment, and help relieve occasional constipation and irregularity.
ENZYME-SPECIFIC REMEDIES
The human body produces many enzymes to facilitate digestion. The role of digestive enzymes is to break down food-derived fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into smaller substances that our bodies can use. Because enzymes are specific to what reactions they will catalyze, there are different enzymes to facilitate the digestion of the various components of our diet.
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBOHYDRASES: This category of enzymes breaks down carbohydrates and fiber into simple sugars.
ALPHA-GALACTOSIDASE: Helps digest the gas-causing carbs found in beans, such as raffinose and stachyose.
LACTASE: Converts lactose (milk sugar) into its component sugars (glucose and galactose) to support digestion of dairy products and prevent or mitigate lactose intolerance.
CELLULOSE: The body doesn’t produce this enzyme at all, so supplementation is necessary to assist the body in breaking down the cell walls of plants, releasing the nutrients for the body to absorb. There are several other carbohydrases that target specific types of carbohydrates to digest.
PROTEINS
These enzymes maximize digestion of proteins for improved nutrient uptake and reduce the likelihood of developing certain food sensitivities.
PROTEASES: Also referred to as proteolytic enzymes, these break down proteins into amino acids. Gluten is a protein that many individuals have trouble tolerating. Enzymes that break down the peptide bonds of the gluten molecule minimize the digestive discomfort that can result from gluten consumption. Similarly, the whey protein found in dairy products is a large protein that must be broken down in order to be absorbed and used by the body.
Protease enzymes break down these large protein molecules so that the beneficial amino acids can be absorbed, and the smaller peptides will not cause digestive discomfort.
The are several other proteases that target specific types of proteins to digest:
LIPASES: These enzymes digest fats (lipids) into fatty acids and glycerol to improve fat utilization, supporting gall bladder and pancreas function.
If your goal is to achieve your best digestive health and function, and not feel hungry after eating, I recommend supplementing with a complete, multi-enzyme or maximum digestive support formula, and always look for the ISURA™ logo. Every time you purchase an ISURA-certified product you cast your vote for premium products that support your health, well-being, and safety.
