The Importance of Food Enzymes and Why You Must Preserve Them
Every chemical reaction within the body cells is carried out with the help of enzymes. In a sense they represent the cell’s “life force”. If enzymes are in short supply or are weakened, they won’t be able to carry out their duties fully and the cell’s health would be compromised as would the health of the body as a whole.
Dr. Edward Howell - Enzyme Pioneer
According to Dr. Howell (1898-1988), we do become enzyme deficient, and this leads to degenerative disease. Howell believed we are all born with an enzyme potential which has to last a lifetime. They need to be preserved and not carelessly wasted. The way to do this is to make sure the metabolic enzymes which run our bodies are not diverted to the task of digesting food.
The Fatal Process
Dr Howell used this phrase to describe the practice of cooking foods. Cooking at temperatures above 119 degrees Fahrenheit kills off the enzymes in food.
Raw Foods & Fasting
Raw food therapies have a long tradition in some parts of Europe where they are used as a therapeutic tool to overcome health problems. Raw foods contain enzymes, preserving the enzyme potential as does fasting to an even greater extent. Metabolic enzymes are now able to focus on the job of healing the body.
Howell was not an advocate of an all raw food diet. He didn’t feel this would be practicable or acceptable to people. Instead he recommended that with a cooked food meal, digestive enzymes in the form of supplements could be taken.
I would suggest the following to ease the burden on the digestive system and indeed on the rest of the body which has to assimilate and detoxify what has been eaten:
Don’t overeat. This is about the worst dietary offence you can commit. Aim to eat just enough to satisfy you and no more.
Eat less high calorie foods containing sugar and fat. Eat less refined foods and man made foods. Increase intake of raw fruits and vegetables.
Avoid foods that your digestive system doesn’t like by giving you digestive upsets.
Look at the principles behind food combining, where concentrated starches and protein are separated. This eases the digestive burden.
Make sure you drink enough water. A good amount is half a pint about thirty minutes before meals. The digestive process requires water. The metabolic enzymes function more efficiently with water.
By taking all these measures, enzymes will be preserved, the digestive system will have a great load taken off it, and every cell in the body will have its burden eased.
