When people develop allergies, joint and back pains, inflammatory conditions and digestive problems, they rush to take drugs or steroids for relief. Little is known of natural cures found in everyday food and used for centuries by our ancestors. Unfortunately, we have become reliant on quick fixes of prescription medications. To my delight, I found out about the effectiveness of certain nutrients, called enzymes, which are crucial for food breakdown, brain stimulation, cellular energy, and tissue, organ, and cell repair. They are readily available in common foods. Every biochemical activity in the human body is dependent on these protein molecules to energize different functions. While I knew of their importance to the body, it is only recently that I learned about their healing aspect, much disregarded by modern medicine in favor of pharmaceutical drugs. Let me share with you information about enzymes.

Enzymes are catalysts that activate responses among different biochemical substances to keep the body alive. Every enzyme performs a precise task that cannot be done by any other. Digestive enzymes digest food molecules to convert them into energy and nutrients to be stored for later use. Enzymes, with the aid of other nutrients, build muscle tissues, skin, neurons, and bones. Specific enzymes rid the lung of carbon dioxide; others turn glucose into energy in cells and so on.

Enzymes fall in two categories: digestive enzymes and metabolic enzymes. The digestive ones help break down food particles for nutrient absorption in the blood stream. These are divided in three main groups: amylase, protease, and lipase. Amylase in the saliva digests carbohydrates through proper chewing and more is secreted in the intestines. Different kinds of amylase break down different kinds of sugars. Lactase digests lactose, milk, sugar, whereas sucrase digests sucrose from sugar cane and beet. Protease is secreted in the stomach and by the pancreas to break down proteins. Lipase in the stomach and from pancreatic juices metabolize fat. As for metabolic enzymes, they are chemicals that repair cell damage, build new cells, and ignite energy in the body.

What happens when the body does not produce enough of a specific enzyme like lactase? The body develops lactose intolerance. When lactase is scarce, the body is incapable of lactose breakdown, resulting in bloating, gas, and pain. Eating dairy products, except for yogurt and hard cheese, becomes an agonizing experience.

According to enzyme proponents, a nonorganic diet of processed and refined food and pollution can suppress the body’s enzymatic production. Furthermore, medical drugs, antibiotics, and fluoridated water lead to enzyme destruction, resulting in enzyme insufficiency. So in order to regain the desired body balance for proper digestion, we should take supplemental enzymes. They prevent diseases like cystic fibrosis (a metabolic disorder), constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, leaky gut, bloating, gas, acid reflux, and even cancer. Enzymes like amylase, protease, lipase, lactase, probiotics, and cellulase reduce allergies by breaking down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to expedite the digestive process. They prevent undigested proteins from penetrating the gut wall to the bloodstream (leaky gut) and triggering the immune system to react to such hostile proteins, provoking allergic responses.

I think I can predict your next question. How can enzyme therapy treat cancer? Enzyme therapy’s effectiveness in this area has encouraged allopathic scientists like New York immunologist Nicholas Gonzales to treat pancreatic cancer with enzymes along with dietary improvement, supplements, and detoxification. Such a regimen raised the life expectancy of his patients while enhancing the quality of their lives.

I assume your next question would be “How do enzymes attack cancer cells?” Enzymes dismantle the protein layer covering cancer cells, accelerating their self-destruction. Marc Gignac, a naturopath and cancer specialist at the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, combines enzymes with alternative therapies when treating pancreatic, ovarian, and breast cancer.

Autoimmune disorders and chronic diseases can also benefit from bromelain, a protein-breaking enzyme in pineapple. It is found to target osteoarthritis, an inflammatory condition that attacks the joints. This group of enzymes thins the blood to improve blood flow in inflamed areas to reduce swelling and pain. Enzyme supplements seem to relieve tendinitis, another inflammatory problem.

Another area of success with enzyme treatment is intestinal problems in autistic children, which is a characteristic of autism, resulting in brain deprivation of nutrients, thus exasperating the condition. By enhancing the digestibility of food and assimilation of nutrients, digestive enzymes improve autistic conditions in general. Such medical complications require enzyme supplements, but with the expertise of a health care practitioner. The elderly also require enzyme supplementation as their ability to make enzymes decrease with age. Here are some of the different enzymes that act on different conditions and disorders.

Enzyme supplements with lipase, amylase, protease, cellulase, and lactase help the assimilation of nutrients, essential fatty acids, and zinc in particular and improve digestive disorders and lactose intolerance.

Enzymatic supplements with amylase, protease 1 and 2, lipase 2, and cellulase as well as antioxidants like pantothenic acid, beta-glycan, gamma-oryzanol, and garlic improve cholesterol levels and promote cardiovascular health.

For injury and acute or chronic inflammation, a blend of enzymes and antioxidants such as amylase, bromelain, catalase, lipase, chymotrypsin, pancreatin, papain, rutin, superoxide dismutase, L-cysteine, and zinc aid in healing and reducing swelling. Proteolytic enzymes act on inflammation-producing proteins.

To support a healthy intestinal flora and immune system, plant-based amylase, cellulase, glucoamylase, lactase, lipase and protease along with herbs like caraway, gentian, and ginger are needed. Acidophilus is also required for a healthy microflora.

There are probably more conditions that can benefit from enzyme therapy, but we shall have to wait for more research in the area. Meanwhile, I encourage you to increase your intake of fresh, organic, raw (heat destroys enzymes) vegetables, and fruits like alfalfa, barley and wheat grasses, the cabbage family, dark leafy greens, seaweeds, pineapple, papaya, and mangoes as well as yogurt and fermented foods to boost your enzymes, coenzymes, B-complex vitamins, vitamins C and E, zinc, and other helper nutrients, which support a healthy immune system.

— Mariam Alireza is a holistic science specialist. Send comments to [email protected]. Log on to arabnews.com for previous articles.