The Value of Food Enzymes
Enzymes are responsible for speeding up every chemical reaction within the body cells. In this way they can be said to be the “life force” of the cells. If there is a shortage of enzymes, or they cannot function optimally for whatever reason, the health of the individual body cells would be at risk, as would the whole body.
Enzyme Pioneer - Edward Howell PhD
Dr Howell (1898 - 1988) believed that we can become deficient in enzymes and that this can lead to degenerative diseases. His research suggested that at birth we have an enzyme potential which has to last our whole lives. They need to be preserved by eating food that still contains its enzymes, not wasted on enzyme deficient food that forces the metabolic enzymes that run our bodies to be diverted to 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 and Fasting
In Europe in particular, where raw food therapies have a long tradition, highly nutritious raw food or mainly raw food diets have been used with success in many disease states. Therapeutic fasting preserves even more of the enzyme potential. This allows metabolic enzymes to go to work on rebuilding the body.
Howell did not advocate an all raw diet. He didn’t think this would be palatable for many people. He suggested the use of digestive enzyme supplements with cooked foods.
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:
Do not eat more than you need to. Eating too much puts a huge burden on the digestive resources.
Eat more raw fruits and raw vegetables. Eat less cooked food and foods that have been refined and stripped of their enzymes.
Cut out those foods which you may enjoy eating but you are well aware that they don’t agree with you.
Consider combining your foods so that concentrated starches and proteins don’t mix at the same meal. This takes away much of the effort of digestion.
Drink eight fluid ounces of water up to half an hour before meals. Water helps digestion and also aids the metabolic enzymes.
All the above measures will help to preserve enzymes, take the load off the digestive system and ease the burden on every cell in the body.
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