Enzymes are protein molecules that speed up chemical reactions in all
plants and animals. Without enzymes, these reactions would occur too slowly
or not at all, and no life would be possible. The human body has over 1,000
types of enzymes. Each kind does one specific job. Without enzymes, a person
could not breathe, see, move, or digest food.
In simple language, enzymes keep us alive! Truly, enzymes are our "biochemical
agents of life." These unique proteins are essential components of over
90 trillion cells, composing every tissue of every organ in our body. Without
them, very few of our essential metabolic processes would even take place.
They regulate the digestion of our food, the production of energy, the
production of hormones and other important body secretions, and the destruction
of foreign substances. Even the process of phagocytosis, an important activity
of the immune system in protecting us from deadly bacterial infections,
involves enzyme action. In short, maintaining adequate enzyme levels in
our bodies is critical.
Clean Sweep
One important function of enzymes is the breakdown of older cells that
have fulfilled their useful function and need to be recycled. This is a
major process whose importance is commonly overlooked. Think about it,
though. Would you rather your body be made up of older, less efficient
and lethargic cells, or would you prefer to have a larger portion made
up of younger, more efficient cells, producing your energy and performing
their life functions? In which case do you think you would feel better
and be more healthy? With which scenario do you think you could better
withstand the attack of free radicals and old "Father Time"? Thanks to
enzymes, virtually billions of cells are broken down each day and the proteins,
lipids and other ingredients of which they were made are recycled and used
to produce new, more active cells. Given that our age, or at least our
relative vigor, is linked to whether our cells are efficient and alive
or mere "deadwood," the importance of enzymes is clear. If adequate levels
are not present, the body simply can't rid itself of the old and make room
for new, more efficient cells.
Stocking Up
Where do we obtain our enzymes? Most are manufactured in our body. Others
must be obtained from our diet, and, increasingly, from supplements. Keep
in mind that enzymes are very sensitive to heat, and most of them are destroyed
by cooking. As a result, the foods we eat may well be lacking in the enzymes
they originally contained. That is why it is so important to include a
reasonable amount of raw fruits and vegetables in our diet. What's more,
these must be fresh, as enzymes are very active chemically and do not remain
stable in the produce containing them. Keeping them cool is also important,
because the enzymes are used up much more quickly at warmer temperatures.
Bon Appétit!
Scientists usually classify enzymes either by the action they perform or
the type of substance they work on. For instance, enzymes whose action
involves the transfer of one part of a molecule to another are called transferases.
Hydrolases insert a molecule of water into a large molecule and thereby
split it apart. Examples of enzymes named for the substrate on which they
work are proteases (protein) and lipases (lipids, or "fats"). Both are
essential to healthy digestion. They are produced in goodly amounts in
the healthy pancreas and are also present in a number of foods; papain,
from papaya, and bromelain, from pineapple, are two of the most common,
used in tenderizing meat. Because digestion requires a lot of energy from
the body-and a lot of enzyme action-it makes sense to aid this function
by supplementing with enzymes, just as it makes sense to concentrate on
eating fresh, whole, raw foods for the many enzymes they contain. It is
also important to make sure that adequate amounts of stomach acid are present,
to help activate digestive enzymes there. If foods are not completely broken
down, they have a much greater possibility of causing allergic reactions
in the body.
Go with the Flow
In the bloodstream, certain proteins can be major factors in provoking
aging and reduced health. One good example is fibrin, directly involved
in the formation of blood clots. This, of course, can increase one's probability
of developing many of the well known circulatory diseases, such as angina
pectoris, atherosclerosis, thrombophlebitis, heart attack and stroke. As
a matter of fact, it can be shown that a reduced "proteolytic potential"
of the bloodstream-that is, a lesser ability to break down protein-can
be linked with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore,
research suggests that consuming a diet rich in proteolytic enzymes, as
well as supplementing with them, can increase proteolytic potential, thereby
reducing the risk of suffering such conditions.
In Sum
When enzyme levels in the body diminish, as they seem to over time, and
when dietary levels decrease as well, the stage is set for the development
of poor health and even weight gain. Choosing a diet containing reasonable
levels of fruits and vegetables-some of them raw-and supplementing with
enzymes only makes good sense.
MAKING ENZYMES WORK FOR YOU
DIGESTIVE FORMULA™, SOMAZYME™ AND PHYTOZYME™
The body has thousands of different enzymes. They digest foods, maintain
our cells and control body processes. Although enzymes are themselves proteins,
they often serve to break down other proteins (in this case, they are called
"proteolytic" enzymes). Usually, they are recycled and used over and over,
but eventually, some of the enzyme is used up and must be replaced to insure
maximum function. Fortunately, enzymes are powerful substances and small
amounts can do a lot.
PhytoZyme
Bromelain is an enzyme obtained from pineapple; papain is an enzyme from
papaya. Both are components of the Life Plus PhytoZyme base and both are
proteolytic enzymes. In fact, they are often used as components of marinades,
to break down proteins in and tenderize meats prior to cooking. Because
enzymes are very heat-sensitive, they have to be used prior to cooking.
Similarly, Life Plus uses cold-processing and other proprietary techniques
to ensure the enzymes in the Life Plus products are not destroyed, thus
maintaining their high level of activity.
Enzymes for Proteins
Many proteolytic enzymes are produced within the body as part of the normal
digestive process. Pepsin and rennin are enzymes produced in the stomach.
Trypsin and chymotrypsin are produced by the pancreas and secreted into
the small intestine to facilitate protein digestion.
Enzymes for Carbohydrates & Fats
Other enzymes are more specific. To help with the breakdown of carbohydrates,
the body produces amylase enzymes in the salivary glands and pancreas,
as well as in the small intestinal lining. Then, for the breakdown of fats,
the body produces lipase.
Unique Enzyme Products
In addition to the core enzymes appearing in the Life Plus PhytoZyme base,
as used in most Life Plus products, Life Plus provides two very important
stand-alone enzyme-rich products: Digestive Formula and Somazyme.
Digestive Formula-For Digestion
It is important for us to properly digest the foods we eat, because that
is how we obtain the nutrition from them. What is required is enzyme action.
The purpose of Digestive Formula is to help sustain us, by supplementing for several
different enzymes used in digestion. This is a two-phase tablet, assisting
digestion both in the acid environment of the stomach and in the neutral
or more alkaline environment of the intestines. It is important that Digestive Formula
be taken just before or during meals, to help ensure that its enzymes are
mixed with your foods. Among the important components of Digestive formula are
the active enzymes amylase, bromelain, lipase, pancreatin, pancrelipase,
papain and pepsin.
In addition, Digestive Formula supports healthy digestive tract ecology, by
providing for proper pH with the biological buffering agents betaine HCl,
glycine, L-glutamic acid and calcium carbonate, and by supplying several
beneficial microflora. Ox bile and lecithin are included to facilitate
the digestion of fats, with further digestive support coming from peppermint
leaf, Aloe vera and beet root herb.
For Detailed Information Including Complete List of Ingredients
ALSO...
Somazyme-For The Whole Body
The name Somazyme is derived from " Soma," meaning "body" and " Zyme,"
for "enzyme." It is best taken on an empty stomach or at times when food
is not being eaten. This allows the enzymes to be absorbed and circulated
throughout the body, rather than being used up for digestion.
Somazyme is formulated to provide active proteolytic enzymes for the
bloodstream and the rest of the body. Among these are alpha-chymotrypsin,
bromelain, pancreatin, papain and trypsin. Other key synergistic components
of Somazyme include super oxide dismutase, rutin, hesperidin, glutathione,
lemon bioflavonoids and selected amino acids.
For Detailed Information Including Complete List of Ingredients
Enzyme Power
Whether you choose a product formulated using the Life Plus exclusive PhotoZyme
base or a stand-alone, enzyme-rich product like Digestive Formula or Somazyme,
Life Plus is dedicated to bringing you all the benefits state-of-the-art
enzyme formulation technology can provide. Experience the power!
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