Explanation of Digestive Enzymes

Protease Enzymes
Magnesium Levels & Undigested Proteins
Calcium & Undigested Proteins
Amylase Enzymes
Lipase Enzymes
Cellulase Enzymes
Lactase Maltase & Sucrase Enzymes
REFERENCES

Rich Distributing Enzymes Plus Intestinal Flora

Protease Enzymes: Digest Proteins - very important

Protease enzymes hydrolyze large protein molecules into smaller polypeptides and amino acids. Human and animal studies have provided irrefutable evidence that proteolytic enzymes, preferably taken on an empty stomach, can and are absorbed intact from the gastrointestinal tract into the undesirable and often detrimental protein factions in the extra-cellular fluids. In particular, this increased proteolytic activity has been found to help reduce the effects of acute inflammation. When there is cellular injury, insoluble fibrin clots develop at the periphery of the inflamed area, enclosing the damaged tissue preventing the migration of disease-causing agents of toxins to other areas of the body. During the reparative process, serum proteolytic enzymes, known as plasmins, begin breaking down the fibrin clots into smaller, soluble peptides and amino acids. Although the immediate fibrin deposits is one of the most important defense mechanisms in the body, an imbalance between the number of fibrin clots formed and the amount of piasmin present to dissolve the clot has been found to cause exaggerated inflammatory symptoms such as more extensive edema; more pain; complete stoppage of circulation to the area; a delay of the phagocytic stage of inflammation; and delayed healing with excess scar formation. Proteolytic enzymes given to human subjects suffering from inflammation; and delayed healing with excess scar formation. Proteolytic enzymes given to human subjects suffering from inflammation have experienced a dramatic resorption of the edemic fluid and relief of the heat, redness, swelling from inflammation have experienced a dramatic resorption of the edemic fluid and relief of the heat, redness, swelling and pain. Protease supplementation has been shown to be beneficial for acute inflammation involving soft tissue (sports injuries), bones, respiratory tract or the ears, nose, throat, and/or gums.

Protease Enzymes: A Boost To The Immune System
Adequate proteolytic activity in the bloodstream is vital to a healthy immune system. Human lymphocytes have proteolytic enzymes bound on the surface of their cell membranes which are capable of digesting the protein components of various pathogens. In addition, lymphocytic proteases have an increased affinity for infected cells due to the presence of foreign proteins in the cell membrane. Immunological studies have shown that oral administration of proteolytic enzymes increases antibody and lymphocyte production and so aid the immunological response. Exogenous proteases exhibit a unique selectivity for foreign non-living proteins. Normal, living cells are protected against lysis by an inhibitor mechanism. Viruses are cell parasites consisting of nucleic acids covered by a protein film which do not show any of the characteristics of life until after a successful cellular invasion. In vitro studies have found that, during their extra-cellular phase, the viral envelope can be hydrolyzed or at least inactivated by proteolytic activity leading to a loss of infectivity of several types of viruses in man including six different influenza Type A viruses and cold viruses. Although bacteria and parasites cannot be inactivated directly be exogenous proteolytic enzymes (due to the protective mechanism in their cell membranes), these enzymes can breakdown undigested protein, cellular dedris and toxins in the blood. For example, proteases can hydrolyze undigested dietary protein that enters the blood through openings made in the intestinal wall by the toxins and mycelia of Candida yeast. Supplementation of high-potency proteases allows the immune system to focus its full attention upon the bacterial or parasitic invasion.

The Problem With Undigested Proteins - Low Magnesium Levels
The inability to properly digest protein can negatively affect many metabolic processes of the body. Protease supplementation helps the body utilize protein to produce hormones and to carry calcium to structural tissue and the nervous system. In a healthy nervous system, calcium and protein are integrally involved in the release of neurotransmitters which propagate transmission of nerve impulses. Magnesium concentrations in the extra-cellular fluids determine how much calcium may enter a nerve cell. When extra-cellular levels of protein, calcium and magnesium are low, irregular nervous reactions or anxiety can result. Magnesium also plays a vital role in maintaining mental and emotional balance by regulating the formation of the brain neurotransmitter dopamine and by promoting the formation of beneficial Prostaglandins. Proper protein, calcium and magnesium assimilation is imperative to the improvement of the irritability, anxiety and other psychological imbalances associated with PMS and menopause. In addition, studies have shown that people suffering from fungal infestations such as Candidiasis tend to be deficient in magnesium.

Protein Digestion Leads To Better Calcium Utilization
Calcium ions initiate and control muscle fiber contractions. A decrease in ionized serum calcium results in severe intermittent spastic contractions of the muscle known as tetany. As protein utilization is improved, more calcium ions are bound by circulating proteins thus educing the extra-cellular calcium ion concentration. To avoid the possibility of a tetanic response, it is necessary to supplement calcium when taking high-potency protease enzymes. We should note that drinking ionized alkaline water produced by our alkaline water ionizers may eliminate the need to supplement on calcium. Readily-soluble Calcium and Magnesium are included in Rich Distributing's Enzymes Plus Intestinal Flora to prevent the complications that could result from a deficiency of dietary calcium and/or magnesium.

In addition to Protease, cellulose, lipase and amylase are provided in Rich Distributing's Enzymes Plus Intestinal Flora formula to help utilize other important food nutrients.

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Amylase Enzymes
Amylase enzymes hydrolyze or digest large polysaccharide molecules, commonly known as carbohydrates, into small disaccharide molecules which are eventually reduced to the mono-saccharide, glucose, before reaching the cell. Glucose is one of the primaryraw materials used by the body in the production of energy. The mitochondria in the cells transform glucose into Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), a high-energy compound that release its energy to facilitate cellular function. Therefore, when the body is deficient in amylase enzymes, it is also deficient in its main source of energy, glucose.

According to the Gell and Coombs classification of hypersensitivity reactions, Type I reactions result from the release of pharmacologically-active substances such as histamine, serotonin, slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) and eosinophilic chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis (ECF-A) from Ige-sensitized basophils and mast cells after contact with a specific antigen. These released substances cause vasodilation, increased capillary permeability, smooth muscle contraction and eosinophilia. This inflammatory response is usually manifested in those organ systems of the body which come in contact with the outside world, most notably the respiratory tract and the skin. Some of the clinical conditions in which Type I reactions play a role include seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever), extrinsic asthma, atopic dermatftis and urticaria/angicedema. Inflammation caused by the release of histamine and similar substances can also be triggered by trauma and acute or chronic infections. The pharmacologically active substances that cause an inflammatory response are stored in the granules of mast cells or basophils until a stimulus prompts their release. Neurohormones modulate the release of these substances. The function of these neurohormones is controlled by cAMP and cGMP systems within the cells.

The intracellular concentration of cAMP is a principal determinant of both the inhibition of the release of several chemical mediators, such as histamine, and the relaxation of smooth muscles. The production of cAMP and cGMP requies adequate ATP as a precursor. Therefore, when there is a deficiency of ATP in the cell, insufficient c AMP and cGMP will be produced causing imbalances in the neurohormone control of inflammation. In a study reported in Health and Longevity, a significant number of patients exhibiting skin conditions, such as dermatitis, were found to have low blood levels of amylase. High-potency amylase enzymes taken between meals will be absorbed into the bloodstream to affect the digestion of carbohydrates, providing glucose for the production of ATP and its subsequent conversion to cAMP and cGMP.

In addition, amylase enzymes in the bloodstream may contribute to the immunological attack on certain myxoviruses which are enveloped in a coat composed principally of glycoproteins (proteins bound to carbohydrates). These myxoviruses are known to cause acute respiratory conditions and skin eruptions.

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Lipase Enzymes - Digest Fats
Lipase enzymes hydrolyze neutral fat (triglycerides) into diglycerides, monoglycerides and, finally, glycerol and free fatty acids. If fats are not properly digested, they cannot be used by the body to provide:

A Source Of Energy. Forty to forty-five percent of the calories in the average American diet are derived from fats, which is about equal to the calories derived from carbohydrates. Therefore, properly-digested dietary fats are needed as a source of immediate energy for basal metabolism and to maintain stored energy for future metabolic events. When carbohydrate metabolism is inadequate, the body relies primarily on the metabolism of fat to supply its energy requirements. This takes place in starvation and following a high-fat meal when carbohydrate availability is reduced. Using triglycerides as an energy source also occurs in cases of diabetes because insulin deficiency impairs glucose transport into cells. Triglyceride metabolism results in the formation of ketone bodies which cannot be properly oxidized in the absence of carbohydrates. Excessive ketone bodies in the blood can have an extremely acidifying effect and may overwork the body's homeostatic excretion mechanisms resulting in kidney and circulatory failure. Enhanced digestion of dietary triglycerides can reduce the metabolism of stored fat thus lowering serum ketones. Tryglycerides, composed of three fatty acids attached to glycerol, offer an immediate replacement source of energy. Glycerol is a short-chained carbohydrate which is easily converted to glucose and absorbed into the bloodstream to supply energy, sparing some of the body's fat reserves and reducing the production of potentially harmful ketone bodies.

Prevent Cholesterol Deposits On Arterial Walls: Although the exact cause of cholesterol deposits on arterial walls is unclear, there is overwhelming evidence that it is associated with how effectively dietary fat is metabolized. Proper digestion of dietary fats can have a beneficial effect on cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism. Short chain fatty acids are absorbed directly into the blood and transported throughout the body attached to blood protein. Long chain fatty acids, monoglycerides and diglycerides are reconverted into triglycerides in the intestinal wall and surrounded with protein to form chylomicrons and Very Low Density Lipoproteins (VLDLs). These large transporter molecules carry the fat through the lymph and blood circulation to the liver for metabolism. Cholesterol is also incorporated into the chylomicrons and VLDLs. VLDLs are potentially converted in the blood to Low Density Lipoproteins (LDLs), the molecular complex responsible for depositing cholesterol in the tissues, of major concern, the arteries. Therefore, thorough digestion of dietary fats into free fatty acids reduces the VLDL and subsequent LDL levels in the blood. In addition, proper digestion of foods containing the Omega-3 and Omega-6 oils is important in order to obtain essential fatty acids, especially linolenic acid. This fatty acids is the precursor for Prostaglandins in the E3 series (PGE-3). PGE-3 are hormone like substances that have been shown to reduce serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as platelet aggregation and thrombosis. Older persons who are more prone to hardening of the arteries were found to have lower lipase levels and hence poor fat absorption from the intestine.

Maintain Resilience and Lubrication of All Cells and Tissues: Fatty substances combine with protein to form the lipid belayer of cell membranes and internal fatty tissue serves as insulation against heat loss and as a protective cushion for many tissues and organs. In addition up to 20% of solids in fecal matter is derived from the fat in sloughed epithelial cells. When dietary fat is poorly digested, it will not be absorbed into the epithelial cells of the digestive tract. Consequently, the stool loses some of its natural lubrication from discarded epithelial cells which, when compounded by low fiber in the diet, may contribute to constipation.

Facilitate The Metabolism of Essential Nutrients. Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K need dietary fat to be absorbed and transported. Properly digested fats work with these and other nutrients to perform life-supporting functions in the human body.

The Need For Enzymes: Today's "fast-food", refined diet is essentially devoid of high-fiber foods. They have been replaced with foods higher in fat, a trend increasingly associated with serious health problems. Dietary fiber consists of cellulose fibrils cemented together with a mat6x of other substances including hemicelluloses, pectin, lignin, and gums. Studies have shown that hemicelluloses, increase the bulk, softness and transit time of stools; pectin reduce the amount of fat the body can absorb reducing blood fat levels; lignins bind excess bile acids produced in response to a high-fat diet preventing their metabolism into toxins by colon microflora; and certain gums reduce the rate of glucose absorption helping to pace the postprandial rise in blood sugar levels. In the digestive process, exogenous cellulose enzymes help release these beneficial components from dietary fiber. Only modest amounts of cellulose are included in this formula because the additional glucose obtained from complete digestion of cellulose would not be desirable in cases of poor sugar and/or fat metabolism. In addition to lipase and cellulose, protease and amylase are provided in Rich Distributing's Enzymes Plus Intestinal Flora formula to help utilize other important food nutrients.

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Cellulase Enzymes
Cellulase enzymes hydrolyze cellulose fibers into smaller fragments ultimately releasing glucose. The human digestive system does not secrete enzymes capable of breaking down cellulose, so dietary fiber moves through the digestive tract essentially intact unless the enzyme, cellulose, is present in the diet. Cellulase is found naturally in all raw fruits, vegetables and whole grains but is missing in those that are cooked or processed. Even if these raw foods are consumed with cooked or processed vegetables or grains, there will not be absorbed into the body. Human and animal studies have provided irrefutable evidence that enzymes can and are absorbed intact from the gastrointestinal tract into the blood stream under normal conditions. Thus, exogenous cellulose can help the body utilize fiber fragments in the extra-cellular fluids. Cellulase deficiencies are often overlooked, yet a lack of cellulose can mean poor digestion of plant foods and less than optimal absorption of nutrients in the intestines.

Dietary fiber consists of cellulose fibrils cemented together with a matrix of other substances (soluble fiber) including hemicelluloses (non-cellulosic polysacchrides), pectin, lignin and gums. Exogenous cellulose enzymes help release these beneficial components from dietary fiber. Of particular interest, pectins tend to bind heavy metals and organic toxic substances reducing their absorption into the body. This property can reduce the effects of food allergies and metal toxicity. In addition, studies have shown that hemicelluloses increase the bulk, softness and transit time of stools by increasing their ability to bind water.

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Lactase, Maltase, and Sucrase Enzymes
Ideally, the mucosal cells lining the small intestine secrete three digestive enzymes: sucrase, lactase and maltase. These enzymes, collectively known as disaccharidases, render dietary carbohydrates small enough to pass through the wall of the small intestine into the bloodstream to be used by the body as a source of energy for metabolic processes. Sucrase primarily digests sucrose (refined sugar) into glucose and fructose. Lactase digests lactose (milk sugar) into glucose and galactose. Maltase digests maltose, a product of starch digestion, into glucose. A deficiency of one or more of these disaccharide-splitting enzymes may be due to genetic influences, irritation or abnormality of the intestinal wall, and/or exhaustion of the body's ability to produce the enzyme(s). Disaccharidase deficiencies are generally charaterized by intestinal distress following ingestion of foods containing the ofending sugar or starch. Diarrhea is due to the increased number of un-split disaccharide molecules remaining in the intestinal lumen which are osmotically retaining fluid. Bloating and flatulence are caused by the production of gas (CO and H) from the bacterial fermentation of disaccharide residues in the lower small intestine and colon.

Lactase deficiency has received the most attention of the disaccharide - splitting enzyme deficiencies. Most mammals, including humans, have high intestinal lastase activity at birth. But, in some cases, this activity declines to low levels during childhood and remains low in sdulthood. The low lactase levels cause maldigestion of milk and other foods containing lactose. It is estimated that approx. 70% of the world's population is deficient in intestinal lactase with more that one-third of the U.S. population presumed to be unable to digest dairy products. Although not as well-recognized as lactase deficiencies, sucrase deficiencies may explain the increasing inability of many people to handle the sucrose in the modern, refined diet can exhaust the body's ability to produce sucrase enzymes as well as the body's supply of nutrients needed for carbohydrate metabolism. Chronic constipation in individuals consuming a highly refined carbohydrate diet may be at least partially explained by the absorption of excess sucrose into the bloodstream pulling water with it from the intestinal tract to maintain osmotic balance. Adding disaccharidase enzymes to the diets of those individuals suffering from a sucrase, lactase and/or maltase deficiency can help them more fully realize the nutritional benefits from carbohydrate containing foods.

The human digestive system does not secrete enzymes capable of breaking down cellulose, so dietary fiber moves through the digestive tract essentially intact unless the enzyme, is present in the diet. Cellulase deficiencies are often overlooked, yet a lack of cellulose can mean poor digestion of raw plant foods and less than optimal absorption of nutrients in the intestines. Cellulase digests cellulose into glucose and is naturally found in raw fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Many starches and other nutrients in these uncooked foods are coated with cellulose. Unfortunately, most people do not chew raw food thoroughly enough to activate the cellulose naturally present in the food. This means many nutrients in these foods are not released from the cellulose and, therefore, cannot be fully utilized by the body. In addition to improving intestinal absorption of nutrients, supplemental cellulose enzymes can enhance the boby's utilization of fiber to normalize bowel activity.

Many people who cannot tolerate carbohydrates in their turn to protein as their primary source of energy as 56% of protein intake i converted to glucose. Since high protein diets rarely contain the full spectrum of nutrients, many vitamins and minerals are depleted in the body's attempt to metabolize excessive amounts of protein resulting in multiple nutritional deficiencies. The bottom line is that you need enzymes.

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REFERENCE LIST

1. Guyton, Arthur C., Textbook of Medical Physiology, Eight Edition, Philadelphia, Penn, W. B. Saunders Co., 1991.

2. Tortora, Gerard J., Principles of Human Anatomy, Third Edition, New York, N.Y., Harper and Row, 1983

3. Donovan, Edward W., Essentials of Pathophysiolgy, New York, N.Y., Macmillan Publishing Company, 1985.

4. Morter, M.T., Jr., Correlative Urinalysis, Rogers, Ark., Best Research, Inc., 1987

5. Johnson, Leonard R., ed., Gastrointestinal Physiology, Fourth Edition, Saint Louis, Mo., Mosby Year Book, 1991.

6. Lopez, D.A., M.D., Williams, R.M., M.D., Ph.D., Miehlke, M., M.D., Enzymes The Fountain of Life, Charlston, S.C., The Neville Press, 1994.

7. Wolf, Max, M.D., Ransberger, Karl, Ph.D., Enzyme Therapy, Los Angeles, Cal., Regent House, 1977.

8. Howell, Edward, M.D., Enzyme Nutrition, Wayne, NJ., Avery Publishing Group, Inc.,

9. Howell, Edward, M.D., Food Enzymes for Health and Longevity, Twin Lakes, Wis., Lotus Press, 1994

10. Price, Weston A., D.D.S., Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, La Mesa, Cal., Price-Pottenger Nutrition Poundation, Inc., 1970.

11. Pottenger, Francis M., Jr., M.D., Pottenger's Cats, A Study In Nutrition, La Mesa, Cal., Price Pottenger Nutrition Foundation, Inc., 1983.

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