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Studies dating from the 1940's prove that the ability to produce enzymes during our lifetime is limited. Dr. Edward Howell coined the phrase enzyme potential. He and other scientists and researchers explain that the number of enzymes our body will make during our lifetime varies, and is dependent on our individual DNA. This enzyme-making potential gives our body's organs the ability to produce either metabolic enzymes or digestive enzymes. When we eat food that has either been cooked or processed, the requirements for digestive enzymes become a high priority. Our body must work overtime and often still cannot meet the demand for all of the enzyme requirements the body may have. Since digestion takes precedence over nearly everything else, many body functions requiring metabolic enzymes are often shortchanged during these times. The result is a lower disease-fighting capability and a general weakening of the body's ability to mend itself. Since we use up so much of our "enzyme potential" making the digestive enzymes necessary to assimilate our food, our metabolic enzyme production suffers. As we age we begin to run short. This deficiency may lead to malabsorption, poor nutrition, and the many digestive problems suffered by the elderly. As we use up and abuse our "enzyme potential", we begin to lose energy, lose our ability to fight disease, and for our body to remedy its own naturally occurring malfunctions.

For these reasons a high potency, plant based enzyme formulation is recommended. Using supplemental enzymes to promote digestion reduces our need to produce digestive enzymes allowing our body to produce the metabolic enzymes.

Protease digests protein. Acidity is created through the digestion of protein. Therefore a protease deficiency results in an alkaline excess in the blood. This alkaline environment can cause anxiety and insomnia. In addition, since protein is required to carry protein-bound calcium in the blood, a protease deficiency lays the foundation for arthritis, osteoporosis and other calcium deficient diseases. Because protein is converted to glucose upon demand, inadequate protein digestion leads to hypoglycemia, resulting in moodiness, mood swings and irritability.

Protease also has an ability to digest unwanted debris in the blood including certain bacteria and viruses. Therefore, protease deficient people are immune compromised, making them susceptible to bacterial, viral and yeast infections and a general decrease in immunity.

Amylase digests carbohydrates along with dead white blood cells (pus). When you are low in amylase you are a candidate for abscesses (inflamed areas with pus but not bacteria). Amylase is also involved in anti-inflammatory reactions such as those caused by the release of histamine and similar substances. An Amylase deficiency can result in skin problems such as psoriasis, eczema, hives, allergic reactions to bee and bug stings, atopic dermatitis, and all types of herpes. Asthma and emphysema may also be exacerbated by an amylase deficiency.

Since lipase digests fat, digests fat-soluble vitamins, and balances fatty acids, lipase deficient people can be expected to have a tendency towards high cholesterol, high triglycerides, difficulty losing weight and diabetes. The future outcome of these tendencies is heart disease, which kills one out of two Americans. Lipase deficient people also have decreased cell permeability, meaning nutrients cannot get in and the waste cannot get out. The condition of vertigo or labrynthitis, also called Meniere's Disease (dizziness aggravated by movement such as walking or driving), can also result from lipase deficiency.

Cellulase breaks down the fiber in our diet. Because our body does not produce cellulase, this food enzyme is essential. We must eat it on a daily basis. Remember, ONLY RAW FOODS contain cellulase. Of all the enzymes, this deficiency carries with it the most categories of problems.

The symptoms of cellulase deficiency can best be described as malabsorption syndrome (impaired absorption of nutrients, vitamins, or minerals from the diet by the lining of the small intestine). Malabsorption has many symptoms including lower abdominal gas, pain, bloating and problems associated with the jejunum and pancreas. The consumption of fiber enriched nutritional drinks, which are full of cellulose, can exacerbate these problems.

SUCRASE intolerant people cannot split the sucrose disaccharide into twin partners, two units of glucose. Glucose is a primary brain food so expect mental and emotional problems in people who cannot get glucose into the brain. Symptoms include depression, moodiness, panic attacks, manic and schizophrenic behavior and severe mood swings.

LACTASE intolerant people also have classic symptoms which include abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Other allergic symptoms, including asthma, have been witnessed from the ingestion of lactose-containing products.

MALTASE intolerant people are generally sensitive to environmental conditions.

An intolerance to sucrose, lactose or maltose may be worsened by a deficiency in sucrase, lactase or maltase.

Gluten grains include wheat, oats, rye and barley. Not everyone has to avoid all four grains; however, sometimes it is a must. Gluten intolerance is associated with Celiac Disease and Malabsorption Syndrome. It is also associated with Crohn's Disease. The insidious thing about gluten intolerance is that it creates a sugar intolerance because when gluten intolerant people eat gluten containing foods, the brush border cells of the jejunum are injured and thus unable to secrete the disaccharidases (sucrase, lactase and maltase) leading to sugar intolerance. The problems discussed here are just the tip of the iceberg. More discoveries emerge as research with food enzymes continues.

If enzymes truly are catalysts which participate in virtually every bodily process, and if a shortage can cause a variety of illnesses, then why are they not widely used as a treatment? It is certainly true that they are not widely used here in the Americas, but what about other countries? In Europe enzyme therapy is routinely used to treat a variety of illnesses.