Getting to Know Your Enzymes

[Guest guest]

Getting to Know Your Enzymes JoAnn Guest

Jul 12, 2002 10:22 PDT

Getting to Know Your Enzymes

 

The enzymes that we know about are divided by what their purpose is

in

the body; they are called oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases,

lyases, isomerases and ligases. The digestive enzymes are the

hydrolases.

Digestive enzymes that end in –ase are named by the food substance

they

act upon. For example, the enzyme that acts on phosphorus is named

phosphatase; one of the enzymes that work on sugar (sucrose) is

called

sucrase; and enzymes that break down proteins are called protease

enzymes or proteolytic enzymes. Lipase breaks down fats, cellulase

breaks down cellulose, and amalase breaks down starches. Trypsin and

cymotrypsin, produced by the pancrease, break down proteins.

The enzyme rennin causes milk to coagulate, changing its protein,

casein, into a form the body can use. Renin also releases minerals

from

milk. Lactase is the enzyme that breaks down the milk sugar lactose.

An

absence of lactase is what causes many delayed allergies to milk.

 

How Lipase works

 

Enzymes that break down fat are especially important in Western

cultures

that tend to eat more fats than the body needs. Inadequate digestion

of

fat can cause stress in the entire digestive system, contributing to

its

chronic diseases.

 

Lipase and phospholipase break down fats in many stages, beginning

with

the upper portion of the stomach, called the cardial region. Here the

lipase enzymes work in the acidic environment of the stomach to

produce

specific breakdown substances..

If we aren't supplying enough enzymes here and in the main portion of

the stomach to break down the fat we eat, when it reaches the small

intestines it puts a much bigger load on the pancreas and gall

bladder.

The lipases supplied by the pancreas only work in the alkalinity of

the

small intestines, producing a whole different set of fat breakdown

products than the acidic environment of the stomach.

An enzyme supplement can greatly aid the digestive system by making

sure

that fats we eat are well down the road to digestion by the time they

reach the small intestine.

 

Enzyme Partners

 

Although a digestive enzyme is a protein, it needs an amino acid and

a

cofactor, usually a vitamin or mineral, to work properly. Two of the

most important digestive enzyme cofactors are magnesium and zinc.

Magnesium alone is an essential cofactor (meaning it won't work

without

the magnesium present) for at least 300 different enzymes. Other

mineral

cofactors are iron, copper, manganese, selenium and molybdenum.

 

The B Vitamins thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and biotin are

all

coenzymes that help us digest starches, fats and proteins. One study

showed that taking a B complex vitamin supplement increased the

activity

of one enzyme by 25 percent!

 

Unlike the enzymes, the coenzymes are destroyed as they work

With the enzymes. Thus, we need to replace our minerals and vitamins

through what we eat. This is an important reason to take a good

multivitamin every day. Read my book in the series, " Creating Your

Personal Vitamin Plan.

 

 

Keeping Your Enzyme Tank Full

 

Many stresses of modern life can contribute to the destruction of

enzymes, including toxins and pollutants; mental, emotional and

physical

stress; yo-yo dieting, drug and alcohol abuse, improper nutrition;

and

allergies. Some substances, such as fluoride, are necessary in

extremely

tiny amounts as enzyme cofactors, but in larger amounts they actually

begin to destroy enzymes. Cadmium is found naturally with zinc, but

when

we get too much, it replaces zinc in the enzyme pathways and then

can't

finish the job, wreaking havoc on our cell membranes.

 

Food Sources-

Some of the best food sources of enzymes are avocadoes, bananas,

papayas

(organic only—as papayas are genetically modified), mangoes,

pineapples,

sprouts and the aspergillus plant.

 

Digestive enzyme supplements can work wonders for those who need a

little extra help with digestion. If you have symptoms of

indigestion,

such as gas, bloating, and cramping, or if you suspect you have food

allergies, digestive enzyme supplements can help speed up the

digestion

process.

 

There are two sources of enzyme supplements; plants and animals. The

most common sources of plant enzymes are papaya, from which papain is

extracted, and pineapple, from which bromelain is extracted. Both

papain

and bromelain are proteases, or protein-digesting enzymes. I

recommend

you use plant-based enzymes.

When you take the digestive enzymes, be sure it includes the three

major

types of enzymes: amylase, protease (or proteolytic enzymes) and

lipase.

If you eat dairy products and want some help digesting the lactose in

them, get an enzyme supplement that contains lactase. Take them just

before or with meals.

 

The Four Basic Types of Digestive Enzymes

 

1.Amylase or amylolytic enzymes are found in the saliva, pancreas and

intestines. They aid in the breakdown of carbs.

2.Protease or proteolytic enzymes are found in the stomach, pancreas

and

intestines. They aid in the breakdown of proteins.

3.Lipase or lipolytic enzymes aid in the breakdown of fats.

4.Cellulase aids in breaking down cellulose.

 

Amylase Enzymes that digest starches

 

1.Alpha-amylase is found in saliva and in the pancreas.

It helps break down starches and sugars.

2.Beta-amylase is found in raw, unprocessed grains, and vegetables,

and

also helps break down starch to sugar.

3.Mylase and glucomylase are starch-digesting enzymes capable of

dissolving thousands of times their own weight in starches in the

small

intestine.

 

 

Protease Enzymes that digest proteins

 

1.Prolase is a concentrated protein-digesting enzyme derived from

papain, which is extracted from papaya.

2.Protease is also extracted from papaya.

3.Bromelain is a digestive enzyme derived from pineapple.

4.Pepsin is released into the stomach, and splits protein into amino

acids. In supplements, pepsin is made from animal enzymes.

5.Trypsin and chymotrypsin, produced by the pancreas, break down

proteins.

6.Renin causes milk to coagulate, changing its protein, casein, into

a

form the body can use. Renin also releases minerals from milk.

7.Pancreatin is an enzyme derived from the sections of an animal

pancreas. This enzyme functions best in the small intestine.

 

 

 

 

 

JoAnn Guest

jogu-

Friendsforhea-

http://canceranswer.homestead.com/AIM.html

theaimcompanies

" Health is not a Medical Issue "

 

 

 

 

© 2001 Topica Inc. TFMB

Copyright | Terms | Anti-Spam Policy Concerned about privacy?

Topica is TrustE certified.

See our Privacy Policy.

[Guest guest]

FriendsForHealthNaturally , " JoAnn Guest

<angelprincessjo> " <angelprincessjo> wrote:

Getting to Know Your Enzymes JoAnn Guest

Dec 07, 2002 09:18 PST

Getting to Know Your Enzymes

 

The enzymes that we know about are divided

by what their purpose is in the body;

they are called oxidoreductases,

transferases, hydrolases, lyases,

isomerases and ligases.

 

The digestive enzymes are the hydrolases.

 

Digestive enzymes that end in -ase

are named by the food substance they act upon.

For example, the enzyme that acts on

phosphorus is named phosphatase;

 

one of the enzymes that work on sugar

(sucrose) is called sucrase;

 

and enzymes that break down proteins

are called protease enzymes or proteolytic enzymes.

 

Lipase breaks down fats,

 

cellulase breaks down cellulose,

 

and amalase breaks down starches.

 

Trypsin and cymotrypsin,

produced by the pancreas,break down proteins.

 

The enzyme rennin causes milk to coagulate,

changing its protein, casein, into a form the body can use.

 

Renin also releases minerals from milk.

 

Lactase is the enzyme that breaks down the milk sugar lactose.

 

An absence of lactase is what causes many delayed allergies to milk.

 

How Lipase works

 

Enzymes that break down fat are especially important

in Western cultures that tend to eat more fats than the body needs.

 

Inadequate digestion of fat can cause stress in the entire digestive

system, contributing to its chronic diseases.

 

Lipase and phospholipase break down fats in many stages,

beginning with the upper portion of the stomach,

called the cardial region.

 

Here the lipase enzymes work in the acidic environment of the stomach

to produce specific breakdown substances..

 

If we aren't supplying enough enzymes here and in the main portion of

the stomach to break down the fat we eat, when it reaches the small

intestines it puts a much bigger load on the pancreas and gall

bladder.

 

The lipases supplied by the pancreas only work in the

*alkalinity* of the small intestines,

producing a whole different set of fat breakdown products than the

acidic environment of the stomach.

 

An enzyme supplement can greatly aid the digestive system

by making sure that fats we eat are well down the road

to digestion by the time they reach the small intestine.

 

Enzyme Partners

 

Although a digestive enzyme is a protein,

it needs an amino acid and a cofactor,

usually a vitamin or mineral, to work properly.

 

Two of the most important digestive enzyme cofactors

are magnesium and zinc.

Magnesium alone is an essential cofactor

(meaning it won't work without the magnesium present)

for at least 300 different enzymes.

 

Other mineral cofactors are iron, copper, manganese, selenium and

molybdenum.

 

The B Vitamins thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and biotin are

all

coenzymes that help us digest starches, fats and proteins.

 

One study showed that taking a B complex vitamin supplement increased

the activity of one enzyme by 25 percent!

 

Unlike the enzymes, the coenzymes are destroyed as they work

With the enzymes.

Thus, we need to replace our minerals and vitamins through what we

eat.

This is an important reason to take a good multivitamin every day.

 

 

Keeping Your Enzyme Tank Full

 

Many stresses of modern life can contribute to the destruction of

enzymes, including toxins and pollutants;

mental, emotional and physical stress;

yo-yo dieting,

drug and alcohol abuse,

improper nutrition; and allergies.

 

Some substances, such as fluoride,

are necessary in extremely tiny amounts as enzyme cofactors,

but in larger amounts they actually begin to destroy enzymes.

 

Cadmium is found naturally with zinc, but when we get too much, it

replaces zinc in the enzyme pathways and then can't finish the job,

wreaking havoc on our cell membranes.

 

Food Sources-

 

Some of the best food sources of enzymes are

avocadoes,

bananas,

papayas (organic only-as papayas are genetically modified),

mangoes,

pineapples,

sprouts

and the aspergillus plant.

 

Digestive enzyme supplements can work wonders for those who need a

little extra help with digestion.

 

If you have symptoms of indigestion, such as gas, bloating, and

cramping, or if you suspect you have food allergies, digestive enzyme

supplements can help speed up the digestion process.

 

There are two sources of enzyme supplements;

plants and animals.

The most common sources of plant enzymes are papaya, from which

papain

is extracted,

and pineapple, from which bromelain is extracted.

Both papain and bromelain are proteases,

or protein-digesting enzymes.

I recommend you use plant-based enzymes.

 

When you take the digestive enzymes, be sure it includes the three

major

types of enzymes:

amylase,

protease (or proteolytic enzymes)

and lipase.

If you eat dairy products and want some help digesting the lactose in

them, get an enzyme supplement that contains lactase.

 

Take them just before or with meals.

 

The Four Basic Types of Digestive Enzymes

 

1. Amylase or amylolytic enzymes are found in the saliva, pancreas

and

intestines. They aid in the breakdown of carbs.

 

2. Protease or proteolytic enzymes are found in the stomach, pancreas

and intestines. They aid in the breakdown of proteins.

 

3. Lipase or lipolytic enzymes aid in the breakdown of fats.

 

4. Cellulase aids in breaking down cellulose.

 

Amylase Enzymes that digest starches

 

1. Alpha-amylase is found in saliva and in the pancreas.

It helps break down starches and sugars.

 

2. Beta-amylase is found in raw, unprocessed grains, and vegetables,

and

also helps break down starch to sugar.

 

3. Mylase and glucomylase are starch-digesting enzymes capable of

dissolving thousands of times their own weight in starches in the

small

intestine.

 

 

Protease Enzymes that digest proteins

 

1. Prolase is a concentrated protein-digesting enzyme derived from

papain, which is extracted from papaya.

 

2. Protease is also extracted from papaya.

 

3. Bromelain is a digestive enzyme derived from pineapple.

 

4. Pepsin is released into the stomach, and splits protein into amino

acids. In supplements, pepsin is made from animal enzymes.

 

5. Trypsin and chymotrypsin, produced by the pancreas, break down

proteins.

 

6. Renin causes milk to coagulate, changing its protein, casein, into

a

form the body can use. Renin also releases minerals from milk.

 

7. Pancreatin is an enzyme derived from the sections of an animal

pancreas. This enzyme functions best in the small intestine.

 

 

JoAnn Guest

jogu-

 

 

JoAnn Guest

jgu-

Friendsforhea-

DietaryTi-

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Botanicals.html

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/AIM.html

 

*theaimcompanies*

-Wisdom of the past,Food of the future-

" Health is not a Medical Issue "

--- End forwarded message ---