...Enzymes Killed?

[Stellaluna]

I read that the enzymes from fruits and veggies are not used by our bodies.
I have to re-lookup the website because I forgot which one I found it on.
But anyways, it says that enzymes from fruits and veggies are for fruits and veggies- not for us... and that once you eat them (the fruits & veggies), their enzymes are killed by the acid in our stomaches. :eek:
I'm a little confused? :confused:
So then how does our body use the enzymes?

[Lay-Lay]

LOL, all I can say is that some things are meant to come in one ear and out the other.

If that was the case you would see a whole bunch of very sick raw foodist. And well sick people period. Where do you think the enzymes that are in vitamins and supplements come from?

[Sheryl]

Raw is also about so much more than enzymes... and although once it was believed that all enzymes were destroyed in the stomach it's been long since proven otherwise. The old research keeps coming up though!

Even given that I'm not sure that our bodies absorb and use the enzymes, my thought was that it's more that chewed up apple is busy being self digested by its own enzymes as it passes through us, and that any work it does assists our body in digesting and gaining maximum nutrition from it.

The whole idea that the human body has a limited number of enzymes to last a lifetime ala Howell was disproven a long long time ago. The body manufactures the enzymes it needs as it needs them. Like anything though after a lifetime of wear and tear and abuse people can get less able to do this, and enzyme levels can drop. It's not that they magically reduce as people age because they are being used up.

Does that make sense? To me enzymes are more about the food still being intact and unprocessed, rather than a sign that enzymes are what raw is all about.

Cheers,
Sheryl

[Veganforlife]

WHAT ARE ENZYMES?
Food Enzymes are introduced to the body through the raw foods we eat and through consumption of supplemental enzyme fortifiers. Raw foods naturally contain enzymes providing an erogenous source of digestive enzymes when ingested. However, raw food manifests only enough enzymes to digest that particular food, not enough to be stored in the body for later use. The cooking and processing of food destroys all of its enzymes. Since most of the foods we eat are cooked or processed in someway and since the raw foods we do eat contain only enough enzymes to process that particular food,our bodies must produce the majority of the digestive enzymes we require, unless we use supplemental enzymes to aid in the digestive process.

Here's an interesting article:

http://www.rawfoods.com/articles/enzymes.html

[ljannise]

they dont call it The Fountain of Youth for nothing


Umm..... I think they work. I've had it proven too many times.

[DavidZaneMason]

Opinion:

-I don't this it's US using the enzymes....but rather eating foods that have the enzymes to digest THEMSELVES......automatically....so that we don't have to spend precious energy to do so. Fruit, for instance, moves through the body with little necessity for digestion.

-I wise man once said that the key to health is not how efficiently we eat....but how efficiently we eliminate. I believe he has a good point! :)

-David Mason

[Sharon in Colorado]

I try not to focus on the whole enzyme thing as I don't really know how to address it properly.

What I do know is that food in its fresh, whole natural state is far easier for a body to digest and utilize than anything that has been denatured, extracted or processed.

Just think of how tired you feel after eating a cooked processed and miscombined Thanksgiving dinner. Why are you so tired? Because that food is causing your digestive system to go into overdrive just dealing with it coming in, trying to decipher what the heck it all is, and getting it out of your body.

Eat a bowl of fresh fruit until full and you will not feel anything the same.

That in itself is a proven self-experiment that anybody can do. Don't need any special equipment, microscopes or studies. Just you and raw food.

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Here are numerous articles on Enzymes. Some say that we have a limited amount in our bodies, others say that we manufacture the enzymes. Anway, these articles will give you the different theories. I just know that if I eat raw, I feel great and that's what's important to me :D I believe we get everything our body needs from raw, living foods!!!

All About Enzymes
http://www.allaboutenzymes.com/index.html

Enzymes and Longevity
http://www.living-foods.com/articles/enzymes.html

Enzymes: The Difference Between Raw and Cooked Foods
http://www.living-foods.com/articles/rawvscooked.html

Enzymes and Living Foods
http://www.livingfoodsinstitute.com/article2.htm

About Enzymes – Fruitarian website
http://www.fruitarian.com/ac/Enzymes.htm

Enzymes – The Master Key to Health
http://www.naturalrearing.com/J_In_Learning/Immunization/enzymes/ENZYMES-Part1.htm

Fruits & Veggies - Enzymes
http://chrysalisyog.homestead.com/fruitveggie.html

[Graciebeliever]

Great Info Helen,

THANKS!

I can ALWAYS count on you having LOTS of info about the issues that relate to Health and Raw eating.

As a matter of fact, I go back and search in your posts specifically if I am looking for a variety of info. You are always very thorough and I really appreciate that. It takes time and effort to gather and present information to others and it is a dedication and I want you to know that I am REALLY so grateful to you for taking your time to educate us.

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Graciebeliever,

That's so sweet of you to say. But I have to be honest . . . I've been interested in raw foods for probably close to 6 years now. I keep a Word Document with all these links in catagories. So if someone asks about Enzymes, I just copy and past all the links that I have. I have lists in my Word Documents for individual Diseases, Body Building, Before and After Photos, Soy, Testimonies, B12, Meats, Calcium etc. I just go and copy and paste :D Simple for me. When I find a new link I just add it.

But thanks for encouraging me to continue to add to my Word Document and to share whatever I find when the opportunity arises.

[faith4u]

Even given that I'm not sure that our bodies absorb and use the enzymes, my thought was that it's more that chewed up apple is busy being self digested by its own enzymes as it passes through us, and that any work it does assists our body in digesting and gaining maximum nutrition from it.
l

Sheryl,

That is actually what I heard recently about enzymes. It is more in the food helping itself break down. Who knows if we will ever know the science behind it but we can sure feel it, right?
;)

That is what I always think is that it doesn't matter what anyone says about it all you have to do is try it for yourself. Let your body be the guide and it will show you if it is right or not.

I had to learn to quick thinking about it so much and just do it and enjoy how I feel.

[LightLover]

Hi Stellaluna,

Do you mean this link?

www.fredericpatenaude.com/questions/kimchee.html

There you can read the following:

ENZYMES & FERMENTED VEGETABLES

“Fred, thanks for addressing the Kimchee issue (last e-zine). I still have an idea that the fermented veggies are good for you due to the readily available enzymes that are said by some authorities to actually replenish your enzymes bank that depletes with age. I make kimchee with no salt (use culture granules from wildernessfamily.com), a little red pepper only,and with garlic, bok choy cabbage, a few onions and NO FISH. It's good actually. I use it for enzyme value and the vitamins and minerals readily available for absorption, as a side dish to some meals. You may want to look at the enzyme issue. The lack of enzyme activity in the body seems to be a major aging factor. It may even relate to Alzheimer's.”

ANSWER: I'd like to correct a few things:

The whole "enzyme bank" thing is a complete myth. Enzymes are not stored in the body. They are produced by the body when needed, just like hormones are. You are not born with a definite number of enzymes. You can produce enzymes all your life as long as your are healthy. Enzymes in foods are NOT used by the body for its metabolic activities. Enzymes in food are destroyed in the stomach. Raw foods are good for you, but not because of enzymes.
Another error: "lack of enzyme activity in the body seems to be a major aging factor."

A symptom is not the cause of another. Lack of enzyme activity is a symptom that health is failing, but is not the cause of aging or ill health.

So you do not benefit from the enzymes in kimchee. There are more vitamins and minerals in fresh vegetables, and they are less trouble to prepare!