The human body is made up of trillions
of cells. Within these cells a multitude
of biochemical reactions occur every second of the day. At the heart of these chemical reactions are
a group of large molecules called enzymes.
Enzymes are the tools of nature
and serve as the engineers of the human body.
Enzymes regulate vital biological
processes and accelerate biochemical reactions. As a result, enzymes are involved in all
aspects of metabolism, growth and development.
The molecular structure of an
enzyme consists of hundreds to upwards millions of amino acids held in place by
chemical bonds. The unique sequence of
these amino acids creates a three-dimensional structure which in turn forms a
specific type of enzyme. The function of
an enzyme is determined by the unique order and arrangement of the amino
acids. Just the slightest change in this
sequence will completely change the enzyme’s function.
An interesting fact about enzymes
and raw foods (e.g., vegetables and fruits) is that raw foods are enzymatically
alive. In other words, they contain
active enzymes that help break the food down so the body doesn’t have to
manufacture its own enzymes. Mastication
(chewing) of raw foods activates the enzymes, reducing the stress placed on the
digestive system and body. It should be
noted that cooking, genetic engineering, and irradiation destroys enzymes.
Cooked and processed foods are
enzymatically dead. When we eat them we
are asking the body to breakdown 100% of the food. Overtime, this can place a tremendous strain
on the pancreas and the immune system. Research
suggests that the over consumption of enzymatically dead foods may result in
the pancreas becoming dangerously enlarged, poorly functioning, and on the
verge of breaking down.
Enzymes are widely available in
supplemental form. Proponents of supplemental
enzymes claim they help with digestion, fight inflammation and viruses, prevent
blood clots, modulate the immune system, and cleanse the blood. While the research on most of these claims is
conflicting, it is widely accepted that supplementing enzymes will aid in digestion. Perhaps the best example of this can be
found in people that are lactose intolerant.
To counter act their inability to digest the natural sugar found in milk
people will effectively supplement with the enzyme lactase.
The tremendous amount of biochemical
activity that occurs in each of the trillions of cells throughout the human
body is only made possible through the work of enzymes. Without enzymes, these biochemical
reactions would occur at a much slower rate that would not support life. In short, enzymes are the workhorse’s of the
human body and vital for life.
