They might not receive the same attention as vitamins and minerals, but enzymes are essential components to the formula of maintaining a healthy body.
Benefits of Enzymes
Enzymes are complex, specialized proteins in raw food. They speed up and amplify the chemical processes in our bodies; everything from digesting the foods we eat, to daily tissue and bone maintenance. Enzymes have the same effect on our body’s biological process as lighter fluid does on a fire. A little bit gets it going and a lot really makes it roar.
There are many enzymes and they all act as catalysts for biological processes in the body. The spectrum of enzymes is quite diverse and our bodies require many to operate effectively. Because the chemical reactions that individual enzymes facilitate are usually a small part of a larger process, deficiencies can wreak havoc throughout the entire body.
For example, the purpose of the enzyme lactase is to break down lactose found in dairy products. Without a sufficient amount of lactase, the body becomes lactose intolerant. Many people who suffer from lactose intolerance will tell you it’s no hangnail.
It’s one thing to know enzymes are beneficial, it’s another thing to actually consume enough of them. One barrier to ingesting enough enzymes through diet is that enzymes are incredibly fragile and don’t hold up well under cooking temperatures. Unless you’re eating raw food, you’re probably not getting enough enzymes from food sources.