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One experience of the author involved a gentleman diagnosed throughout life, especially during menopause. Hormones are pri- with pancreatic cancer, due in part to his alcoholism. His doctors marily produced from fats, proteins and minerals. In fact, the prescribed pancreatin to aid with digestion and relieve inflamma- major steroid hormones (aldosterone, cortisol, oestradiol and tion. He was given six weeks to live. He had not found any relief —_ testosterone) are derived from cholesterol. with the pancreatin. Four weeks after he started a plant-based Due to excessive sugar consumption during their lifetime and enzyme program, he lost touch with the author. The author suc- the inability to digest the sugar, so many women experience diffi- cumbed to thinking he would never see this client again, due to cult menopause because of mineral deficiencies brought about by his death. One year later, he ventured into a restaurant and there the sugar. Difficult menopause also stems from long-term prob- was the former client with his wife and son, enjoying a meal. The lems of protein and fat digestion. The body uses food not only for author asked in disbelief how he had survived. He explained he energy but for tissue repair (which requires protein) and produc- had continued taking plant enzymes, having purchased some from tion of essential hormones. a health food store. He was still alive after several years, to the The above example is true of any food that is consumed amazement of his doctors. exclusively for long periods. Excessive consumption and the Plant-based enzymes work in a very broad pH range of about concurrent inability to digest those foods are known as dietary 2.0-12.0. This covers both the acidic and alkaline ranges and stress factors. Everyone is subject to dietary stress factors due to makes them ideal for digesting food. Remember, Dr Howell the repeated overconsumption of particular foods. The base of the found a pre-digestion stomach in mammals, food pyramid advocated by the medical including humans. Based on the observa- community is built upon carbohydrates. It has tions of Beazell et al. as well as other become clear to many that this is a faulty researchers, Howell reasoned that most representation of the ideal diet. The rapid rise digestion takes place in the stomach. Since in the incidence of diabetes, obesity and plant enzymes survive extreme pH condi- cardiovascular disease, especially in children, tions, this makes them perfect for digesting is the result of excessive carbohydrate and protein, starches and fats in the stomach. sugar intake and lack of exercise. The new This digestion in the stomach also relieves kid on the block, insulin resistance syndrome the pancreas of its enzyme-producing burden. When the body can (IRS), is just another example of the body's plimenzmesae ave polvacdcand | get what itneeds, | nity odigestanuts sua and inl access to digesting substances in blood, when it needs it, many to be the precursor of type II diabetes. lymph and tissue that do not belong there. it will perform It is further evidence of enzyme deficiencies, specifically of the sugar and wonders and even miracles. Substrates: The Lock and Key Lastly, enzymes need a specific sub - strate (substance) on which to work. The analogy most commonly used is that of a lock-and-key system. Enzymes are very exacting in what they can work on: if the key does not fit the lock, nothing can occur. Protease works only on splitting protein down into smaller protein peptides and amino acids. Lipase cleaves fats and oils into fatty acids. Cellulase breaks down cellulose, Normally, a stable molecule has a pair which is plant fibre. Pectinase works on of electrons. It will become unstable pectin (fibre) from fruit. Fructase breaks down fructose, the sugar _—_ and reactive if there is an unpaired electron in the outer ring. found in fruit. Sucrase breaks down sucrose, the sugar obtained Very often, free radicals are composed of an unstable oxygen from beets or sugar cane. molecule which will cause damage to the lipid portion of the cell One of the most commonly discussed enzyme deficiencies is membrane. It can also affect the protein and DNA of the cell. lactose intolerance—the inability to digest the sugar component of — Antioxidants, including enzymes, can prevent or stop the damage milk. It has been observed through associates of Dr Loomis that caused by free radicals. when someone is lactose intolerant, they are also usually intoler- Glutathione peroxidase splits hydrogen peroxide into water and ant of other sugars including maltose from grains and sucrose. a single stable oxygen atom. The main symptoms of excessive The enzymes necessary for digesting these sugars are produced _ peroxide free radicals include heart and liver disease, premature by the villi of the small intestine. When someone overconsumes ageing, and skin disease such as age spots, cancer, dermatitis, sugar in its many forms over time, they exhaust their body's eczema, psoriasis and wrinkling. Glutathione peroxidase is ability to produce the specific enzymes necessary to digest those dependent on the mineral selenium. If there is a deficiency of sugars. This is also the case with fructose when it is used as an selenium in the soil and thus in the food consumed, there may be additive derived from synthetic or even natural means, if enzymes a hindrance in the body's ability to produce adequate amounts of are not present to digest it. glutathione peroxidase. Interestingly, epidemiological research in People who consume too much sugar also end up not being able the United States and China shows areas with the lowest concen- to digest fats properly. This is especially true for women. The trations of soil selenium have the highest cancer rates, with the complex endocrine system of women warrants the ability to digest converse being true. This was first known in 1988° and later con- fats and proteins to ensure necessary hormone production firmed in the latter 1990s. carbohydrate digesting enzymes. Another group of enzymes, anti-oxi- dant enzymes, works on what are termed free radicals. Free radicals are the result of living in an industrial soci- ety. Externally they are caused by radi- ation, pollution and toxins, while inter- nally they are the result of normal metabolism. They are molecules with- out a paired electron in their outer ring. Electrons hold molecules together. When the body can get what it needs, when it needs it, miracles. 24 = NEXUS it will perform wonders and even www.nexusmagazine.com DECEMBER 2003 — JANUARY 2004