The 200 Essential Enzymes That Prove Zinc Is Vital For Health
by: Steve Smith
Zinc is one of the many trace minerals required by the body, but the fact that it's required in relatively small amounts should not be allowed to obscure its significance. It's required by the body for the production of more than 200 essential enzymes, one of the most crucial of these being superoxide dismutase, a vital anti-oxidant.
The particular importance of superoxide dismutase lies in its role in mopping up the superoxide free radicals which are released upon the metabolism of oxygen within cells, literally with every breath we take. Superoxide free radicals react with other by-products of energy production to form hydroxyl, the most damaging free radical of all, and to attack the mitochondria of the cells themselves.
Since it is the mitochondria which ultimately produce the energy for all the body's vital reactions, mitochondrial damage due to free radicals can only mean the production of less and less energy and the gradual deterioration and degeneration of the entire organism.
As well as being vital for the body's manufacture of anti-oxidants, zinc also helps the immune system to regulate the process by which defective or worn out cells are killed off by the body before they have chance to multiply themselves and perhaps ultimately become cancerous. These functions alone would make it one of the key micronutrients which are vital to the body's long-term health.
But there's much more to zinc than this, because it's now known to be necessary for the production of the white blood cells which are one of the body's first lines of defence against infection, and for the proper functioning of the thymus gland which is heavily involved in the regulation of the immune system. So zinc is crucial not just in staving off long-term degeneration, but in fighting off acute infections.
And this well documented value as an immune system booster has given zinc great popularity as a cold and flu remedy, although the effectiveness of the many lozenges sold for this purpose once illness is established remains open to question. But the importance of a healthy immune system in preventing infection in the first place is not in doubt. And it's here that an adequate supply of zinc is essential.
Although the typical requirement for zinc is only 15 mg a day, it is surprisingly easy to fall below this. Indeed some estimates suggest that typical dietary intakes may be as low as 9 mg for women and 13 mg for men, and even this may be poorly absorbed so some nutritionists recommend aiming for an intake of around 25 mg to ensure an adequate supply.
It also needs to be remembered that certain groups of people with depressed immune systems, such as HIV sufferers, diabetics and alcoholics may have an increased requirement for zinc. But by far the largest such group is comprised of the over 65s. And it should be realised that the consequence of a zinc deficiency may be much more serious for these older individuals, given that their immune systems are likely in any case to be less effective than those of healthy young adults.
So the conclusion appears to be straightforward: ensuring that the diet is adequate in zinc is vital to the efficiency of the immune system, and therefore to long-term health and well being. But as always with the human body, the full story isn't quite so simple. The body functions holistically, and an excess of any one nutrient may well lead to a deficiency in another. Taking in too much iron, for example, may in itself lead to a deficiency in zinc. But in the case of an excess of zinc (defined by the US Food and Nutrition Board as more than 40 mg a day), the associated deficiency is of copper.
Deficiency in copper is rarely severe enough to produce clinical symptoms, but this should not obscure the important functions of this trace mineral. As with zinc, adequate supplies of copper are vital for the production of anti-oxidant enzymes and energy within the body's cells. Sub-clinical deficiencies have also been implicated in cases of mild anaemia and depression of the immune system.
The best way to counter these risks is, of course, to consume a diet rich in both zinc and copper. Red meat, particularly beef, and shellfish are known as good animal sources, whilst nuts and beans offer a useful source for vegetarians. Whole grains are a useful additional plant source of copper. Plant sources of zinc, however, are less well absorbed by the body than those derived from animal sources, and so this is a nutrient which may require particular attention for those following a vegetarian diet.
But given the poverty of modern Western diets in both vitamins and minerals, supplementation may in any case be necessary to ensure the health of the immune system, particularly, as discussed above, for the over 65s. Various forms of specific zinc supplement are readily available, but it is probably wiser to ensure that any supplementation of zinc is taken in a properly balanced multi-mineral formulation also containing an appropriate amount of copper.
About The Author
Steve Smith is a freelance copywriter specialising in direct marketing and with a particular interest in health products. Find out more at www.sisyphuspublicationsonline.com
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Enzymes And Probiotics Are Keys To Health And Digestion
Enzymes And Probiotics Are Keys To Health And Digestion
by: Darrell Miller
The gastrointestinal system, a complex network of organs and glands which extracts nutrients and water from the food that we eat so that they can be used by the body, processes the food in six phases. First, it mentally prepares the stomach for the meal that we are about to eat. Then, it takes food into the body, followed by moving that food through the GI tract. Next, it breaks down the food with both mechanical and chemical processes and then absorbs the digestive food into the vascular and lymphatic systems for distribution to the cells. Finally, the indigestible substances and waste products are eliminated from the body. Digestion itself is divided into two categories, those being mechanical and chemical. Mechanical digestion is the physical movement that assists chemical digestion. After the initial breakdown by chewing, food is churned by the smooth muscles of the stomach and small intestine, allowing it to mix with the enzymes that start the chemical reactions. Chemical digestion, on the other hand, is a series of chemical reactions that break down large carbohydrate, lipid, and protein molecules into smaller molecules that can enter blood vessels. In order for optimal digestion to occur, all of these processes must work together. If any part of the system under or over-performs, physical problems will most likely occur.
Enzymes are extremely important to digestion because without them digestion could not take place and the food we eat could not be absorbed into our bodies to be utilized. Enzymes, which are complex proteins that are produced by living cells and can be found in digestive juices, start chemical reactions in the body. They act on food by breaking it down into simpler components that can be used by the body for energy. If digestive enzymes don’t work adequately, inadequate digestion will result which is thought to be a significant cause of food allergies. When food is not digested completely it can initiate allergic reactions in the body, causing inflammation and immune sensitivity and lead to chronic inflammatory conditions and certain types of arthritis.
There are many enzymes that are part of the digestion process. However, there are three main enzymes that are involved in digestion. These are amylase, protease, and lipase. Other enzymes, including sucrase, lactase, and maltase are very important for secondary function in digestion. Amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates, can be found in saliva and pancreatic secretions. It initiates digestion of dietary starches and breaks down starch into several simpler molecules. Disaccharides including lactose, maltose, and sucrose, are broken down into simple sugars by lactase, maltase, and sucrase. These simple sugars can be absorbed through the small intestine to help with energy production. Proteases, which break down protein, cause protein digestion to begin in the stomach. The stomach’s acidic environment activates the protease pepsin, which is deactivated in the alkaline environment of the intestine. Proteins are further broken down by pancreatic enzymes into amino acids in the intestine. Lipases break down fat into essential fatty acids. Fat digestion speeds up in the second part of the small intestine with the help of the pancreatic lipases. These lipase enzymes are responsible for the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Animal enzymes, especially those that are derived from pig enzymes are very similar to human digestive enzymes. Animal enzymes are much more sensitive to pH extremes; therefore many animal enzyme formulas sold as dietary supplements contain bicarbonates to protect the enzymes from stomach acid. Plant derived enzymes, on the other hand; come from fungal and botanical sources. They are able to survive a broad range of pH differences and provide a larger range of activity in the gastrointestinal tract. Plant enzymes are often preferred by those who wish to avoid animal-derived products.
Along with these, there are many other dietary supplements that are effective in supporting digestive health, specifically probiotic supplements, which offer numerous health benefits. Probiotics are non-toxic, live bacteria that are necessary for life and do not cause disease. The most commonly studied probiotics are those from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium group. Because these two probiotic groups have the ability to break down lactose, they are known as lactic acid bacteria. These probiotics can be found in many foods and dietary supplements. In our intestines we have colonies of bacteria called microflora, which is associated with good health when they are normal. However, changes in intestinal health are often associated with a weakened immune function and an imbalance in the natural microflora is often linked with various diseases such as yeast infections and colon cancer. By orally ingesting probiotic bacteria, we help to support the composition and metabolic activities of the microflora found in the large intestine. These microflora help the digestive process through fermentation, protection against disease-causing bacteria, and stimulation of certain immune system components. Probiotic bacteria have also demonstrated anti-cancer properties in many studies. Results have shown that people taking L. acidophilus fermented milk have a much larger number of intestinal Lactobacilli, which in turn decreases the risk factors associated with colon cancer.
Lactose is an important sugar that is converted to lactic acid by lactic acid bacteria. Many people have lactose intolerance as a result of genetics, gastrointestinal disease, or a decline in the amount of intestinal lactase levels that are associated with aging. Lactose intolerance is caused by an inability to digest lactose because of a failure of small intestine cells to produce lactase (the enzyme needed to digest lactose). Those who are deficient in lactase accumulate non-absorbed lactose in the GI tract, drawing water and electrolytes into the gut. This leads to bloating, cramping, diarrhea, and malabsorption of nutrients. Lactic acid bacteria support the breakdown of lactose by enhancing the activity of lactase, therefore improving digestion and tolerance. Although probiotic bacteria usually survive passage through the stomach, they do not permanently colonize in the body. Therefore, to ensure optimal support of the digestive system, these probiotic bacteria need to be replenished. To do so, they should be ingested regularly in order for their health-promoting effects to continue. Digestive enzymes and probiotics can be found at your friendly online vitamin store.
About The Author
Darrell Miller
Please visit VitaNet Health Foods at vitanetonline.com VitaNet sells digestive enzymes to boost health. Please link to this site when using this article.
by: Darrell Miller
The gastrointestinal system, a complex network of organs and glands which extracts nutrients and water from the food that we eat so that they can be used by the body, processes the food in six phases. First, it mentally prepares the stomach for the meal that we are about to eat. Then, it takes food into the body, followed by moving that food through the GI tract. Next, it breaks down the food with both mechanical and chemical processes and then absorbs the digestive food into the vascular and lymphatic systems for distribution to the cells. Finally, the indigestible substances and waste products are eliminated from the body. Digestion itself is divided into two categories, those being mechanical and chemical. Mechanical digestion is the physical movement that assists chemical digestion. After the initial breakdown by chewing, food is churned by the smooth muscles of the stomach and small intestine, allowing it to mix with the enzymes that start the chemical reactions. Chemical digestion, on the other hand, is a series of chemical reactions that break down large carbohydrate, lipid, and protein molecules into smaller molecules that can enter blood vessels. In order for optimal digestion to occur, all of these processes must work together. If any part of the system under or over-performs, physical problems will most likely occur.
Enzymes are extremely important to digestion because without them digestion could not take place and the food we eat could not be absorbed into our bodies to be utilized. Enzymes, which are complex proteins that are produced by living cells and can be found in digestive juices, start chemical reactions in the body. They act on food by breaking it down into simpler components that can be used by the body for energy. If digestive enzymes don’t work adequately, inadequate digestion will result which is thought to be a significant cause of food allergies. When food is not digested completely it can initiate allergic reactions in the body, causing inflammation and immune sensitivity and lead to chronic inflammatory conditions and certain types of arthritis.
There are many enzymes that are part of the digestion process. However, there are three main enzymes that are involved in digestion. These are amylase, protease, and lipase. Other enzymes, including sucrase, lactase, and maltase are very important for secondary function in digestion. Amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates, can be found in saliva and pancreatic secretions. It initiates digestion of dietary starches and breaks down starch into several simpler molecules. Disaccharides including lactose, maltose, and sucrose, are broken down into simple sugars by lactase, maltase, and sucrase. These simple sugars can be absorbed through the small intestine to help with energy production. Proteases, which break down protein, cause protein digestion to begin in the stomach. The stomach’s acidic environment activates the protease pepsin, which is deactivated in the alkaline environment of the intestine. Proteins are further broken down by pancreatic enzymes into amino acids in the intestine. Lipases break down fat into essential fatty acids. Fat digestion speeds up in the second part of the small intestine with the help of the pancreatic lipases. These lipase enzymes are responsible for the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Animal enzymes, especially those that are derived from pig enzymes are very similar to human digestive enzymes. Animal enzymes are much more sensitive to pH extremes; therefore many animal enzyme formulas sold as dietary supplements contain bicarbonates to protect the enzymes from stomach acid. Plant derived enzymes, on the other hand; come from fungal and botanical sources. They are able to survive a broad range of pH differences and provide a larger range of activity in the gastrointestinal tract. Plant enzymes are often preferred by those who wish to avoid animal-derived products.
Along with these, there are many other dietary supplements that are effective in supporting digestive health, specifically probiotic supplements, which offer numerous health benefits. Probiotics are non-toxic, live bacteria that are necessary for life and do not cause disease. The most commonly studied probiotics are those from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium group. Because these two probiotic groups have the ability to break down lactose, they are known as lactic acid bacteria. These probiotics can be found in many foods and dietary supplements. In our intestines we have colonies of bacteria called microflora, which is associated with good health when they are normal. However, changes in intestinal health are often associated with a weakened immune function and an imbalance in the natural microflora is often linked with various diseases such as yeast infections and colon cancer. By orally ingesting probiotic bacteria, we help to support the composition and metabolic activities of the microflora found in the large intestine. These microflora help the digestive process through fermentation, protection against disease-causing bacteria, and stimulation of certain immune system components. Probiotic bacteria have also demonstrated anti-cancer properties in many studies. Results have shown that people taking L. acidophilus fermented milk have a much larger number of intestinal Lactobacilli, which in turn decreases the risk factors associated with colon cancer.
Lactose is an important sugar that is converted to lactic acid by lactic acid bacteria. Many people have lactose intolerance as a result of genetics, gastrointestinal disease, or a decline in the amount of intestinal lactase levels that are associated with aging. Lactose intolerance is caused by an inability to digest lactose because of a failure of small intestine cells to produce lactase (the enzyme needed to digest lactose). Those who are deficient in lactase accumulate non-absorbed lactose in the GI tract, drawing water and electrolytes into the gut. This leads to bloating, cramping, diarrhea, and malabsorption of nutrients. Lactic acid bacteria support the breakdown of lactose by enhancing the activity of lactase, therefore improving digestion and tolerance. Although probiotic bacteria usually survive passage through the stomach, they do not permanently colonize in the body. Therefore, to ensure optimal support of the digestive system, these probiotic bacteria need to be replenished. To do so, they should be ingested regularly in order for their health-promoting effects to continue. Digestive enzymes and probiotics can be found at your friendly online vitamin store.
About The Author
Darrell Miller
Please visit VitaNet Health Foods at vitanetonline.com VitaNet sells digestive enzymes to boost health. Please link to this site when using this article.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Liquid Vitamins Contain Enzymes Because?
Liquid Vitamins Contain Enzymes Because?
by: Kristy Haugen
The more advanced liquid vitamin supplements today are starting to incorporate enzymes in their ingredients. Why do vitamin supplements need to supplement enzymes? This is a very good question. In order to answer this question, we need to familiarize ourselves with enzymes.
An enzyme is a protein that catalyzes, or speeds up, a chemical reaction. Enzymes are essential to sustain life. Most chemical reactions in our body would occur too slowly, or would lead to different products without the assistance of enzymes. In fact, it is estimated that digestion of one meal would take 50 years without the help of enzymes. The reason enzymes are able to speed up reactions is because they lower the energy of activation required to begin the reaction. This is the barrier that keeps many reactions from happening.
Enzymes have a specific pocket (the active site) that contains an amino acid side chain. The amino acid side chain creates a three dimensional surface. The active site of the enzyme binds to the substrate (the molecule being acted upon by the enzyme), forming an enzyme-substrate complex. This complex is converted to enzyme-product; which further breaks down to the enzyme and the product. It is important to understand that enzymes are never changed during the reactions nor are they consumed. Enzymes are simply catalysts in these reactions.
Enzymes are specific and very selective. They may catalyze only one reaction, or one specific class of closely related reactions. Some enzymes require the incorporation of a non-protein molecule to become catalytically active, referred to as cofactors (metal ions such as zinc, and iron) or organic molecules known as coenzymes, which are derivatives of vitamins (niacin and riboflavin). Lack of a particular vitamin or mineral can impair the action of its corresponding enzyme and lead to disease. This is an important reason to take a good daily vitamin supplement.
It is important to realize also that enzyme activity can be activated, regulated, and inhibited. This is done to ensure that the rate of the product formation responds to the needs of the cell. This is a way of our body keeping us in check, a natural balance. Inhibition of enzymes is typically seen in medications, such as cholesterol, blood pressure, and antibiotics.
For most enzymes operating in the human body, the optimal temperature is 37 degrees Celsius or 98 degrees Fahrenheit. At higher temperatures, enzymes become denatured, meaning their three dimensional structure is destroyed and the enzyme becomes nonfunctional. If the enzyme only becomes partially denatured, it can sometimes regain its activity upon being cooled.
For each enzyme, there is also an optimal pH above and below which enzymatic activity declines. Many human enzymes have a maximal activity at pH around 7.2, which is the pH of most body fluids. However, there are exceptions such as, pepsin. This enzyme is most effective in the highly acidic conditions of the stomach, pH 2. The pancreatic enzymes work optimally in the alkaline conditions of the small intestine, pH 8.5.
Enzymes have a plethora of responsibilities in our bodies; digestion, metabolism of carbohydrates, and much more. Making sure we have all the ingredients to run like a well oiled machine is vital to our health. Advancements in health science recognize the need for enzyme supplementation and have taken the first step. Now you need to take the next, by making sure you feed your body the fuel it needs.
Copyright 2005 Kristy Haugen
About The Author
Kristy Haugen is a mother working to finish her second bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering. She is also a Licensed Practical Nurse with a current bachelor degree in Biology and Chemistry. She writes to quench her thirst for knowledge. Read more articles at www.vitaminmaniac.com.
by: Kristy Haugen
The more advanced liquid vitamin supplements today are starting to incorporate enzymes in their ingredients. Why do vitamin supplements need to supplement enzymes? This is a very good question. In order to answer this question, we need to familiarize ourselves with enzymes.
An enzyme is a protein that catalyzes, or speeds up, a chemical reaction. Enzymes are essential to sustain life. Most chemical reactions in our body would occur too slowly, or would lead to different products without the assistance of enzymes. In fact, it is estimated that digestion of one meal would take 50 years without the help of enzymes. The reason enzymes are able to speed up reactions is because they lower the energy of activation required to begin the reaction. This is the barrier that keeps many reactions from happening.
Enzymes have a specific pocket (the active site) that contains an amino acid side chain. The amino acid side chain creates a three dimensional surface. The active site of the enzyme binds to the substrate (the molecule being acted upon by the enzyme), forming an enzyme-substrate complex. This complex is converted to enzyme-product; which further breaks down to the enzyme and the product. It is important to understand that enzymes are never changed during the reactions nor are they consumed. Enzymes are simply catalysts in these reactions.
Enzymes are specific and very selective. They may catalyze only one reaction, or one specific class of closely related reactions. Some enzymes require the incorporation of a non-protein molecule to become catalytically active, referred to as cofactors (metal ions such as zinc, and iron) or organic molecules known as coenzymes, which are derivatives of vitamins (niacin and riboflavin). Lack of a particular vitamin or mineral can impair the action of its corresponding enzyme and lead to disease. This is an important reason to take a good daily vitamin supplement.
It is important to realize also that enzyme activity can be activated, regulated, and inhibited. This is done to ensure that the rate of the product formation responds to the needs of the cell. This is a way of our body keeping us in check, a natural balance. Inhibition of enzymes is typically seen in medications, such as cholesterol, blood pressure, and antibiotics.
For most enzymes operating in the human body, the optimal temperature is 37 degrees Celsius or 98 degrees Fahrenheit. At higher temperatures, enzymes become denatured, meaning their three dimensional structure is destroyed and the enzyme becomes nonfunctional. If the enzyme only becomes partially denatured, it can sometimes regain its activity upon being cooled.
For each enzyme, there is also an optimal pH above and below which enzymatic activity declines. Many human enzymes have a maximal activity at pH around 7.2, which is the pH of most body fluids. However, there are exceptions such as, pepsin. This enzyme is most effective in the highly acidic conditions of the stomach, pH 2. The pancreatic enzymes work optimally in the alkaline conditions of the small intestine, pH 8.5.
Enzymes have a plethora of responsibilities in our bodies; digestion, metabolism of carbohydrates, and much more. Making sure we have all the ingredients to run like a well oiled machine is vital to our health. Advancements in health science recognize the need for enzyme supplementation and have taken the first step. Now you need to take the next, by making sure you feed your body the fuel it needs.
Copyright 2005 Kristy Haugen
About The Author
Kristy Haugen is a mother working to finish her second bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering. She is also a Licensed Practical Nurse with a current bachelor degree in Biology and Chemistry. She writes to quench her thirst for knowledge. Read more articles at www.vitaminmaniac.com.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
How The Different Types Of Enzymes Support The Process Of Life
How The Different Types Of Enzymes Support The Process Of Life
by: Barney Garcia
And there was this boy called Bill, one of my best friends in the Graduate School. Even if you are not an artist of a sort, you can easily draw up the full figure of him. Wondering how? Simple; draw a bamboo stick and now add a large vessel on the top of it and you get the exact picture of Bill. Thinking that this unique kind of the physique was the result of frugal food intake over a long period of time? Just the opposite! It was his extraordinary habit of devouring on everything that he could put his hands on that actually made him famous in the campus. Anytime of the day you catch the boy and you’ll find him munching on something. Well, this poor boy, Bill helped me to learn an important lesson of life and that is: not everything that you swallow nourishes your body, only those elements that are absorbed in your body through proper digestion work for the nourishment of your body. And proper digestion would have been impossible had there been no enzyme.
Not only digestion, for every function of our system we are indebted to variety of enzymes. In fact the human biological system is often described as the sum total of a number of enzymatic reactions taking place inside the body every moment! Enzymes are important for digesting food because they act as catalysts in the chemical reactions necessary for breaking up the food elements. In the absence of sufficient enzymes, these chemical reactions lose their momentum and the digestive organs are faced with several problems that manifest themselves in gas, acidity, bloating, diarrhea, burning sensation and like.
However, modern researches have found out a direct link between the aging process and diminishing functions of enzymes in the system. Also the sources of several types of modern-day degenerative diseases can be traced in this diminishing level of activity of enzymes in the blood. These studies have established: as we grow older, the amount of enzymes and levels of their activities gradually decrease.
The role and importance of enzymes in the metabolic process were known to medical researchers for long. Long back the medical scientists came to know about the proteins that can be found in all kinds of living things. Either the cells or the fluids surrounding the cells contain these proteins. The scientists coined the term, ‘enzyme’ for these proteins. Have you ever felt exhausted after gorging on some really rich foods? It is because system demanded greater supply of enzymes to digest them and greater amount of energy was expended in the procedure and hence this feeling of fatigue. On the other hand, have a great amount of salad and even then you will not get the same feeling. It is because; the fresh vegetables in them contain lots of enzyme that make the digestive procedure much easier.
Thus body’s metabolic process is managed almost single-handedly by the enzymes and we get the required energy to carry on with the journey of our life.
Part II
So now you clearly know about the importance of enzyme in our lives. Let us next discuss about the different categories of enzymes present in our body.
In fact, you can find over thousands different types of enzymes in a human body. Actually, there are so many enzymes in the body and they perform such a complex network of activities that it is often said that the life itself is depended on the activities of variety of enzymes. There can be no single chemical reaction in the body, in which some type of enzymes does not participate.
For the purpose of better understanding, all thousands of enzymes can be broadly categorized into two primary groups, namely, the metabolic enzymes and the digestive enzymes.
The metabolic enzymes can be found in every cell, tissue, and organ in the body. They are like biochemical catalysts in nature and participate in all functioning of the living cells. Their activities never stop for a moment. These enzymes are under charge of controlling almost all chemical reactions associated with metabolism.
Hence metabolic enzymes are described as the very basis of the life process.
Then come the digestive enzymes. This category of enzymes is however further divided into two groups of enzymes: intrinsic and extrinsic digestive enzymes.
Intrinsic digestive enzymes are naturally produced inside the body and secreted from several organs to break down food elements. The food we consume contains the basic elements of the proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. The enzymes secreted from such organs as the salivary glands in the mouth, the gastric glands in the stomach, and specific cells in the pancreas work for digesting these elements present in the foods. As for instance, the starch portion of the food is digested by the help of amylase enzyme. Protease breaks down proteins and lipase digests fat.
Most of us have a fetish for cooked and processed foods and often tend to avoid fresh fruits, vegetables and salads. But you should know that these raw forms of foods are extremely rich in active enzymes that considerably help in digesting the proteins, starches, or fats that are present in those foods. Thus these foods are easy to digest. You have often been told about the nutritious value of papaya. Well it contains helpful Papain enzyme that works for breaking down small and large proteins. Then there are variety of nuts that contain Lipase which breaks down fats contents of dairy products, nuts, oils, and meat.
Thus enzymes are the inseparable parts of the healthy human life as the two most important biological functions—digestion and metabolism are managed by the enzymes.
About The Author
Barney Garcia writes about types of enzymes and other digestive enzymes. Visit: http://www.online-enzymes.info/sitemap.php and http://www.online-enzymes.info
This article was posted on September 19, 2006
www.ArticleCity.com
by: Barney Garcia
And there was this boy called Bill, one of my best friends in the Graduate School. Even if you are not an artist of a sort, you can easily draw up the full figure of him. Wondering how? Simple; draw a bamboo stick and now add a large vessel on the top of it and you get the exact picture of Bill. Thinking that this unique kind of the physique was the result of frugal food intake over a long period of time? Just the opposite! It was his extraordinary habit of devouring on everything that he could put his hands on that actually made him famous in the campus. Anytime of the day you catch the boy and you’ll find him munching on something. Well, this poor boy, Bill helped me to learn an important lesson of life and that is: not everything that you swallow nourishes your body, only those elements that are absorbed in your body through proper digestion work for the nourishment of your body. And proper digestion would have been impossible had there been no enzyme.
Not only digestion, for every function of our system we are indebted to variety of enzymes. In fact the human biological system is often described as the sum total of a number of enzymatic reactions taking place inside the body every moment! Enzymes are important for digesting food because they act as catalysts in the chemical reactions necessary for breaking up the food elements. In the absence of sufficient enzymes, these chemical reactions lose their momentum and the digestive organs are faced with several problems that manifest themselves in gas, acidity, bloating, diarrhea, burning sensation and like.
However, modern researches have found out a direct link between the aging process and diminishing functions of enzymes in the system. Also the sources of several types of modern-day degenerative diseases can be traced in this diminishing level of activity of enzymes in the blood. These studies have established: as we grow older, the amount of enzymes and levels of their activities gradually decrease.
The role and importance of enzymes in the metabolic process were known to medical researchers for long. Long back the medical scientists came to know about the proteins that can be found in all kinds of living things. Either the cells or the fluids surrounding the cells contain these proteins. The scientists coined the term, ‘enzyme’ for these proteins. Have you ever felt exhausted after gorging on some really rich foods? It is because system demanded greater supply of enzymes to digest them and greater amount of energy was expended in the procedure and hence this feeling of fatigue. On the other hand, have a great amount of salad and even then you will not get the same feeling. It is because; the fresh vegetables in them contain lots of enzyme that make the digestive procedure much easier.
Thus body’s metabolic process is managed almost single-handedly by the enzymes and we get the required energy to carry on with the journey of our life.
Part II
So now you clearly know about the importance of enzyme in our lives. Let us next discuss about the different categories of enzymes present in our body.
In fact, you can find over thousands different types of enzymes in a human body. Actually, there are so many enzymes in the body and they perform such a complex network of activities that it is often said that the life itself is depended on the activities of variety of enzymes. There can be no single chemical reaction in the body, in which some type of enzymes does not participate.
For the purpose of better understanding, all thousands of enzymes can be broadly categorized into two primary groups, namely, the metabolic enzymes and the digestive enzymes.
The metabolic enzymes can be found in every cell, tissue, and organ in the body. They are like biochemical catalysts in nature and participate in all functioning of the living cells. Their activities never stop for a moment. These enzymes are under charge of controlling almost all chemical reactions associated with metabolism.
Hence metabolic enzymes are described as the very basis of the life process.
Then come the digestive enzymes. This category of enzymes is however further divided into two groups of enzymes: intrinsic and extrinsic digestive enzymes.
Intrinsic digestive enzymes are naturally produced inside the body and secreted from several organs to break down food elements. The food we consume contains the basic elements of the proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. The enzymes secreted from such organs as the salivary glands in the mouth, the gastric glands in the stomach, and specific cells in the pancreas work for digesting these elements present in the foods. As for instance, the starch portion of the food is digested by the help of amylase enzyme. Protease breaks down proteins and lipase digests fat.
Most of us have a fetish for cooked and processed foods and often tend to avoid fresh fruits, vegetables and salads. But you should know that these raw forms of foods are extremely rich in active enzymes that considerably help in digesting the proteins, starches, or fats that are present in those foods. Thus these foods are easy to digest. You have often been told about the nutritious value of papaya. Well it contains helpful Papain enzyme that works for breaking down small and large proteins. Then there are variety of nuts that contain Lipase which breaks down fats contents of dairy products, nuts, oils, and meat.
Thus enzymes are the inseparable parts of the healthy human life as the two most important biological functions—digestion and metabolism are managed by the enzymes.
About The Author
Barney Garcia writes about types of enzymes and other digestive enzymes. Visit: http://www.online-enzymes.info/sitemap.php and http://www.online-enzymes.info
This article was posted on September 19, 2006
www.ArticleCity.com
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Natural Weight Loss for Good Health and Well Being
Natural Weight Loss for Good Health and Well Being
by Jennifer Kays
Weight loss is becoming an unhealthy obsession dealing with body images, but in some cases can improve health and fitness. When weight loss is a result of eating healthy, exercising and/or taking natural weight loss supplements in contrast to synthetic prescription drugs with the risk of harmful side effects, weight loss can be effective, rewarding, and greatly improve overall health.
Extra weight, especially extra fat on a person's body, applies significantly increased stresses on the heart, joints and back. These stresses can be extremely detrimental to one's health. Healthy weight loss can reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, arthritis and other health problems, as well as generally extending an otherwise average life span. Recently, the scientific root cause or explanation of obesity has been revealed as being part of one's physiology. The internal functions of an obese person are different than those of a healthy person, and cause intense hunger pains and food cravings.
Natural weight loss supplements can help counteract this constant hunger and lead to healthy weight loss. Unbalanced hormones are a common cause of weight gain, therefore taking natural hormone balancers and herbal supplements would help to create a healthy weight loss regimen. Restoring your health allows you to lose weight naturally, without excess frustration and effort. It's all about losing weight from the inside out.
Emotional issues always accompany change, especially changes in our bodies e.g. natural weight loss. Weight loss affects our perception body image, our sense of identity i.e. who am I?, and how we feel about ourselves in general. Weight loss also effects our social relationships in that there may be people in our family or social contacts that are emotionally invested in our remaining the same i.e. overweight with all that it symbolizes e.g. friendliness, non-threatening, protective, jovial, helpful, etc. Beyond our physical health, it can be said that "size matters" cognitively and emotionally to ourselves and others. Eating and food have come to symbolize being accepted, being cared for and comfort. Having the support of others in our efforts to naturally lose weight and regain our health is a huge advantage.
We have been "conditioned" to fear any kind of loss, including weight loss. Especially if what we may lose is something with which we identify i.e. use to tell us who we are.
The emotions of fear, anger, anxiety and depression effect our weight. We often tend to "stuff our feelings" or numb these emotional feelings or stress by overeating. We may even overeat, thinking that will ease the physical discomfort caused by excess weight e.g. physical pain, lack of sleep, and lack of energy caused by moderate depression. To improve our overall health and support us through the process of natural weight loss and the emotional dynamics around it, we can take advantage of natural sleep aids, natural depression relief and natural pain relief health care products.
Our weight and health is greatly dependent upon our having a healthy digestive system or metabolism. Our digestive system converts, on a cellular and muscular level, the foods we eat, eliminates toxins, and uses and stores glucose for energy. Natural enzymes trigger hunger signals and facilitate absorption of nutrition. Good digestion with the help of natural enzymes aids in the conversion of fat to muscle.
Allergy and sensitivity to food, parasites, yeast overgrowth and emotional stress are signals of digestive disruption and inflammation. Natural essential fatty acids work to reduce intestinal inflammation, decrease harmful acids, help the liver process proteins that grow muscle, balance hormones and facilitate the elimination of toxins. Natural essential fatty acids help clear our digestive system of heavy metals, harmful bacteria, pesticides that we are increasingly encountering in our environment. Essential fatty acids along with natural fiber help us clean out the intestinal debris that harm our health and often lead to weight gain. Essential fatty acids also help our brain's neurotransmitters to function properly in order to deal with stress, emotions, and cravings that can lead to overeating and weight gain.
Natural amino acids are the building blocks that make up proteins. Next to water, protein makes up the greatest part of our body weight. Amino acids help increase metabolism, build muscle, ease moderate depression, and help burn fat. Natural antioxidants help carry more oxygen to cells and muscles to help increase energy, burn fat, build muscle and process the foods we eat.
Hormone balance is essential for natural weight loss. Our metabolism slows as we get older because of the decrease or imbalance of hormones. This contributes to weight gain. Hormone balance also helps us deal with stress that leads to weight gain. Proper hormone balance helps to decrease cravings and binge eating. There are many natural hormone balancing products available, e.g. natural progesterone, promensil, soy isoflavones, essential fatty acids and hormone balancing formulas.
Our metabolism's primary task is to nourish our brains. We need healthy neurotransmitters to help us curb craving, ease depression, and deal with stress that lead to weight gain. Balancing our natural brain chemistry has a calming effect and allows us to feel a sens of well being and safety. There are many natural health care products to help balance brain chemistry, e.g. essential fatty acids, natural depression relief products, natural products to increase serotonin, and more. When our brain feels well and safe, it is prone to change our metabolism from calorie saving to calorie burning.
Our bodies were designed to move and be active. Movement requires muscle activity. Muscle activity uses the glycogen supply found in our muscles. When this glycogen supply stored in our muscles is used, our body is forced to use stored fat as an energy source. Using this stored fat through movement and exercise, results in natural weight loss. There is no reason for us to become athletes to accomplish natural weight loss. Low impact exercise like swimming, walking, etc, can be done slowly and without strain. In order to lose real weight rather than "water weight", it is important to drink extra amounts of water when exercising. Drinking more water will also help our digestive system and metabolism to use and eliminate extra weight.
Remember, the first objective, accomplished through natural weight loss, is to improve our physical and emotional health. This involves having a healthy digestive system, a healthy emotional system and a healthy nutritional system. We can build these healthy systems with natural vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants, natural digestive aid, pain relief aid, natural sleep aids, natural emotional and mood aids, essential fatty acids and many more helpful natural health care products. We need to concentrate on improving our general health, feeling good, and living well through natural weight loss, rather than constantly comparing ourselves to someone else's idea about appearance from some magazine. Physical and emotional health is primary. Appearance may be important to us, but it is secondary. Through natural weight loss, we can live well and live long.
About the Author
Jennifer has over twenty years experience with all natural health care products. The provides natural weight loss products through sweetmedicineessentials.com/natural-weight-loss-c-3
by Jennifer Kays
Weight loss is becoming an unhealthy obsession dealing with body images, but in some cases can improve health and fitness. When weight loss is a result of eating healthy, exercising and/or taking natural weight loss supplements in contrast to synthetic prescription drugs with the risk of harmful side effects, weight loss can be effective, rewarding, and greatly improve overall health.
Extra weight, especially extra fat on a person's body, applies significantly increased stresses on the heart, joints and back. These stresses can be extremely detrimental to one's health. Healthy weight loss can reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, arthritis and other health problems, as well as generally extending an otherwise average life span. Recently, the scientific root cause or explanation of obesity has been revealed as being part of one's physiology. The internal functions of an obese person are different than those of a healthy person, and cause intense hunger pains and food cravings.
Natural weight loss supplements can help counteract this constant hunger and lead to healthy weight loss. Unbalanced hormones are a common cause of weight gain, therefore taking natural hormone balancers and herbal supplements would help to create a healthy weight loss regimen. Restoring your health allows you to lose weight naturally, without excess frustration and effort. It's all about losing weight from the inside out.
Emotional issues always accompany change, especially changes in our bodies e.g. natural weight loss. Weight loss affects our perception body image, our sense of identity i.e. who am I?, and how we feel about ourselves in general. Weight loss also effects our social relationships in that there may be people in our family or social contacts that are emotionally invested in our remaining the same i.e. overweight with all that it symbolizes e.g. friendliness, non-threatening, protective, jovial, helpful, etc. Beyond our physical health, it can be said that "size matters" cognitively and emotionally to ourselves and others. Eating and food have come to symbolize being accepted, being cared for and comfort. Having the support of others in our efforts to naturally lose weight and regain our health is a huge advantage.
We have been "conditioned" to fear any kind of loss, including weight loss. Especially if what we may lose is something with which we identify i.e. use to tell us who we are.
The emotions of fear, anger, anxiety and depression effect our weight. We often tend to "stuff our feelings" or numb these emotional feelings or stress by overeating. We may even overeat, thinking that will ease the physical discomfort caused by excess weight e.g. physical pain, lack of sleep, and lack of energy caused by moderate depression. To improve our overall health and support us through the process of natural weight loss and the emotional dynamics around it, we can take advantage of natural sleep aids, natural depression relief and natural pain relief health care products.
Our weight and health is greatly dependent upon our having a healthy digestive system or metabolism. Our digestive system converts, on a cellular and muscular level, the foods we eat, eliminates toxins, and uses and stores glucose for energy. Natural enzymes trigger hunger signals and facilitate absorption of nutrition. Good digestion with the help of natural enzymes aids in the conversion of fat to muscle.
Allergy and sensitivity to food, parasites, yeast overgrowth and emotional stress are signals of digestive disruption and inflammation. Natural essential fatty acids work to reduce intestinal inflammation, decrease harmful acids, help the liver process proteins that grow muscle, balance hormones and facilitate the elimination of toxins. Natural essential fatty acids help clear our digestive system of heavy metals, harmful bacteria, pesticides that we are increasingly encountering in our environment. Essential fatty acids along with natural fiber help us clean out the intestinal debris that harm our health and often lead to weight gain. Essential fatty acids also help our brain's neurotransmitters to function properly in order to deal with stress, emotions, and cravings that can lead to overeating and weight gain.
Natural amino acids are the building blocks that make up proteins. Next to water, protein makes up the greatest part of our body weight. Amino acids help increase metabolism, build muscle, ease moderate depression, and help burn fat. Natural antioxidants help carry more oxygen to cells and muscles to help increase energy, burn fat, build muscle and process the foods we eat.
Hormone balance is essential for natural weight loss. Our metabolism slows as we get older because of the decrease or imbalance of hormones. This contributes to weight gain. Hormone balance also helps us deal with stress that leads to weight gain. Proper hormone balance helps to decrease cravings and binge eating. There are many natural hormone balancing products available, e.g. natural progesterone, promensil, soy isoflavones, essential fatty acids and hormone balancing formulas.
Our metabolism's primary task is to nourish our brains. We need healthy neurotransmitters to help us curb craving, ease depression, and deal with stress that lead to weight gain. Balancing our natural brain chemistry has a calming effect and allows us to feel a sens of well being and safety. There are many natural health care products to help balance brain chemistry, e.g. essential fatty acids, natural depression relief products, natural products to increase serotonin, and more. When our brain feels well and safe, it is prone to change our metabolism from calorie saving to calorie burning.
Our bodies were designed to move and be active. Movement requires muscle activity. Muscle activity uses the glycogen supply found in our muscles. When this glycogen supply stored in our muscles is used, our body is forced to use stored fat as an energy source. Using this stored fat through movement and exercise, results in natural weight loss. There is no reason for us to become athletes to accomplish natural weight loss. Low impact exercise like swimming, walking, etc, can be done slowly and without strain. In order to lose real weight rather than "water weight", it is important to drink extra amounts of water when exercising. Drinking more water will also help our digestive system and metabolism to use and eliminate extra weight.
Remember, the first objective, accomplished through natural weight loss, is to improve our physical and emotional health. This involves having a healthy digestive system, a healthy emotional system and a healthy nutritional system. We can build these healthy systems with natural vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants, natural digestive aid, pain relief aid, natural sleep aids, natural emotional and mood aids, essential fatty acids and many more helpful natural health care products. We need to concentrate on improving our general health, feeling good, and living well through natural weight loss, rather than constantly comparing ourselves to someone else's idea about appearance from some magazine. Physical and emotional health is primary. Appearance may be important to us, but it is secondary. Through natural weight loss, we can live well and live long.
About the Author
Jennifer has over twenty years experience with all natural health care products. The provides natural weight loss products through sweetmedicineessentials.com/natural-weight-loss-c-3
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Why We Age and How-The Mystery
Why We Age and How-The Mystery
by Kellie Hastings
What happens to us when we age and why? The long awaited answer to a very old question holds interest to all of us. And for many the inevitable can be a scary thing when the body starts to malfunction. Thoughts of growing old and wrinkly are accompanied with the fear of sickness and the lack of self sufficiency. And becoming a burden is something we all fear. So, what does happen to us when we age and why? Hormones levels are the key source for regulating and restoring bodily functions. However, when they drop, the effects are quit simple, we age. The body's ability to heal itself not to mention the ability to fight toxins from our modern climate decreases significantly. Poor diet inclusive with alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine intake contribute to this process. And a rigorous and tiring lifestyle within the demanding society we've created can and has contributed to the interruption of healthy sleep patterns. Deep sleep enhances the release of hormones in our bodies regardless of our age and aid in a healthy function of the immune system. Certain hormones are connected and compliment each other yet again, when one's normal function is hindered, the others connected are affected also.
Ah yes, to be young again; the most common phrase used by the elderly and middle-aged. Hormones are plentiful when we're young and remain balanced. Human Growth Hormone (HGH), the most significant hormone plays a vital role and is considered the granddaddy of them all. Its production is highest during childhood which is why we simply grow up. However, after the age of twenty-five decreased levels soon become evident. Men losing their hair young, or women's hair greying in their twenties. These are examples of decreased production of the Human Growth Hormone, or so we thought. It was believed that the pituitary glands decrease in production of growth hormone was due to the fact that we were just aging. On the contrary though, recent studies have proved otherwise. It's not that the pituitary gland decreases production of hormones, it just releases less and less. Think about it; once the body matures as an adult the amount of hormones needed to grow and mature are not needed. So, Mother Nature kicks in to balance. However, as the pituitary gland releases lesser amounts of growth hormone, the aging process begins. Thus, this is one cause of why we age. And in time, it simply releases none at all leaving our bodies vulnerable to heart attack, stroke, saggy wrinkly skin, vulnerable bone mass etc. How Decreased Human Growth Hormone affects the body.
Human Growth Hormone deficient adults can show signs of reduced energy levels, reduced muscle mass and strength, cardiovascular problems, and difficulty with exercise. They tend to have a slower metabolic rate along with decreased skin cell renewal resulting in wrinkles. Hindered vision affects everyone along with decreased bone mass and lean body mass. And the most common, weight gain. There are a select few that will stay rather skinny during the aging process but the majority of us gain weight. Enzyme Deficiency and Accelerated Aging
Can enzyme deficiency or rather the lack of them accelerate the aging process? Yes, the most vital aspect in maintaining our body's life system is enzymes. Consisting of vitamins and minerals enzymes do play a major role in keeping us alive. And quite frankly, we'd be dead without them.
Anti-oxidant and growth hormone products aid in cell renewal however, without enzymes cells cannot replace themselves as quickly as they should. This in turn delays cell reproduction. Enzymes prevent cell damage from toxic matter and work in conjunction with anti-oxidant supplements and foods.
When the body fails to replace old cells with new ones at the rate it should along with the body's loss of enzymes the aging process accelerates. Thus, immune cells eventually face the same fate as the body ages further resulting in age related diseases and minor health issues.
The body produces enzymes naturally however its supply is not an endless reservoir. Our eating habits and what we eat will determine the additional enzyme supply needed to counter act accelerated aging. In addition to meals, snacking between them requires digestion which takes time. Furthermore, consuming fast foods high in fat and snacking on junk food can deplete the body's natural supply very quickly.
The digestion of food in the body takes priority and forces the body to produce abundant amounts of concentrated digestive enzymes when the food we eat lacks other enzymes. The body's ability to produce concentrated digestive enzymes diminishes as we grow older. Thus, the body cannot benefit from vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in our food as it once did. And as this happens it loses its function to produce adequate amounts of other enzymes to aid in healthy bodily functions.
Compounding to all this, foods containing enzymes that are cooked, heated or micro waved above 118 degrees will lose their enzyme content--the higher the temperature, the higher the loss. Fruits and vegetables that are over ripe also lose some of their enzyme content.
Inadequate Enzyme Production and It's Results
Our digestive system will become less efficient with age. And considering 60 to 75 percent of hospitalizations are digestive related inclusive with ulcer and indigestion, the medications for these are among the top sellers. In addition hydrochloric acid production in the stomach also decreases with age as revealed in the New England Journal of Medicine. By the age of 65, an estimated 35 percent of us produce no hydrochloric acid at all.
Statistics revealed by Dr. Edward Howell state that overproduction of concentrated digestive enzymes over many years will overcome the body's ability to produce enough other enzymes. By wastefully abusing the body's enzyme-making capabilities in regards to digestive enzymes, production and normal activity of all other enzymes needed is reduced. As a result enzymes become depleted as we age and enzyme activity within cells weakens dramatically accelerating the aging process as cells then become vulnerable to toxins, and free radicals.
Enzymes from our food however relieve the body and its labouring efforts to produce these concentrated digestive enzymes. This relief will then increase activity of other enzymes within the body. Maximizing the body's production of non-digestive enzymes will enhance continued and adequate levels of enzymes even as we age. Elevated levels of enzyme activity result in a healthier and biologically younger body. On a more positive note, all raw foods contain a healthy dose of enzymes. The most potent mind you are grains, legumes and sprouted seeds. Also, people have been known to periodically fast during the day replenishing their supply naturally. Sprouts, the most potent of all will keep enzyme activity at a maximum and have been referred to as the fountain of youth. And in order to stay young and healthy looking this maximum activity is essential.
Grains and beans are germinated seeds and are considered sprouts. Sprouting isn't hard to do and can be done at home. Providing us a constant source of vitamins and a healthy supply of food enzymes our enzyme activity will remain high. Sprouted grains, seeds, beans and nuts are easily digestible as they are pre-digested meaning starches are broken down into simpler carbohydrates, proteins into free amino acids and anti-nutrients such as enzyme inhibitors are removed. This in turn reduces the hard work from the body's own enzymes and preserves them allowing the body to benefit more from the proteins.
In closing, this small but complex combination of enzymes, anti-oxidants, vitamins and human growth hormone (HGH) supply, the answer to that long awaited question is indeed here. Now, if we could resist all these fast foods, fatty snacks, alcohol and nicotine that sought after fountain of youth we're all obsessed with would in fact exist, at least to an extent we'd all welcome. We cannot live forever and who wants to. However, in reference to the old cliché we're all familiar with 'To Age gracefully,' we can now in reality do that. Research scientists are improving natural products like HGH Energizer, Revitol's natural Anti-Aging Treatments, and natural weight loss aids like the botanical wonder- Hoodia Gordonii Plus.
The new concept of looking ten, twenty years younger is an exciting breakthrough in our evolutional progress. This simple yet complex combination we've all taken for granted has just revealed to us the mysteries behind how we age and why. And to think it's taken us this long to figure it all out. For additional articles on the topics discussed along with links and resource sites visit www.freewebs.com/skilled-writer Kellie Hastings
About the Author
Exceptional REPORTS, REVIEWS and ARTICLES on natural products, their ingredients and the benefits that outweigh today's synthetic products. Listed are weight loss (Hoodia Plant) and Green Tea; anti-aging for skin; cellulite repair; homemade mask formulas; growth hormone (HGH); body cleansing; diabetic and more. Click for direct links Hoodia Gordonii Plus HGH Energizer or visit website for above info www.freewebs.com/skilled-writer
by Kellie Hastings
What happens to us when we age and why? The long awaited answer to a very old question holds interest to all of us. And for many the inevitable can be a scary thing when the body starts to malfunction. Thoughts of growing old and wrinkly are accompanied with the fear of sickness and the lack of self sufficiency. And becoming a burden is something we all fear. So, what does happen to us when we age and why? Hormones levels are the key source for regulating and restoring bodily functions. However, when they drop, the effects are quit simple, we age. The body's ability to heal itself not to mention the ability to fight toxins from our modern climate decreases significantly. Poor diet inclusive with alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine intake contribute to this process. And a rigorous and tiring lifestyle within the demanding society we've created can and has contributed to the interruption of healthy sleep patterns. Deep sleep enhances the release of hormones in our bodies regardless of our age and aid in a healthy function of the immune system. Certain hormones are connected and compliment each other yet again, when one's normal function is hindered, the others connected are affected also.
Ah yes, to be young again; the most common phrase used by the elderly and middle-aged. Hormones are plentiful when we're young and remain balanced. Human Growth Hormone (HGH), the most significant hormone plays a vital role and is considered the granddaddy of them all. Its production is highest during childhood which is why we simply grow up. However, after the age of twenty-five decreased levels soon become evident. Men losing their hair young, or women's hair greying in their twenties. These are examples of decreased production of the Human Growth Hormone, or so we thought. It was believed that the pituitary glands decrease in production of growth hormone was due to the fact that we were just aging. On the contrary though, recent studies have proved otherwise. It's not that the pituitary gland decreases production of hormones, it just releases less and less. Think about it; once the body matures as an adult the amount of hormones needed to grow and mature are not needed. So, Mother Nature kicks in to balance. However, as the pituitary gland releases lesser amounts of growth hormone, the aging process begins. Thus, this is one cause of why we age. And in time, it simply releases none at all leaving our bodies vulnerable to heart attack, stroke, saggy wrinkly skin, vulnerable bone mass etc. How Decreased Human Growth Hormone affects the body.
Human Growth Hormone deficient adults can show signs of reduced energy levels, reduced muscle mass and strength, cardiovascular problems, and difficulty with exercise. They tend to have a slower metabolic rate along with decreased skin cell renewal resulting in wrinkles. Hindered vision affects everyone along with decreased bone mass and lean body mass. And the most common, weight gain. There are a select few that will stay rather skinny during the aging process but the majority of us gain weight. Enzyme Deficiency and Accelerated Aging
Can enzyme deficiency or rather the lack of them accelerate the aging process? Yes, the most vital aspect in maintaining our body's life system is enzymes. Consisting of vitamins and minerals enzymes do play a major role in keeping us alive. And quite frankly, we'd be dead without them.
Anti-oxidant and growth hormone products aid in cell renewal however, without enzymes cells cannot replace themselves as quickly as they should. This in turn delays cell reproduction. Enzymes prevent cell damage from toxic matter and work in conjunction with anti-oxidant supplements and foods.
When the body fails to replace old cells with new ones at the rate it should along with the body's loss of enzymes the aging process accelerates. Thus, immune cells eventually face the same fate as the body ages further resulting in age related diseases and minor health issues.
The body produces enzymes naturally however its supply is not an endless reservoir. Our eating habits and what we eat will determine the additional enzyme supply needed to counter act accelerated aging. In addition to meals, snacking between them requires digestion which takes time. Furthermore, consuming fast foods high in fat and snacking on junk food can deplete the body's natural supply very quickly.
The digestion of food in the body takes priority and forces the body to produce abundant amounts of concentrated digestive enzymes when the food we eat lacks other enzymes. The body's ability to produce concentrated digestive enzymes diminishes as we grow older. Thus, the body cannot benefit from vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in our food as it once did. And as this happens it loses its function to produce adequate amounts of other enzymes to aid in healthy bodily functions.
Compounding to all this, foods containing enzymes that are cooked, heated or micro waved above 118 degrees will lose their enzyme content--the higher the temperature, the higher the loss. Fruits and vegetables that are over ripe also lose some of their enzyme content.
Inadequate Enzyme Production and It's Results
Our digestive system will become less efficient with age. And considering 60 to 75 percent of hospitalizations are digestive related inclusive with ulcer and indigestion, the medications for these are among the top sellers. In addition hydrochloric acid production in the stomach also decreases with age as revealed in the New England Journal of Medicine. By the age of 65, an estimated 35 percent of us produce no hydrochloric acid at all.
Statistics revealed by Dr. Edward Howell state that overproduction of concentrated digestive enzymes over many years will overcome the body's ability to produce enough other enzymes. By wastefully abusing the body's enzyme-making capabilities in regards to digestive enzymes, production and normal activity of all other enzymes needed is reduced. As a result enzymes become depleted as we age and enzyme activity within cells weakens dramatically accelerating the aging process as cells then become vulnerable to toxins, and free radicals.
Enzymes from our food however relieve the body and its labouring efforts to produce these concentrated digestive enzymes. This relief will then increase activity of other enzymes within the body. Maximizing the body's production of non-digestive enzymes will enhance continued and adequate levels of enzymes even as we age. Elevated levels of enzyme activity result in a healthier and biologically younger body. On a more positive note, all raw foods contain a healthy dose of enzymes. The most potent mind you are grains, legumes and sprouted seeds. Also, people have been known to periodically fast during the day replenishing their supply naturally. Sprouts, the most potent of all will keep enzyme activity at a maximum and have been referred to as the fountain of youth. And in order to stay young and healthy looking this maximum activity is essential.
Grains and beans are germinated seeds and are considered sprouts. Sprouting isn't hard to do and can be done at home. Providing us a constant source of vitamins and a healthy supply of food enzymes our enzyme activity will remain high. Sprouted grains, seeds, beans and nuts are easily digestible as they are pre-digested meaning starches are broken down into simpler carbohydrates, proteins into free amino acids and anti-nutrients such as enzyme inhibitors are removed. This in turn reduces the hard work from the body's own enzymes and preserves them allowing the body to benefit more from the proteins.
In closing, this small but complex combination of enzymes, anti-oxidants, vitamins and human growth hormone (HGH) supply, the answer to that long awaited question is indeed here. Now, if we could resist all these fast foods, fatty snacks, alcohol and nicotine that sought after fountain of youth we're all obsessed with would in fact exist, at least to an extent we'd all welcome. We cannot live forever and who wants to. However, in reference to the old cliché we're all familiar with 'To Age gracefully,' we can now in reality do that. Research scientists are improving natural products like HGH Energizer, Revitol's natural Anti-Aging Treatments, and natural weight loss aids like the botanical wonder- Hoodia Gordonii Plus.
The new concept of looking ten, twenty years younger is an exciting breakthrough in our evolutional progress. This simple yet complex combination we've all taken for granted has just revealed to us the mysteries behind how we age and why. And to think it's taken us this long to figure it all out. For additional articles on the topics discussed along with links and resource sites visit www.freewebs.com/skilled-writer Kellie Hastings
About the Author
Exceptional REPORTS, REVIEWS and ARTICLES on natural products, their ingredients and the benefits that outweigh today's synthetic products. Listed are weight loss (Hoodia Plant) and Green Tea; anti-aging for skin; cellulite repair; homemade mask formulas; growth hormone (HGH); body cleansing; diabetic and more. Click for direct links Hoodia Gordonii Plus HGH Energizer or visit website for above info www.freewebs.com/skilled-writer
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
How Body Detox Prevents Toxin's Attack
How Body Detox Prevents Toxin's Attack
by Judy Wellsworth
Natural Enzymes Therapy
Toxins such as pollutants, allergens, and several other types all find their way into our body mainly through our unacceptable unhealthy habits and sedentary lifestyles. The worst thing is that we are not aware of this till its too late and we become ill! Butt still, we continue taking poor and harmful diet which all add up to increase the quantity of these poisons in our body And then what else can we expect from our poor body other than been tunicate!
Is your body Toxic:
A body that is full of poisons building up from almost every scrap taken in ends up becoming indeed a dead body. It becomes a refuge for all type of diseases which may either be mild or fatal. And surely this person is worth of all sympathies. Who wants to gain sympathies of others just because he or she is ill, obviously no one wants this. Every one of us wants to live as vigorous, healthy, energetic and strong as much as we can. Don't get hopeless as we have some exciting news for you which would help you in keeping yourself fit. But, do you know what exactly body detoxification is?
What really is body detox?
Doctors and other experts in medical specialty define body detoxification mainly as body cleansing. This is a process in which the toxins present in the body are eradicated and its abbreviation is body detox. Due to presence of the poisons, the body is susceptible to many incurable diseases. The body detoxifying agents are available in the number of forms with a single motive to be achieved and that is to help our body in order to get rid of possible health dangers. .
How to Detoxify ones body:
If a person is a millionaire but he is not health wise fit then everything is useless for him rather all other facilities means nothing to him because he cannot enjoy them due to his/her illness .So its very important that you pay proper attention to your health . Mainly, body detox diet starts with a good food intake. It is important to know that today hundreds of diet programs have been provided and they have been designed for people of varied tastes. So that dieters may choose body detox diet plans of their own choice. The body detoxes diet plans differ according to their names and features but the fundamental aim of each body detox diet plan is to obtain a health wise fit body. Well it is common for dieters who are following the body detox diet plans to abstain from sugar, toxic and acids. On the other hand it emphasizes on the intake of foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals. Fruits, raw vegetables and a sufficient amount of water are vital for the dieters following the detox diet plan. As fruits and vegetables, suffice the quantity of vitamins and minerals needed by the body. On the other hand food such as wheat, dairy, caffeine , processed by refined goods as well as meats are considered to be the real culprits of vast variety of diseases such as allergy, constipation, diarrhea etc so the body detox diet plan accounts for this unbalanced food in take.
Advantages of Herbs Over Detoix Diets:
1) Body detox also comes in the form of herbs. 2) The food promoted by the detox diet and herbs differ in a way that the later are more effective in saving the body parts. 3) For each body organ there are specific herbs. Such as for liver it is different. For gall bladder it is different. Some are designed for intestine, others for lungs etc. 4) The body detox herb produce the best result when used with rich digestive enzymes and a proper meal. 5) Skin cleansing, bowl cleansing are all other branches of body detox. All of these ways are perceived to be powerful for making your body as healthy as it can be.
About the Author
You can also find more info on detox diet and rapid detox program. www.Detoxdiethelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know how to get best health diets.
Natural Enzymes Therapy
by Judy Wellsworth
Natural Enzymes Therapy
Toxins such as pollutants, allergens, and several other types all find their way into our body mainly through our unacceptable unhealthy habits and sedentary lifestyles. The worst thing is that we are not aware of this till its too late and we become ill! Butt still, we continue taking poor and harmful diet which all add up to increase the quantity of these poisons in our body And then what else can we expect from our poor body other than been tunicate!
Is your body Toxic:
A body that is full of poisons building up from almost every scrap taken in ends up becoming indeed a dead body. It becomes a refuge for all type of diseases which may either be mild or fatal. And surely this person is worth of all sympathies. Who wants to gain sympathies of others just because he or she is ill, obviously no one wants this. Every one of us wants to live as vigorous, healthy, energetic and strong as much as we can. Don't get hopeless as we have some exciting news for you which would help you in keeping yourself fit. But, do you know what exactly body detoxification is?
What really is body detox?
Doctors and other experts in medical specialty define body detoxification mainly as body cleansing. This is a process in which the toxins present in the body are eradicated and its abbreviation is body detox. Due to presence of the poisons, the body is susceptible to many incurable diseases. The body detoxifying agents are available in the number of forms with a single motive to be achieved and that is to help our body in order to get rid of possible health dangers. .
How to Detoxify ones body:
If a person is a millionaire but he is not health wise fit then everything is useless for him rather all other facilities means nothing to him because he cannot enjoy them due to his/her illness .So its very important that you pay proper attention to your health . Mainly, body detox diet starts with a good food intake. It is important to know that today hundreds of diet programs have been provided and they have been designed for people of varied tastes. So that dieters may choose body detox diet plans of their own choice. The body detoxes diet plans differ according to their names and features but the fundamental aim of each body detox diet plan is to obtain a health wise fit body. Well it is common for dieters who are following the body detox diet plans to abstain from sugar, toxic and acids. On the other hand it emphasizes on the intake of foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals. Fruits, raw vegetables and a sufficient amount of water are vital for the dieters following the detox diet plan. As fruits and vegetables, suffice the quantity of vitamins and minerals needed by the body. On the other hand food such as wheat, dairy, caffeine , processed by refined goods as well as meats are considered to be the real culprits of vast variety of diseases such as allergy, constipation, diarrhea etc so the body detox diet plan accounts for this unbalanced food in take.
Advantages of Herbs Over Detoix Diets:
1) Body detox also comes in the form of herbs. 2) The food promoted by the detox diet and herbs differ in a way that the later are more effective in saving the body parts. 3) For each body organ there are specific herbs. Such as for liver it is different. For gall bladder it is different. Some are designed for intestine, others for lungs etc. 4) The body detox herb produce the best result when used with rich digestive enzymes and a proper meal. 5) Skin cleansing, bowl cleansing are all other branches of body detox. All of these ways are perceived to be powerful for making your body as healthy as it can be.
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You can also find more info on detox diet and rapid detox program. www.Detoxdiethelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know how to get best health diets.
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