Enzymes: What's the deal?

[SmilingRawDancer]

(If this doesn't belong on this forum, I apologize! )


Ok, I've heard back and forth, and read both sides of the story:
are enzymes destroyed by stomach acid anyways?

A friend of mine who HATES that I'm raw is constantly throwing quotes from beyondveg.com at me, and it gets tiring.


I've seen so many AMAZING life changes from people going raw, that I don't care whether or not the enzymes live or die, SOMETHING is better about raw.
Something is just better. Maybe it's just the higher veggie intake, raw or not. I honestly don't know....but I'd like to hear others opinions on beyondveg.com, and the whole stomach acid enzyme dealio :)

Thanks! <3


start talking.....now!

[spicyfull]

I don't do Enzymes, I know Alissa sell them and many on this Forum take them.

[RawCutter]

http://www.loomisenzymes.com/articles.asp?article=4

"There is a common misconception that enzymes are destroyed by stomach acid. Nothing could be further from the truth. Stomach acid does not digest protein. Rather, it activates an enzyme called pepsinogen which then becomes pepsin that is secreted by the stomach wall. This enzyme is only active within the pH range of 3.0 to 5.0 and requires the acid to maintain that pH. Pepsin is very specific in its action and is simply incapable of digesting food enzymes, which are very large molecules and are more than just protein."


and another
http://www.jonbarron.org/newsletters/07/3-12-2007.php

"Not all proteins (enzymes are proteins) are broken down by stomach acid. Rather than get technical, let me just point out pepsin. Pepsin is an enzyme secreted by the stomach to aid in digesting the proteins in your food. Not only is it NOT broken down by stomach acid, its optimum pH environment is about 2.0 (very, very acidic)."

[RawCutter]

and why does your friend HATE that you are raw?

[Rawkinlocs]

Here is a fairly recent, similar discussion you may wish to peek into: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=24538&highlight=enzymes

[belleadonna]

Cooking destroys enzymes, not stomach acid.

Don't worry about what your friend says. Do what is right for your body. You don't have to justify yourself to anyone!! And you can throw that quote at her/him!! :)

[Raspberry4]

Stomach acid does not destroy enzymes - or we would never be able to digest anything from birth onward.

Cooked food destroys enzymes. And, as we age, our source of enzymes in our own body depletes naturally; however, it is not the stomach acid that does it.

[SmilingRawDancer]

Thanks so much! I never had any intention of going off raw - Oh how I love it so! :p

I just want to get to the bottom of things.

And andypdx had the correct answer as to why my friend hates that I'm raw: it's perceived as a direct threat to her VERY SAD diet, and she is fairly overweight as well.


Ok, so acidity levels of the environment have to do with it.....

[eatyourbroccoli]

if one of my "friends" was constantly criticizing my diet, id probably toss back a "yes. despite your argument defying basic biology, stomach acid does destroy enzymes. by being raw im encouraging the rapid deterioration of my health; which is precisely why youre the prototype of 'healthy person,' and i am a sickly, scrawny, pale weakling mentally preparing for my impending death." and then skip off.

ok well, actually..ive used the latter portion quite a few times with family..

but im sarcastic. and then you may not have this "friend" anymore. though, from my perspective of life, friends arent supposed to judge. you get enough of that from family and inlaws. so, ya know. whatever. ;)

[Conscious Midwife]

if one of my "friends" was constantly criticizing my diet, id probably toss back a "yes. despite your argument defying basic biology, stomach acid does destroy enzymes. by being raw im encouraging the rapid deterioration of my health; which is precisely why youre the prototype of 'healthy person,' and i am a sickly, scrawny, pale weakling mentally preparing for my impending death." and then skip off.

ok well, actually..ive used the latter portion quite a few times with family..

but im sarcastic. and then you may not have this "friend" anymore. though, from my perspective of life, friends arent supposed to judge. you get enough of that from family and inlaws. so, ya know. whatever. ;)

Hilarious

For me highly critical, prosthelitizing and toxic "friends", lose their cool points with me and are demoted to the status of "associate".

[eatyourbroccoli]

are demoted to the status of "associate".

lolol .

[JGex]

And andypdx had the correct answer as to why my friend hates that I'm raw: it's perceived as a direct threat to her VERY SAD diet, and she is fairly overweight as well.



I just simply do not have time for people so shallow they perceive my lifestyle as any sort of threat to them. Like EYB said, if they aren't supportive, they get demoted in my world.

We had a very similar conversation at our raw potluck last month.... friends who became toxic. I call them psychic vampires because they seemingly suck the life out of you - usually unintentionally and without the consciousness that they are doing it.

We each have a different path to walk.... sometimes we find folks who are walking a similar path and sometimes we grow apart from people as our paths grow in different directions. Doesn't mean you have to drop them as a friend forever, but you may just find yourself not spending as much time with them.

As far as beyondveg.com, it's my belief that much can be learned from others' experiences if we are willing to read or listen with an open mind. I do also know that since my DH's and my diet has been 75-85% raw that we've improved significantly some of the health probs we were experiencing. Each person is different, so I don't believe that one blanket dietary plan will work for all.