Let's Talk Enzymes!!

Our bodies are not maintained by what is eaten everyday, but more so by what is DIGESTED from what is consumed every day!

Enzymes are tantamount in this process, and while we do have natural enzymes in our bodies at birth, once used, they're gone. They do not regenerate, so we must look to our food sources for more so we use less. Tests have shown that a 70-year-old has approximately 10 percent of the cellular enzymes found in infants. Aging is directly linked to enzyme depletion. In youth you have a naturally high inheritance of enzymes concentrated in your cells. As you grow older, the increasing demand for these life-extending enzymes leads to enzyme depletion

For proper digestion of nutrients to occur, these primary enzymes are required:

LIPASE: Breaks down fat in butter, cheese and meat.
LACTASE: Breaks down lactose in milk sugars.
PROTEASE: Breaks down protein in meats, nuts and cheese.
AMYLASE: Breaks down carbohydrates, starches and sugars that are prevalent in potatoes, fruits, vegetables and snack foods.
CELLULASE: Breaks down fiber, helping to solubilize nutrients from fruits and vegetables.


Enzymes are the building blocks of proteins in the bones, aid in digestion and detoxification, as well as in elimination processes from the body. Enzymes are readily available in the "fresh" or raw whole food state. When foods are cooked, the enzymes die once temperatures reach above 108 degrees. At this state, the protein molecule while still present, is no longer effective. This can be illustrated by some very simple science. Take two seeds - boil one in water and then plant them both. The raw seed will germinate and grow while the boiled one will only rot in the ground.

Sadly, the standard American diet woefully lacks raw enzymes. Consuming fresh, raw foods is rarely done on a daily basis, and consequently as a nation we're enzyme deficient and opening wide the door for obesity, circulatory diseases, heart disease, digestion problems, auto-immune disorders, and colon cancer to name only a few. Blood sugar levels spike when cooked foods are consumed, yet have little variation when tested against fresh, raw, whole foods.

The good news? The enzymes present in raw foods aid in the digestion of up to 75% of the food without hitting the natural enzymes secreted by the human body. Incorporating fresh garden fruits and vegetables into your daily diet will stengthen your immune system and improve your quality of life!

Now - everything in moderation - I am not telling anyone to jump into a 100% raw vegan diet...the detoxification process on that would be hell for most! Few people are successful in this long term, so let's look at incorporating high raw for life! What is high raw? Well it isn't just a crudité platter;) Fresh recipes can run anywhere from simplistic monomeals to high-end gourmet, including smoothies, soups, nut pates, corn chips & salsas, and full meals for that matter! A high raw diet consists of about 75% of fresh, raw, whole foods, and 25% cooked whole foods. This is something to work up to (try 25% at a time); limit prepackaged, previously prepared foods - and stick to just simple whole foods, whether vegan, vegetarian or omni - we all have different needs, and it should be up to the individual to determine their own parameters. Your Dietary Choice is NOT anyone's Political Statement!

Next up: Herbs vs Big Pharm!