The purpose of digestive enzymes will change your life. Really. Enzymes changed mine right after I learned about them. I knew nothing of enzymes 8 years ago until someone made the suggestion I take them to dissolve scar tissue. They wanted to do a reconstructive surgery to remove my scar tissue, but I did not want to have to do that. So I decided to try this route and it worked! Two months of taking them faithfully dissolved all of the scar tissue and I had no more problems. I did not have to do surgery and put myself through more pain and healing. From then on we have been friends.
What Is the Purpose of Digestive Enzymes?
So let’s give you more information of what you need to know about the purpose of enzymes!
Enzymes are present in everything. Each of your foods has a certain enzyme that breaks that food down. Many natural health practitioners will tell you that the two things to take every day are enzymes and probiotics. Enzymes main purpose is to break down the food we eat so our body can then utilize and absorb the nutrients.
This way the nutrients can be put where they need to be. Enzymes are for your digestion. Everything you eat must be broken down in order for your body to use it. If your food is not broken down, it is not absorbed and you are wasting your effort.
“It is not about what you ingest, but what you digest that matters”
They truly are a huge part to a healthy lifestyle and healthy body. Enzymes are what can help you get back to where you want to be. You too need to become friends with enzymes and know how to use them properly. I believe enzymes can help the body break down extra fats, sugars, protein buildup and scar tissue. Here is an example:
Your Enzyme Bank
This is the “enzyme bank” idea that many natural health teachers share. When you are made in your mother’s womb, her body gave you as much as she had to give. Our pancreas is our bank that holds the enzymes needed to break down food. When you do eat food that has been cooked above 118 degrees, your body has to make a “withdrawal” from your bank to break and digest that food down. When your bank goes empty of an enzyme you will then have problems digesting that food.
For example: The cow’s milk you drink by the glass or have in your cereal every morning. The milk has been pasteurized and heated to kill bacteria. But that also means it has been heated and the enzymes are no longer intact to break down that milk. Your body has to make a withdrawal every time you drink milk. The belief is that when your pancreas goes to a zero balance of that enzyme, it can no longer break it down and you become lactose intolerant. (Science says lactose intolerance is mostly genetic, but either way, supporting digestion helps.)
You may not think this is a big deal or that you will never develop this problem. But really it is not about you. It is about the next generation. Remember that the parents have only what they have to pass on to their children.
Some things to think about
If you drink milk your whole life your bank has less to give to the next generation and so on for the next after them. So EVENTUALLY your line will develop this as your DNA gets weaker and you pass that on.
Now I have only given you the example of milk and lactose intolerance. But this same process happens for diabetes, gluten intolerance, and many more things. Each time you eat sugar you have to make that withdrawal and your account goes less and less. See the post Refined White Sugar for more information on sugar and how much we eat each year. YOU may not develop this, but your kids are at a higher risk and your grandkids even higher. I believe this is part of why we see so many more kids struggling with blood sugar today.
Which Digestive Enzymes Break Down Which Foods
This graph will show you which enzyme you need for each kind of food.
Tips on How to Use Digestive Enzymes
- If you are lactose intolerant you can supplement and give your body the enzymes it needs to break down the dairy. If you take 2 enzymes before you eat ice cream or any dairy you are supplying your body what it needs since it cannot make that withdrawal. Then you will not have the symptoms you are used to when eating dairy.
- If you are eating raw that means your food is not cooked and the enzymes are intact. So there is no need to take an enzyme with that food.
- If you are wanting to break down anything “extra” in the blood i.e. protein, scar tissue, fats, or sugars you need to take the enzyme WITHOUT food. Take them in between your meals, because their purpose is to break down things if you take with your food that is what they will do and they will be used up with the food. So anything extra you need to take when you do not have any food in your stomach. With my scar tissue I took three or four a day to break down the tissue for two months. It is easier to take first thing in the morning, 30 minutes after breakfast, 30 minutes after lunch and right before bed.
- If you are taking it for lactose intolerance you will need to double or triple because of your weakened system. So take 2 pills and if you still have the side effects then take 3 next time. You are going to have to experiment with your system and see what it needs. Do not just give up if it does not work the first time. Everyone has a different system and thus different needs. I have experimented with people and it does work.
Your Choices Affect More Than Just You
Each choice affects our health and the health of the generations after us. Knowing the importance of enzymes not only will determine your health but the lives that will come after you.
The enzyme supplements below I have researched and use. They contain all the main enzymes for your food pyramid on one capsule. Whatever you pile on your plate, taking one pill will cover it and give your body what it needs to break that food down. This way you do not have to make that withdrawal from the pancreas. You are supposed to take an enzyme 20 minutes before eating, but if you forget just take it anyway.
Shop the Digestive Enzymes I Use
- TerraZyme– You can get these for $20 a bottle by adding it on to the daily nutrient pack. This is a vitamin, mineral and Omega supplement. Use this for cooked food and double up for lactose intolerance.
- Complete Digestive Enzyme– This one has a daily dose of probiotics added to it as well in each capsule, use this when eating cooked food.
- For extra support with dissolving and breaking down fats and sugars, use this Fat/Sugar enzyme.
- To break down scar tissue, extra protein in the blood, uric acid crystals use Inflammation enzyme.
- For extra support with dissolving and breaking down sugars and starches, use the straight Sugar/Starch enzyme. (This does not replace diabetes care or medication.)
If you have diabetes, high cholesterol or any health condition, keep working with your doctor and do not stop any medication. Enzymes are a support, not a replacement. You can read more about digestive enzymes from Johns Hopkins Medicine. And for more gut support, see my post on probiotics.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
