About Enzymes. Enzymes are necessary for the digestion of food, releasing valuable vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that keep us alive and healthy. Enzymes are catalysts, meaning they have the power to cause an internal action without themselves being changed or destroyed in the process. Enzymes are destroyed under certain heat conditions. Enzymes are best obtained from uncooked or unprocessed fruits, vegetables, eggs, meats and fish.

Each enzyme acts upon a specific food; one cannot substitute for the other. A deficiency, shortage, or even the absence of one single enzyme can mean the difference between sickness and health.

Enzymes that end in (ase) are need by the food substance they act upon. For example, with phosphorus the enzyme is called phoshatase; with sugar it is known as sucrase.

Pepsin is a vital digestive enzyme that breaks up the proteins of ingested food, splitting them into usable amino acids. Without pepsin, protein could not be used to build healthy skin, strong skeletal structure, rich blood supply, and strong muscles.

Renin is a digestive enzyme that causes coagulation of milk, changing its protein into a usable form in the body. Renin releases the valuable minerals from milk, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and iron that are used by the body to stabilize the water balance, strengthen the nervous system, and produce strong teeth and bones.

Lipase splits fat, which is then utilized to nourish the skin cells, protect the body against bruises and blows, and ward off the entrance of infectious virus cells and allergic conditions.

Hydrochloric acid in the stomach works on tough foods such as fibrous meats, vegetables and poultry. It digests protein, calcium, and iron. Without HC1, problems such as pernicious anemia, gastric carcinoma, congenital chlorhydria, and allergies can develop. Because stress, tension, anger, and anxiety before eating, as well as deficiencies of some vitamins (B complex primarily) and minerals, can all cause a lack of HC1, more of us are short of it than realize it. If you think that you have an over acid problem or heartburn, for which you are dosing yourself with an antacid such as Maalox, Tums, Rolaids, or Alka-Seltzer, you are probably unaware that the symptoms of having too little acid are exactly the same as having too much, in which case the taking of antacids could be the worst possible thing for you to do.

Caution: If you have an ulcer condition, consult your doctor before using any supplements.