Proteins- Deadly without their Helpmeet.

Protein- Proteins are wonderful and an absolute essential building block for your body, without which disease may grow. At the same time some diseases get stronger the more you eat protein. One of the reasons for this I believe from my studies through the Biblical Health Institute  is a misunderstanding about which proteins are healthy, and a complete lack of information regarding the absolutely essential co-factors which must be in place for your body to be able to utilize those proteins. These co-factors are ENZYMES.  Most people do not understand that, even though they may be consuming large quantities of proteins, those proteins are actually becoming TOXIC to the body WITHOUT the enzymes to digest and assimilate them. When there are insufficient quantities of enzymes present when proteins are ingested, and or the pancreas is incapable of releasing sufficient quantities, the majority of the proteins consumed pass through the digestive tract undigested. They are then absorbed in that state into the blood stream or left floating around in other parts of the body, useless to it. This creates a toxic condition which the body has a hard time dealing with. The reason being that the proteins are not identified as harmful toxic agents in the body because they are a food, thus the immune system leaves them be. This state of things will simultaneously further conditions of toxemia AND anemia. Anemia because only a small percentage of the proteins consumed are assimilated and used, thus the body is still STARVING yet it is nearly impossible to consume enough proteins to satisfy it due to the absorption rate being so low.

In ancient biblical cultures protein containing foods were always consumed along with enzyme rich foods; either fresh raw vegetables- and I don't mean just salads- or, in the winter months, fermented vegetables. Sauerkraut, fermented vegetable dishes (as recommended in Sally Fallons Nourishing Traditions), kefirs, (fermented) buttermilks, yogurts, and kombuchas are wonderful sources of enzymes, some of which are also sources of good proteins, which should be consumed on a REGULAR basis, before and while consuming proteins. In other words a meat an potatoes meal is NOT sufficient. You NEED enzyme rich foods WITH it. Many other cultures serve yogurt type relishes, drinks, and fermented vegetables and condiments with their meat dishes.  All condiments used to be fermented. Now, with the SAD (standard American diet) SUGAR has replaced enzymes. And that is one of the biggest contributing factors to obesity and disease of all kinds.

When looking for enzymes rich foods use the colors to help you find them. Brightly colored vegetables are the ones which contain the most enzymes. Typical salads, though wonderful, really don't contain that many enzymes as lettuce is mostly water.  If salad is going to be the main source of your vegetable intake, at least make it mostly spinach. Spinach contains more enzymes than lettuce and is high in minerals and proteins. But I like to add nearly every leafy green thing in my refrigerator to me salads as well as every vegetable I can find. Also, do not cook your vegetable, this not only destroys the vitamin nutrients in them, but also the enzymes. All cooked foods are going to put more stress on your body to provides more enzymes to digest them. When your pancreas is unable to produce those enzymes it starts to take from it's reserves in the adrenal glands. If this occurs on a regular basis the adrenal glands become deplete which can then cause or contribute to a host of other problems including fatigue, inability to sleep, and hormone imbalance. Coffee is NOT the remedy. Coffee actually ADDS to the problem as it in turn depletes the adrenal glands by turning off the receptors in your brain which tell you you need to sleep. When you stay awake tho you need sleep, it further depletes your adrenal glands. This compromises even the most basic functions of the immune system.

Anyway, sorry for the slight tangent- another thing you can do to aid in the increase of enzymes and absorption of proteins is CHEW YOUR FOOD! Most people do not chew their food anywhere near enough. You have probably heard it before, but you need to chew your food between 15 the 30 times before swallowing. If that means taking smaller bites, DO SO! This is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY! ( a general rule i use is to attempt to chew it till it becomes fairly liquid in my mouth.) When you chew your food more it stimulates the release of more saliva in your mouth. The enzymes present then help to predigest the food. This takes the strain off the pancreas once it enters the stomach as their is not a great a demand for it to produce the necessary enzymes. Another benefit it that it slows down the rate at which you eat giving the body more time to thoroughly digest smaller quantities of food in the stomach at one time, which in turm in creases the absorption rate and DECREASES the toxic waste from entering your body due to LESS undigested toxic food. Not to mention it helps prevent constipation and toxemia in the colon.

The last thing I would say is that when you make an effort to include enzyme rich foods in your diet it automatically reduces the amount of toxic food additives as fresh and fermented foods naturally do nor or cannot contain them. A decrease in food additives means a decrease in toxins eliminating fuel for toxemia  and anemic type conditions.

Here is one last short post with information on the benefits of fermented-enzyme rich foods: http://yeanyo.blogspot.com/2010/03/heatlh-facts-of-day.html

In short, enzymes are the Helpmeet of Proteins. What God hath joined together, let no man separate. ;)