Using Enzyme Supplements

What is an enzyme?

Enzymes, first discovered in 1833, are the biological catalysts that increase the rate of chemical reactions throughout the body. For example, there are about twenty-one enzymes that are used to breakdown a molecule of glucose into carbon dioxide and water, which releases energy for use by the body.

Enzymes are proteins composed of a few hundred to a few thousand amino acids, depending on the enzyme. They are very specific, and each type of enzyme only facilitates one type of reaction.

Dietary Supplement Enzymes

There are generally two categories of enzyme supplements:
Digestive and systemic.

Two commonly recognized digestive enzymes are lactase (the enzyme in the product Lactaid) and a-galactosidase (the enzyme in the product Beano). Lactose intolerance is caused by a deficiency in the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose (the sugar in milk). People with this deficiency must rely on outside sources of lactase in order to properly digest milk products.

Many people are also deficient in other digestive enzymes such as the proteases, lipases, and carbohydrases, which break down various proteins and carbohydrates, and therefore cannot properly digest the foods they eat. In addition, our society tends to eat a highly processed, high fat diet. The processing techniques not only decrease the nutritive value of food but they also destroy the enzymes that are naturally present in raw food. This leads to the variety of digestive problems, such as constipation, gas, and bloating, that Americans have come to accept as normal. However, digestion should not equal discomfort. Taking a supplement with our food, such as Ultrazyme Plus, that contains all the digestive enzymes can provide relief from these common digestive problems.

Systemic enzymes are chiefly enzymes that break down proteins (proteolytic enzymes) and can be used to relieve a variety of inflammatory conditions. This category of enzymes includes proteases, pancreatic lipases and amylase. Proteins that are only partially broken down during digestion can move into the blood stream where they are seen as invaders by the immune system. Antibodies in our immune system attach to these invaders and form circulating immune complexes (CIC's). When CIC's build up in the body it can cause inflammation in soft tissues of muscles and joints, leading to pain. Systemic enzymes, such as those provided by Joint Enhancer, are able to break down these excess CIC's so they can pass through the kidneys and be removed from the body.

Plant enzymes vs. Pancreatic enzymes

Pancreatic enzymes are animal enzymes that operate in the intestines and in the blood stream. They do not function in the stomach or take part in the important task of predigestion. These enzymes function primarily as systemic enzymes.

Plant enzymes are in the plant foods (raw, unprocessed) we ingest or in enzyme supplements such as Ultrazyme Plus. They begin to digest food when it is in the stomach, breaking down food and nutrients so they can be better absorbed when they get to the intestine. These enzymes function primarily as digestive enzymes.

Enzymes, vitamins and minerals

All the vitamins and minerals that we get from our daily diet and/or from supplements require an enzyme to break them down into useable forms. We can take all the vitamin and mineral supplements in the world, but without the proper enzymes to break them down, they are useless to us.

There are many reasons to take a supplement containing a blend of enzymes. To find the dosage that is right for you start by taking the lowest recommended dosage on the bottle and then adding one additional capsule with meals until you feel the beneficial effects. Then continue to take that dosage with each meal. You will find that digestion really doesn't have to be synonymous with discomfort.