By Marcia Zimmerman, M.Ed., C.N.

E ver noticed how many commercials are devoted to digestive problems? For example, former Denver quarterback John Elway talks about his battle with acid reflux, and countless commercials offer relief in a little purple pill.
  As stressful lifestyle and unhealthful diets have increasingly become the norm, digestive problems are on the rise. Currently, an estimated 58 percent of Americans suffer from some type of digestive disorder. Eating on the run or eating late in the evening can result in inadequate enzyme production, which leads to digestive disorders and increased inflammation. Improving enzyme function while modifying lifestyle can alleviate these disorders and may completely eliminate them.

CRITICAL CATALYSTS
Enzymes, a major class of proteins, are the workhorses of the body. "No mineral, vitamin, or hormone can do any work without enzymes," according to Edward Howell, MD, who pioneered enzyme therapy in this country. Encoded by DNA, enzymes are responsible for regulating all cellular activities, activating growth and repair, and eliminating toxins. Human enzymes fall into either of two major types:
  Metabolic enzymes orchestrate the activities of all the cells in your body and make up the largest category. To date, over 3,870 metabolic enzymes have been identified, and each is capable of generating countless variations. This gives metabolic enzymes an amazing adaptability to accommodate the ever changing environment within the body and the ability to adjust to external changes.
  Each of these enzymes usually requires a B vitamin coenzyme (sometimes vitamin C) to activate it, and most also require a mineral cofactor such as magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, or iron. If any of the required coenzymes or cofactors is missing, metabolism slows down dramatically, setting the stage for reduced functionality and disability. Diet supplies these micronutrients, and deficiencies of these micronutrients lead to DNA damage, impaired enzyme function, and subsequent chronic conditions including cancer, cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, and brain abnormalities, according to nutrition expert Bruce N. Ames, PhD.
  Dr. Ames maintains that a significant number of Americans are deficient in folic acid, niacin, and vitamins B6, B12, C, and E. In addition, many people get less than half the recommended daily allowance of iron and zinc. No wonder that well established medical institutions including the Harvard School of Public Health are now recommending that most Americans take a daily multivitamin and mineral formula.
  Digestive enzymes break down food so it can be absorbed. These enzymes are found in the mouth, stomach, pancreas, and intestines. There are 25 principal digestive enzymes that fall into three broad categories according to whether they digest carbohydrates (amylases), proteins (proteases), or fats (lipases). Salivary enzymes begin breaking down carbohydrates and fats in the mouth. Enzymes in the stomach break down proteins and fats, while those in the pancreas work with carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, DNA and RNA. In the small intestine, enzymes complete the digestive process with the aid of hydrochloric acid from the stomach and bile from the liver.
  As we grow older, the body's ability to produce enzymes decreases, so that we cannot digest food as effectively. Raw foods contain natural enzymes that assist digestion. But processing with high heat and prolonged cooking can destroy most enzymes. Unfortunately, the American diet consists primarily of processed foods, many of them prepared at high temperatures. In addition, toxins in synthetic pesticides disturb enzyme systems in the body. "Eating only organic, pesticide-free food is one way to maintain and restore your enzyme systems," says enzyme researcher Anthony J. Cichoke, DC.
  Selecting organic foods locally grown and in season helps increase your consumption of healthy raw foods, while reducing the possibility of encountering mold or bacteria on foods transported from great distances or stored for long periods of time. Some vegetables (carrots, winter squash, and broccoli that contain high levels of carotenes) are more nutritious when lightly cooked so that the carotenes can be released.
  A good strategy is to balance intake of raw fruits and vegetables with those that are more easily digested when cooked. Eat slowly, chewing thoroughly. Taken with a meal, enzyme supplementation can also relieve digestive distress.

DIGESTIVE SUPPORT Enzyme supplements are available from two sources: animal and plant. Take them at mealtime to help digest food and between meals to reduce inflammation.
  For years pancreatic enzymes have been the mainstay of digestive enzyme replacement. Pancreatin, from a pig pancreas, contains protease, amylase, and lipase. While these enzymes are effective, they have several drawbacks. First, pancreatin is not suitable for vegetarians. In addition, stomach acid and pepsin normally secreted during meals can destroy pancreatin.
  Enzymes extracted from microbes, commonly known as plant enzymes, provide a broad spectrum of digestive enzymes and are more versatile in that they are effective over a broad pH range, from 2 to 10. They are stable and active throughout the digestive tract.
  Microbial enzymes provide a broad spectrum of digestive enzymes including protease, lipase, amylase, lactase, maltase, invertase, phytase, and cellulase. Plant enzymes are derived from the fermentation of aspergillus. Although this food microbe also produces enzymes, ultrafiltration methods remove the entire microbe, ensuring that the finished preparation contains only enzymes

Selected Sources
♦ "Alternative Medicine, The Definitive Guide" by Burton Goldberg, ($34.95, Celestial Arts, 2000)  ♦ "Biochemical and Physiological Aspects of Human Nutrition" by Martha Stipanuk, ($89.95 W.B. Saunders, 2000)  ♦ "DNA Damage from Micronutrient Deficiencies is Likely to Be a Major Cause of Cancer" by Bruce N. Ames, Mutation Research, 2001  ♦ "Enzymes & Enzymes Therapy" by Dr. Anthony J. Cichoke, ($18.95, Keats, 2000)  ♦ "Healthy Eating Pyramid" by Harvard School of Public Health, 2004  ♦ "Unique Features and Application of Non-animal Derived Enzymes" by Dr. Brad Rachman, Clin Nut Insights, 1997  ♦ "Wound Healing" by Douglas MacKay, ND, and Alan Miller, ND, Alternative Medicine Review, 2003 

Copyright©, 2001 by The Zimmerman Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

No part of this article may be used for the promotion of product or services without the express written consent of the author. The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice of a health care provider. Nor is it to be used to diagnose, treat or cure any condition.