Enzymes are chemical elements in your body that set off those biochemical processes that are necessary for your survival, including digesting the food you eat and metabolizing nutrients into energy. Some foods contain digestive enzymes that served the same purpose in the organism of its origin, such as a papaya plant or a corn stalk. These digestive enzymes in food can benefit your body, too, provided you eat them raw. Cooking food kills the delicate enzymes before you can reap their benefits.
Bromelain
Pineapples contain bromelain, a digestive enzyme that promotes the breakdown of proteins. Bromelain is primarily composed of enzymatic elements called proteases. In lesser amounts, bromelain also contains amylase, a carbohydrate-digesting enzyme; cellulase, an agent aiding fiber digestion; and other digestive catalysts. Commercial food producers use bromelain to process foods and tenderize meat. This enzyme has also been the subject of scientific research including a landmark study at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Australia, in which bromelain was proven to be effective in blocking specific immune cells, known as T-cells, that cause various autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Cellulase
Cellulase is comprised of a group of enzymes that foster the processing of plant fibers into beta-glucose, a type of sugar. Many plants contain cellulase enzymes which initiate a variety of metabolic processes including the development of cellular structure and the ripening of fruit. It is the only enzyme that you cannot produce in your body, but you can supply it by eating raw vegetables and fruits. The alternative fuels industry utilizes cellulase to process plant biomass--such as corn plant parts--into fermentable sugars for the production of ethanol. Other industrial uses for cellulase include acid-washing denim fabric for jeans and making animal feed easier for livestock to digest.
Papain
Papain is a digestive enzyme from the leaves, latex and fruit of the papaya plant. It assists in metabolizing protein into amino acids, which are essential to virtually all your bodily functions. Papain can help alleviate digestive problems such as indigestion and stomach ulcers. It also imparts anti-inflammatory benefits to sufferers of diseases such as arthritis and asthma. Other uses of papain include meat tenderizing and wound dressing.The pharmaceutical industry uses papain, often in concert with other enzymes, in topical preparations for wound debridement--the removal of dead tissue in order to promote healing.
References
- Live Science: The Raw Foods Diet: A Raw Deal
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research: New Hope for Sufferers of Autoimmune Disorders
- Vitamin Supplements Guide: Digestive Enzymes
- Vitamin Supplements Guide: Cellulase
- Indigestion Symptoms: The Health Benefits of Papain
- Medscape: Wound Bed Preparation, Wound Debridement
