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Why are food
enzymes missing in cooked and processed foods?
Modern food
processing techniques and all types of cooking destroy nearly 100% of the
enzymes naturally occurring in food. Enzymes are completely denatured when
exposed to temperatures over 118 deg. for any length of time. The modern diet
consisting of cooked and processed food is essentially devoid of active
enzymes.
How do enzymes aid in
digestion?
Enzymes are an integral part of the digestive
process. From the time food enters the mouth, enzymes are at work breaking the
food down into smaller and smaller units until it can be absorbed through the
intestinal wall. These enzymes come from two sources, those found in the food
itself, and those produced in the body.
All raw food naturally
contains the proper types and proportions of enzymes necessary to assist in the
process of decomposition. In addition, when raw food is eaten, chewing ruptures
the cell membranes and releases these indigenous food enzymes, many of which
survive and contribute to the digestive process. These enzymes include
protease, which breaks long protein chains (polypeptides) into smaller amino
acid chains and eventually into single amino acids, amylase that reduces large
carbohydrates (starches and other polysaccharides) to disaccharides including
sucrose, lactose, and maltose, lipase that digests fats (triglycerides) into
free fatty acids and glycerol, and cellulase. Cellulase, which is not found in
the human system, breaks the bonds found in fiber.
Most food enzymes
are essentially destroyed under the conditions used to cook and process food,
leaving foods devoid of enzyme activity. Placing the full digestive burden on
the body, the body's digestive process can become over-stressed. Digestive
problems can result, causing improper digestion and malabsorption of nutrients
that can have far reaching effects. Consequences of malabsorption can include
impaired immunity, allergic reaction, poor wound healing, skin problems and
mood swings. Supplemental enzymes can improve the level of digestion and help
assure that the maximum level of nutrient absorption is attained.
Supplemental enzymes of microbial and plant origin work at the pH found in the
upper stomach. Food sits in the upper portion of the stomach for as long as an
hour before gastric secretions begin their action. Several studies have shown
that the enzymes in saliva continue their digestive activity in the upper
stomach and can digest up to 30% of the ingested protein, 60% of ingested
starch and 10% of ingested fat during the 30 to 60 minutes after consumption.
Although salivary enzymes accomplish a significant amount of digestion, their
activity is limited to a pH level above 5.0. Supplemental microbial enzymes,
and some plant enzymes, are active in the pH range of 3.0 to 9.0 and can
facilitate the hydrolysis of a much larger amount of protein, carbohydrates and
fat before Hydrochloric Acid is secreted in sufficient amounts to neutralize
their activity. Obviously, these enzymes can contribute significantly in
improving food nutrient utilization.
Can
the importance of pre-digestion be substantiated?
Research
shows that nearly all creatures including rodents, whales, canines and birds
have distinct organs that enable the exogenous enzymes of food the necessary
time to act, before initiating the body's own digestive process. For example,
seeds and grains lie in a birds crop for eight to twelve hours, during which
proteolytic and amylolytic enzymes in the seed begin hydrolyzing proteins and
starch. The food enzyme stomach concept in humans is supported by research on
the extended activity of salivary amylase. The amylolytic activity of ptyalin
alone can digest as much as 45% of the starch in a meal, before gastric
secretions inhibit its action. Further studies in the 1940's showed that as
much as 60% starch, 30% protein and 10% fat were digested before pepsin was
activated.
Are there quality and efficacy
issues?
Quality and efficacy issues run the entire length and
breadth of the dietary supplement industry, including enzymes. Knowledge of
handling, storing, and packaging of enzymes is essential to properly preserve
an enzyme's activity. Quality control policies must be strictly followed as
well as having knowledge of the suppliers of raw materials. All we do at
Ultra-Pet products is enzymes!
Is
supplementation really necessary?
The enzymes naturally
present in food play an important role in digestion by helping to predigest the
ingested food in the upper stomach before hydrochloric acid has even been
secreted. This predigestion is hindered when food is cooked or processed
because the enzymes are destroyed by the processing procedures. Placing the
full digestive burden on the body, the body and its digestive process can
become over-stressed and incomplete. As a result, vital nutrients may not be
released from the food for assimilation by the body, and gastrointestinal
problems may result.
The primary purpose of enzymes in supplement
form is to enhance the enzymes available in raw food, and replace those enzymes
lost when food is cooked or processed. In addition, supplementation enables
more digestion to begin in the gastric region, easing the burden on the
digestive system as a whole. The earlier that digestion can begin, the greater
the likelihood that no undigested food will enter the colon where bacteria can
feed upon it, causing such problems as gas and bloating.
Nearly every
pet can benefit from supplementation with enzymes. Even healthy dogs may
improve their absorption and utilization of nutrients through the use of
digestive enzymes. Of course the benefits will vary, depending upon the dogs
diet and general health. Individuals in good health can expect to notice less
fullness after meals, increased energy, faster emptying of the stomach
contents, decreased gas, and more regular bowel habits.
What happens when food is not properly
digested?
Over a century ago, Virchow described "digestive
leukocytosis" a condition in which the white blood cell count increases after a
meal. Further research by Kouchakoff identified cooked and processed foods as
the causative factor. Kouchakoff observed that raw food induced no change in
WBC counts while cooked foods, particularly cooked meat, caused rapid increases
in serum leukocyte levels. When incompletely digested food molecules are
absorbed, the body identifies this particulate matter as foreign antigens and
forms circulating immune complexes. The immune system then mobilizes macrophage
leukocytes to digest the food.
Do Enzymes
in Total-Zymes ® Survive Digestion?
The enzymes involved
in digestion are very specific as to the type of food they break down, as well
as the conditions under which they work. The process of chewing begins
digestion by the action of salivary enzymes, predominantly salivary amylase
that begins breaking down starch. These enzymes along with others produced in
the stomach, are active at a pH of around 5.0 and continue to break down
starches and some fats in the upper part of the stomach until hydrochloric acid
is released, lowering the pH to around 3.0. At this point another enzyme,
pepsin, becomes active, beginning protein digestion. As the food proceeds to
the small intestine, the pH again rises, inactivating pepsin, but enabling
other enzymes produced in the pancreas and small intestine to begin their work
to complete the digestive process. These enzymes are active in a more alkaline
pH of between 6.0 and 8.0. The enzymes that are naturally present in raw food
can assist in their own initial breakdown, but are also inactivated when the pH
drops in the stomach. Supplemental enzymes can be of great benefit in
contributing to the digestive process. However, supplemental enzymes
of animal origin are only active in the alkaline pH of the intestine and risk
being permanently inactivated or denatured in the lower pH of the gastric
region. The enzymes in Total-Zymes ® on the other hand not
only survive the acid environment of the stomach, but also are active at that
low pH. This is where enzymes from microbial or plant origin can be a real
advantage because they are stable and active throughout a broad pH range, from
about 3.0 – 9.0.
Can Total-Zymes
® benefit working dogs?
Enzymes have been found to be a
greatly beneficial ingredient when added to a working dogs nutritional program.
Enzymes are natural catalysts which work in the body by hastening the breakdown
of the foods which dogs consume, thus maximizing the utilization of the
nutrients in the foods. Often working dogs are consuming a unique and
controlled diet, high in proteins. These dogs can greatly benefit, both in
comfort and in results with added enzymes to break down the high levels of
proteins they are consuming. Thus, an addition of enzymes both hastens and
maximizes the results of their specialized diets. Dogs such as sled dogs, bomb
dogs and rescue dogs also benefit from the addition of extra enzymes to their
diet for their anti-inflammatory properties. The ingestion of blends of enzymes
containing specific proteolytic enzymes such as bromelain are very effective in
relieving inflammation, thus hastening healing.
How does Total-Zymes ® take the stress off
my pets pancreas?
Supplement
manufacturers initially used enzymes, and more specifically proteases, as aids
to digestion of food. Other, non-digestive, uses have been proposed. Attempts
have been made to market enzyme products for oral administration using certain
metabolic enzymes. Digestive enzymes, especially those derived from fungal
sources, are relatively more stable compared to metabolic enzymes, and as such
are ideal for oral supplementation to aid digestion. The primary benefit is in
shifting a portion of the digestive burden from pancreatic enzymes in the
intestine to fungal enzymes in the stomach. Continued supplementation over a
period of days activates a feedback system to the pancreas, signaling it to
decrease production of its enzymes. This allows the pancreas, primarily an
endocrine organ, to conserve its cellular machinery for production of insulin
and glucagon; which are important in blood glucose maintenance.
What are some short and long term benefits of
Total-Zymes ®?
The benefits will vary depending upon the
individual dog, diet, and general health. For the most part, pets experience
less fullness after meals, faster emptying of stomach contents, decreased gas,
less stool being passed, and more regular bowel habits. Most
dog's systems work differently. Try different doses until the desired effect is
achieved. Increase in bowel movements may occur. This is normal because these
enzymes are very stable, and retain activity in the intestinal tract. After 2
or 3 days, the system will be cleaned out, and then less stool will be passed.
This means that more food has been broken down and absorbed by the intestinal
tract. After even large meals the heaviness and gas will decrease. This is
mostly due to the presence of undigested food in the colon, and the bacteria
present cause the food to ferment, which produces gas. In addition, less energy
is expended by the body to break down food. Which often results in your pet
being more alert and energized. Heartburn also is reduced or stops occurring
altogether, since the enzymes digest the food very quickly, food is passed out
into the intestine faster, and acid production, which is triggered by the
presence of food in the stomach is then reduced.
Directions for
raw fed pets.
Assuming that you are feeding only 100%
raw meat with no potatoes, rice or vegetables that needs to be cooked. What I
recommend for raw fed dogs is this. Cut the amount of Total-Zymes® to
¼ to ½ scoops per cup of raw food. The benefit is,
Total-Zymes® will replace the enzymes lost in freezing and handling of the
meat. Then the enzymes over and above what is needed to digest the food will be
used systemically to combat inflammation and joint discomfort. Those enzymes
will also work on possible allergens such as pollen, dander, dust mite feces
and more. It can also prevent a reaction with flea bite saliva; there is a
protein in flea’s salvia that causes the itch.
Total-Biotics® on the other hand
should be doubled to two scoops per cup of raw food. This will insure your
pet’s intestinal tract will remain well populated with good bacteria thus
crowding out bad bacteria and yeasts. Because the meat is not a fresh kill,
like it would be in the wild, (a squirrel or rabbit) and has been handled in a
commercial meat packing plant the possibility of bacterial contamination is
greater (E.coli, salmonella ,etc.). Remember freezing does not kill bacteria.
We have many raw fed dog and cats that are
thriving on this adjusted dosing of Total-Zymes® and
Total-Biotics®.
I have attached a four page FAQ on enzymes
that will tell you which ones do what. |
