Ideally, the mucosal cells lining the
small intestine secrete three digestive enzymes: sucrase,
lactase and maltase. These enzymes, collectively known as
disaccharidases, render dietary carbohydrates small enough
to pass through the wall of the small intestine into the
bloodstream to be used by the body as a source of energy for
metabolic processes. Sucrase primarily
digests sucrose (refined sugar) into glucose and fructose.
Lactase digests lactose (milk sugar) into glucose and
galactose. Maltase digests maltose, a product of starch
digestion, into glucose. A deficiency of one or more of
these disaccharide-splitting enzymes may be due to genetic
influences, irritation or abnormality of the intestinal
wall, and/or exhaustion of the body's ability to produce the
enzyme(s). Disaccharidase deficiencies are generally
charaterized by intestinal distress following ingestion of
foods containing the ofending sugar or starch. Diarrhea is
due to the increased number of un-split disaccharide
molecules remaining in the intestinal lumen which are
osmotically retaining fluid. Bloating and flatulence are
caused by the production of gas (CO and H) from the
bacterial fermentation of disaccharide residues in the lower
small intestine and colon.
Lactase
deficiency has received the most attention of the
disaccharide - splitting enzyme deficiencies. Most mammals,
including humans, have high intestinal lastase activity at
birth. But, in some cases, this activity declines to low
levels during childhood and remains low in sdulthood. The
low lactase levels cause maldigestion of milk and other
foods containing lactose. It is estimated that approx. 70%
of the world's population is deficient in intestinal lactase
with more that one-third of the U.S. population presumed to
be unable to digest dairy products. Although not as
well-recognized as lactase deficiencies, sucrase
deficiencies may explain the increasing inability of many
people to handle the sucrose in the modern, refined diet can
exhaust the body's ability to produce sucrase enzymes as
well as the body's supply of nutrients needed for
carbohydrate metabolism. Chronic constipation in individuals
consuming a highly refined carbohydrate diet may be at least
partially explained by the absorption of excess sucrose into
the bloodstream pulling water with it from the intestinal
tract to maintain osmotic balance. Adding disaccharidase
enzymes to the diets of those individuals suffering from a
sucrase, lactase and/or maltase deficiency can help them
more fully realize the nutritional benefits from
carbohydrate containing foods.
The human
digestive system does not secrete enzymes capable of
breaking down cellulose, so dietary fiber moves through the
digestive tract essentially intact unless the enzyme, is
present in the diet. Cellulase deficiencies are often
overlooked, yet a lack of cellulose can mean poor digestion
of raw plant foods and less than optimal absorption of
nutrients in the intestines. Cellulase digests cellulose
into glucose and is naturally found in raw fruits,
vegetables and whole grains. Many starches and other
nutrients in these uncooked foods are coated with cellulose.
Unfortunately, most people do not chew raw food thoroughly
enough to activate the cellulose naturally present in the
food. This means many nutrients in these foods are not
released from the cellulose and, therefore, cannot be fully
utilized by the body. In addition to improving intestinal
absorption of nutrients, supplemental cellulose enzymes can
enhance the boby's utilization of fiber to normalize bowel
activity.
Many people who cannot tolerate
carbohydrates in their turn to protein as their primary
source of energy as 56% of protein intake i converted to
glucose. Since high protein diets rarely contain the full
spectrum of nutrients, many vitamins and minerals are
depleted in the body's attempt to metabolize excessive
amounts of protein resulting in multiple nutritional
deficiencies.
The bottom line is that you need enzymes.
Return to
Rich Distributing Enzymes Plus Intestinal Flora page