Monday, April 11, 2011

Enzymes and our digestion!

*Note: I am not a doctor or nutritionist of any kind, these are just my thoughts and my opinions on research I've done, do your own research and make your own thoughts on the matter  ; )    (that goes for all my posts)


Enzymes are essential, our bodies need them to live. They are necessary for digesting food, for stimulating our brain, for providing cellular energy, and for repairing all tissues, organs and cells.


There are 3 different types of enzymes: Metabolic, Digestive and Food.


Metabolic Enzymes run the bodies' organs, tissue and cells. Without them are bodies would not work. Some of their chores are healing wounds, attaching iron to our red blood cells, seeing that are hearts beat and help to turn phosphorus into bone.


Digestive Enzymes are secreted by the pancreas and break down food, allowing their nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream and be used by the body for our normal body functions. They ensure that we get the best possible nutritional value from the food we eat. 


Food Enzymes which include digestive enzymes are in 'live' foods which are raw fruits and vegetables. They help us 'predigest' our food. They help out the digestive enzymes and in return we don't use up as many 'in house' enzymes.


The more enzymes we get the healthier we are!
The more raw foods you eat the more enzymes you get!


Our foods enzymes are destroyed at temperatures above 118 degrees which means cooked and processed foods contain very few, if any, enzymes.


If our bodies have to rely to much on our own digestive enzymes, especially if they are lacking due to our diets, the result is more stress placed on our system and organs leaving less time and energy for other jobs. 80% of our bodies' energy is expended by the digestive system. 


Our bodies' ability produce enzymes naturally decreases with age. If you are run down, under stress, living in extreme hot or cold climates, pregnant or a frequent traveler then enormous quantities of extra enzymes are required by the body. 




Long story short...
Eating lots of raw food (like my kale salad) and taking a high quality enzyme supplement are an excellent idea. 
Help out your digestive system by taking a Digestive Enzyme supplement daily, I recommend a plant based one with Lipase, Protease and Amylase.


This is the one I got this morning, by Jarrow Formulas



There are a bunch of other brands to chose from though, check your local health food / nutrition store!


There is another advantage to being sure that foods are well-digested. When foods are not well-digested, they remain in the stomach and can rot and putrefy. This results in a buildup of waste in the colon. This fecal matter begins to decay, producing bacteria and toxins. The toxins eventually seep through the bowel wall, where blood capillaries pick them up and distribute them throughout the body. This can result in health problems. These problems include constipation, stomach bloat, poor digestion, gas, fatigue, weight gain and weight loss, headaches, and more. Using digestive enzymes ensures that your foods are more completely digested, helping to eliminate potential problems due to toxins.




SHIT-ER-DONE!!


Jamie xx





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