What Do Digestive Enzymes Specifically Do?

Enzymes are specific in what they digest and in what pH levels they work. Each enzyme requires a particular temperature in order to
function optimally:

• Bromelain and papain digest proteins, but ignore carbohydrates and fats. They work best at about 120 degrees.
• Plant enzymes from aspergillus have been shown to work optimally between 90 and 105 degrees, and in a pH range of 4 to 9 both in the small intestine and the stomach

The enzymes used in the formulation of the dietary supplements, HEALTHY REFLECTIONS ®, are all plant based, bacterial or
fungal (i.e. aspergillus oryzae and niger) cultured on food materials to produce enzymes. This is especially valuable for predigestion
because they digest best in mild acid, while the pancreatic and salivary enzymes digest in neutral and alkaline media. Plant based
enzymes, also known as fungal or microbial enzymes, are the most effective digesters of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates and have been found to be about 100 times more effective in these actions than the other two groups. Approximately 80% of digestive enzymes
supplements are plant-based.

What Is The Primary Function Of Digestive Enzymes?

• Amylase: breaks down carbohydrates, starches, and sugars found in potatoes, fruits, vegetables, and snack foods
• Cellulase: breaks down food fiber (cellulose) found in fruits and vegetables
• Lactase: breaks down lactose found in milk sugars
• Lipase: breaks down fat found in butter, cheese, meat, dietary fats and oils
• Protease: breaks down protein found in meats, nuts, milk and cheese
• Phytase: breaks down phytic acids in grains, seeds, and simple sugars into fructose and glucose
• Invertase: breaks down white and simple sugar
• Pectinase: breaks down proteins into amino acids
• Papain: derived from papaya, breaks down protein-rich foods

Why Would I Have To Take Enzymes? Don't I Make My Own? Will I Always Have To Take Enzymes?

Yes, you do make your own enzymes. If you ate a diet of raw foods as your only source of nutrition, you would get to keep most of
them. However, eating cooked or processed foods uses up valuable enzymes in the digestive process. When one chooses to continue those dietary habits, along with the aging process, more enzymes are needed for the metabolic function of the body, the demand for enzymes then exceed the supply available.*

Are Enzymes Addictive? Are Enzymes Destroyed InThe Stomach And Not Being Utilized? Do Enzymes Replace The Body's Own Digestive Supply When Taking Digestive Enzymes?

None of the above statements are true. The body is just being supplemented with plant enzymes normally not found in food. People who are not eating raw whole fruits and vegetables, or are not chewing their food thoroughly, may not have enough enzymes to
predigest food. This places a burden on the digestive system to do all the digesting; the body is working harder than it needs. People
are therefore supplementing what's missing, not replacing. Digestive enzymes are secreted within the healthy gastrointestinal tract and from the pancreas to allow the release of nutrients from foods. By eating raw foods and taking enzyme supplements, we may be able to preserve and replenish our natural enzyme levels.*

How Would Decreased Enzyme Production Affect My Health?

A reduction in the secretions of enzymes needed to fully digest a typical meal consisting of protein, starches/sugars, and fats, could
result in toxicity formed from rotting or fermentation of the undigested food. Undigested material finds its way into the bloodstream, where a predictable immune response to what the body perceives as invaders takes place. Frequent repetition of this immune
response could contribute to a wide variety of health concerns.*

Can enzymes help in controlling weight?

If the nature of the challenge faced (overweight) or (underweight) is of a nutritional nature, and/or the inability to efficiently digest and
assimilate food is a contributing factor, then enzymes may assist in regulating those factors, allowing for more effective weight
management.*

Do I Digest All My Food?

No, enzymes are very specific as to the substance they act on, and so the enzymes that breaks down protein (Protease) will not act on fat which requires the enzyme (Lipase), nor on sugar, which requires (Amylase) or one of the other sugar digesting enzymes, such as
(Lactase) for the milk sugar lactose. A good digestive enzyme product, such as HEALTHY REFLECTIONS ®, carries a broad spectrum of enzymes, capable of carrying out their function in a wide range of pH as that found in the gastrointestinal tract.*

Why Do We Need To Consider Supplemental Digestive Enzymes?

Most of our food is cooked and super-cooked; nearly 100% of the food enzymes are destroyed. Many people don't make enough enzymes for optimal digestion, especially as we get older. If sufficient enzymes are busy breaking down and utilizing foods, extra energy isn't being diverted away from our immune system. Some people may have a lack of enzymes due to genetic/metabolic reasons, including those with one of the following conditions: gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance, and acid/alkaline imbalances.*

Can Enzymes Benefit Me In Other Ways Besides Digestion?

Yes, protein (Proteolytic) ingesting enzymes have been shown in studies to reduce swelling, thereby speeding occasional minor pain
after injury, without any of the drawbacks associated with the use of other products available. Enzymes taken away from food can also
assist in breaking down and removing toxins.*

When Should I Take Enzymes?

Supplemental digestive enzymes are suggested to be taken just before your first mouthful of food. When cooked or processed foods arrive in the digestive tract, digestive enzymes are secreted to break down food into nutrients and waste. These nutrients are then absorbed into the blood stream and used at the cellular level. The waste is to be discarded later, hence the body benefits without giving up valuable enzymes.*

Can I Take Too Many Enzymes?

Studies haven’t shown toxic effects from the ingestion of large quantities of enzymes. Enzymes are contraindicated when blood thinners have been prescribed, where there is an active ulcerative condition, and as with all supplements, consult your physician during pregnancy.*

Is There Anything That Would Act Against Enzymes?

Yes, heat in excess of 118 degrees will deactivate enzymes, as will carbonation, certain preservatives, and strenuous exercise.*

What Are FCC And FDA?

Consumers need to know how to read the labels of an enzyme supplement. Activity is the key to enzyme effectiveness. While the labels of some enzyme supplements show measurements in weight (such as mg), enzyme weight does not equal enzyme activity.

The Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) is the accepted standard recognized by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). It is the national standard used to evaluate vegetarian enzyme activity. For Protease, look for HUT; for Lipase FCCLU, for Amylase SKU, and for Cellulase CU.

Even though the FCC designations are used for enzyme supplements, there is no universally accepted method for manufacturers to use when indicating the potencies of their enzyme products. The FCC method is preferable over milligram measurements because it measures actual activity. The FCC designation is essential to the USP designation for pancreatic enzymes. Some companies also state GDU (gelatin digesting unit) as the unit of activity.

Some problems incurred with this unit of measurement in that there is no central regulating standard for how companies determine their own GDU. Companies will use different temperatures, pH levels, or different types of gelatin as part of their testing methods. This makes it almost impossible to compare units, even with other companies.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Journal of American Medicine, Vol. 284 No 11, September 20, 2000
Journal of American Medicine, Vol. 287 23:3116-26, 2002
Food Enzymes for Health & Longevity Dr. Edward Howell, Lotus Press, 1994 Enzyme Nutrition, The Food
Enzyme Concept by Dr. Edward Howell, Avery Publishing Group, l985
Food Enzymes, The Missing Link to Radiant Health by Humbart Santillo, MH, N.D., Holm Press, 1987-1993
The Complete Book of Enzyme Therapy by Anthony J. Cichoke, D.C; Avery Publishing, 1999
Enzymes & Enzyme Therapy by Anthony J. Chicoke, D.C.; Keats Publishing, 1994
The Healing Power of Enzymes by DicQie Fuller, Ph.D., D.Sc., Forbes Publishing, 1998
Enzymes the Life Force within Us by DicQie Fuller, Ph.D.,D.Sc., Forbes Publishing
Vitamins Herbs, Minerals & Supplements by H. Winter Griffith, M.D., Fisher Books, 1998
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Third Edition by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC., Avery Books, 2000
Vitamin and Health Encyclopedia by Jack Ritchason, N.D., Ph.D., Woodland Books, 1995
The Little Herb Encyclopedia by Jack Ritchason, N.D.,Ph.D., Woodland Books, 1995
The Enzyme Cure by Lita Lee, Ph.D., Lisa Turner, with Burton Goldberg, Future Medicine Publishing, 1998
Enzymes, The Key to Health by Howard Loomis, Jr., D.C., F.I.A.C.A., Grote Publishing, 1999
Colon Health by Dr. Norman W. Walker, D.Sc., Ph.D., Norwalk Press, 1995
Dr. Jensen's Guide to Better Bowl Care by Dr. Bernard Jensen, Ph.D., Avery Press, 1999.
Probiotics, Nature's Internal Healers by Natasha Trenev, Avery Publishing, 1998.

Consult a health professional for medical problems.

“The human body could not exist without enzymes”