Getting to Know Your Enzymes JoAnn Guest

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Getting to Know Your Enzymes

JoAnn Guest

Jul 30, 2003 20:57 PDT

 

 

 

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.

 

---

Lipase

 

Enzymes that break down fat are especially important in Western

cultures which tend to eat more *fats* than the body needs.

Inadequate digestion of fat causes " 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 on the way

to digestion by the time they reach the small intestine.

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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 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 just 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.

 

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Food Sources

 

Some of the best food sources of enzymes are listed below

 

avocadoes,

bananas,

papayas (organic only- papayas are genetically modified),

mangoes,

pineapples,

sprouts

aspergillus plant.

 

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 digestive enzymes, be sure it includes the three

major types of enzymes:

amylase,

protease (or proteolytic enzymes)

and lipase.

 

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.

 

5. Amylase Enzymes 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 helps break down starch to glucose.

 

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.

 

 

 

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JoAnn Guest

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