We all have something we do on a daily basis to get us going, wake us up and keep us energized. Whether it’s your morning cup of coffee or tea, a sweet snack in the mid-afternoon or a carbohydrate rich meal that we just can’t help but indulge in, I am sure you have your vice. But, stepping back to look at why we “need” that extra caffeine or sugar boost can help reveal the real elements our bodies our missing: ENZYMES!
Enzymes are substances that occur naturally in living things and are the catalysts for all actions in our body. The ability to make energy, digest food, absorb nutrients, repair tissue, ward off disease and sickness, increase strength, produce hormones and perform metal processes is based on the presence of enzymes. Researchers have currently identified over 3,000 different enzymes in the human body, all with a different essential role.
Right about now you might be wondering, “How can one substance be the basis of so much important stuff in my body?” The answer is based on the fact that all life processes consist of a specific series of chemical reactions called metabolism. Enzymes are the catalysts for those chemical reactions. Basically, enzymes initiate chemical reactions in circumstances where they would otherwise not take place. Needless to say, they’re pretty essential to maintaining basic life functions. Without enzymes things like digestion, breathing, growth and blood coagulation and reproduction would not take place.
The problem now is that there are increasingly more factors in our diet, lifestyle and environment that are getting in the way of the natural livelihood and function of enzymes, thus the reactions they are responsible for initiating are often slower and less frequent. Low enzymes = low energy, low nutrients, low cell production and re-generation and so on (the list of things low enzymes in the body impacts could go on just about forever).
Now you get the gist that Enzymes are pretty important little substances, but where can we get more of them and help keep the ones we do have? From good quality food, techniques that preserve the integrity of the natural enzymes all foods contain, and healthy lifestyle practices like stress management and adequate sleep.
Traditionally, food has been the primary source of enzymes in the human body, but many of the cooking and processing techniques as well as additives, preservatives, long-term storage, canning, freezing, drying and added sugars can significantly decrease the level of enzymes that are in each bite we ingest. High heat cooking kills most of the enzymes in the foods we eat. However, if the food we purchase is not rich with enzymes in the first place, as can happen with industrial food growth and production, preparation techniques won’t matter. Make sure you buy organic, foods grown in healthy soils to maximize your enzyme consumption.
Raw, organic fruits and vegetables are a great source of natural enzymes and naturally fermented raw foods are even better. Fermented vegetables, especially those with cabbage, onions, garlic and fresh herbs, are one of the best sources of enzymes; they’re easy to digest and contain an abundance of highly active enzymes.
Increased amounts of all raw fruits and veggies, as well as fermented foods, a decreased consumption of sugar, caffeine and processed foods, and better management of stress and sleep cycles can all help improve the enzyme levels and functioning in your body.
So, next time you reach for one more cup of coffee or a sweet snack to pick up your afternoon energy level, take a second to think about why your energy is low. If you’re feeling a bit of a lag in your immune system, digestion or concentration, think about enzymes not artificial pick-me-ups.
Firefly fermented foods are just one of the many great ways to add enzymes to your diet on a daily basis, plus they’ve got probiotics to help you digest and absorb nutrients too. Throw them in a salad or atop some raw veggies for an added enzyme punch!
Source: Cichoke, Dr. Anthony J. Enzymes and Enzyme Therapy. Chicago IL: Keats Publishing, 2000