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Caring Medical
& Rehabilitation Services
715 Lake Street, Suite 600
Oak Park, Illinois 60301
708.848.7789 Phone
708.848.7763 Fax


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Enzyme Replacement Therapy

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What is Enzyme Replacement Therapy?
What Are Enzymes?
What Is The Science of Food?
Why Are Enzymes Removed From Food?
What Can Be Done?
How Doe We Determine What Enzymes to Replace?
Enzymes, Stress, and Disease: The Connection

WHAT IS ENZYME REPLACEMENT THERAPY?

Enzyme Replacement Therapy is a methodology that utilizes various
aspects of analysis, each specific to you as an individual, including
case history, diet analysis, various laboratory tests, sometimes
including 24 hour urine digestion analysis and/or blood panels.

WHAT ARE ENZYMES?

All foods, such as meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables, were once living tissues. During the growing process and as long as the tissues are alive, enzymes are made within the cells. The enzymes act as catalysts to facilitate chemical reactions. These complex reactions occur constantly in all living tissues. A catalyst changes the rate of a chemical reaction without appearing in the products. Enzyme catalysts increase the rate of chemical reactions that would otherwise occur too slowly to support life.

The human body utilizes enzymes to digest food consumed. The body has specific enzymes for each of the macronutrients that comprise our food. Protease enzymes digest proteins. Amylase enzymes digest carbohydrates. Lipase enzymes digest fats. Cellulose enzyme digest fiber (cellulose). The type and amount of enzymes found in a food is often determined by the caloric value of the food.

WHAT IS THE SCIENCE OF FOOD?

Food science is the study of what is ingested, how it is digested, absorbed, transported, utilized, and eliminated. Enzymes play a critical role in this process. Unfortunately, with the processing and/or cooking of food, most of the naturally-occurring food enzymes are removed.

WHY ARE ENZYMES REMOVED FROM FOOD?

The answer is shelf life. Food enzymes must be destroyed in order to preserve foods for shipment, storage, and extended shelf-life until the consumer takes it home. It may then be stored on a shelf even longer. If the enzymes are not destroyed, they will digest the food right in the can or box before it can arrive at the local market. This& would account for tremendous spoilage of food and make it impossible to continue our present society, as we know it. We would be forced to live on farms or close to farmers. The process of cooking food during canning, as well as for eating, destroys enzymes just as it does many vitamins and minerals.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Replacement therapy for vitamins and minerals has been practiced for years. Why not enzyme replacement? Dr. Edward Howell first brought food enzymes to the attention of the scientific community in the early 1980’s. He found that enzyme deficiency symptoms often manifested themselves as CHRONIC DEGENERATIVE DISEASE PATTERNS, as opposed to acute onset patterns seen in vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Therefore these enzymes should be replaced so as to help offset progression of conditions.

ENZYMES, STRESS, AND DISEASE: THE CONNECTION

The intent of the examination is to identify stimuli that may be exhausting the body’s homeostatic mechanisms BEFORE degeneration and disease can occur. Dr. Hans Selye, in the early 1950’s, taught that the body acts predictably to stress, any stress, be it physical, chemical, or emotional. He stated that there is an alarm reaction sent to the body’s compensatory mechanisms for maintenance of homeostasis (balance) when the body’s is under stress.

The body’s status of resistance continues until the stimulus (stress) is removed. If it continues, a gradual exhaustion of the compensatory mechanisms begins, and eventually can lead to degeneration, disease, and finally even death. We want to help prevent this process!

Food enzyme deficiencies are a stress to the body. The symptoms are not quickly manifested because the body makes some of its own enzymes. Those enzyme-producing capabilities must be stressed to exhaustion and degeneration, sometimes-even disease, before the damage becomes apparent. By then you may already have a degenerative disease and the food enzyme deficiency has completely escaped detection.

Information adopted from Dr. Howard Loomis, Enzyme Formulations, Inc.

HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHAT ENZYMES TO REPLACE?

It is important to realize that not two people are alike. We each have been born with different body chemistries and the way we have treated our bodies has given us different states of digestion and assimilation. Enzyme Replacement Therapy is a methodology that utilizes four elements, each specific to you as an individual:

  • Case History
  • Diet Analysis
  • Laboratory work-up

After these things are reviewed, the physicians will determine the type of enzymes that you need specific to your condition. 

Most people need a general digestive enzyme (we use DGST from www.benuts.com) to help digest and assimilate their food.  If you are interested in finding out more about this, please give us a call or email us at scheduling@caringmedical.com.

Disclaimer: Certain persons considered experts may disagree with one or more statements made. Nevertheless, what is stated is based on sound authority, medical experience, and actual treatments of patients.