ENZYME rich foods

This is a tribute to my mother in law Victoria, a true masterchef and my mother Helga, comfort food specialist. Included are all the recipes they prepared, some original recipes from professional chefs, my own creations/favorites, and several entries on knowledge I collected over the years about health/nutrition/medical conditions/home remedies. You will find answers to every common health issue browsing through my collection.

subheading: FRUIT:

Avocado

Banana

Bilberries

Cantaloupe

Dates

Figs

Grapes

Guava

Kiwi

Mango

Melons

Papaya Proteolytic Enzyme PAPAIN Arthritis

Pineapple Proteolytic Enzyme BROMELAIN Arthritis

subheading: CULTURED FOODS:

Cheese

Kefir

Yogurt

Sauerkraut (RAW)

Pickled vegetables (RAW)

subheading: ANIMAL PRODUCTS:

Bee pollen

Honey (RAW)

Royal jelly

subheading: NUTS AND SEEDS:

Coconut (but not coconut oil)

Flax Seed

Germinated tree nuts

Unrefined oils

subheading: VEGETABLES, GRAINS, AND HERBS:

Cucumbers

Garlic (RAW)

Ginger root

Olive oil

Olives

Onions (RAW)

Sprouts (According to Howell, sprouts contain the most enzymes when they are ½" long.)

Wheat germ (RAW)

Wheat grass juice

subheading: ENZYMES IN FOOD: HIGH-ENZYME FOODS:

Enzymes in food add to the enzymes made by our bodies. This is a nutritional benefit in addition to the vitamins, minerals, or other nutrients in the food.

subheading: UNHEATED FOOD:

Raw (never been heated)

Raw cultured (fermented) foods (enzymes from fermentation process, not from original food)

Heating, cooking, canning, pasteurization (permanently deactivate any enzymes in food)

subheading: BENEFITS OF HIGH-ENZYME FOODS:

Enzymes are special proteins that act as the life force in living beings. In both plants and animals, enzymes carry out all the activities of metabolism. Some enzymes from the plant or animal's life are retained in uncooked food. When you eat this food, the enzymes can continue their activity.

One activity is to help digest the food itself!

The raw avocado contains the enzyme lipase that breaks down the fat (lipids) in the avocado.

Unpasteurized milk contains lactase, the enzyme that breaks down the milk protein lactose. People with lactose intolerance actually lack the ability to produce enough lactase in their digestive system. They often can't comfortably drink pasteurized milk, but can drink unpasteurized milk that includes its own lactase.

Raw beef contains the enzyme cathepsin. Beef that is aged is tenderized by the action of this enzyme.

Other foods contain enzymes that affect other foods.

Raw pineapple and raw papaya contain protease enzymes that digest protein. They are often used as tenderizers and marinades.

As we age, or under toxic conditions, our body's ability to produce enzymes is compromised. Enzymes in food, or enzyme supplements, help take the pressure off our need to produce digestive enzymes. In particular, an overworked pancreas can be relieved.

As enzyme researcher Edward Howell put it, food enzymes add to our “enzyme potential.”

Consumed enzymes do indeed help our bodies in ways not thoroughly understood, but the case for their promoting health and alleviating disease has been well made.

Page footer