Enzymes have often been referred to as the key to life, which, after my extensive study and training in them, I’d have to agree.

When speaking about nutrition most of us hear, “get your vitamins, minerals, eat balanced meals”.  But when are enzymes brought up?  Usually never!  Several years ago I learned about how important or should I say necessary enzymes are for optimal health and since then I have become an enzyme believer.

So what exactly is an enzyme and what do they do?  An enzyme is a large protein molecule that is found in all living things, from food, to humans, to cats and dogs.   In nutrition, they're essential to breaking down food into energy and ultimately making your body.  Without enzymes the body cannot utilize proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fibers, and the sugars we eat.

Enzymes are the workers in the body. Without enzymes you cannot live.  They are responsible for the chemical process that converts food into microscopic particles, or nutrients, that create your hair, skin and nails as well as provide the fuel for all body functions.

There are 3 kinds of enzymes:

1)     Those in our food.

2)     Those made in the body for digestion of food.

3)     Metabolic which are responsible for all biochemical reactions that occur

in the body.

According to Dr Howard Loomis Jr., author of Enzymes: The Key to Health, “As a result of too much stress, not enough nutrient-dense food, cooking, eating too fast, improper digestion, and aging, medications, even over the counter meds, our enzyme production all but ceases which can lead to chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetes, heart and kidney failure, and cancer.”

Let’s take a look at digestion and our digestive process.

Digestion starts in the mouth with the chewing process which activates enzymes in the mouth.  While our body produces enzymes, most of the enzymes required for digestion come from the food we eat. Because of the manufacturing process to increase the shelf life our foods, vital enzymes are lost. Food manufacturers have made it a common practice to irradiate conventionally grown food which kills the naturally-occurring enzymes in fruits and vegetables. In that case, no amount of chewing will activate them because they simply no longer exist.  This puts tremendous strain on the digestive track to try to break down food without the aid of proper enzyme supplementation.

Amazing results occur when you give your body what it needs to digest and assimilate the foods that are consumed. As our body receives these vital nutrients, anxiety and depression lift, we can sleep better, indigestion clears up, nails re-grow and strengthen and yes we can even lose weight just to name a few.

Enzymes are not a quick fix mind you, but they do produce amazing results once the source of stress is identified and targeted. This is what sets enzyme therapy apart from the typical “sick care” approach to health that fails to identify and remove the source of stress to begin with.  Whether it’s mechanical, emotional or nutritional, stress is inescapable and is the #1 cause of all symptoms.  The AMA states that 85% of doctors visits are for stress related issues.

By adding enzymes to the diet, I’ve seen people have  tremendous success in solving their  most mysterious symptoms including:

• Back Pain
• Shoulder Pain
• Sprains and Strains
• Headaches
• Digestive Issues
• Allergies
• Poor Immune Response
• Insomnia

To identify food and body system deficiencies that are depleting your energy reserves, contact Be Well Western Carolina, LLC at 828-734-7702 today to set up a Clinical Enzyme Evaluation and learn how adding enzymes in your body are more than likely the missing link.