Enzymes

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Enzymes are molecules that catalyze biochemical processes in cells. Typical enzymes are proteins or protein complexes, but there are also ribonucleic acids that have an enzymatic function - these are the so-called. ribosomes. Thanks to enzymes, biochemical processes in the body can be accelerated up to 1 million times. The principle of action is to lower the energy barrier to carry out a reaction to values that ensure its performance, without disturbing the thermodynamic balance in the body. This function together with their ability to control the enzyme balance makes them a vital component for any living system.

The origin of the word enzyme comes from Greek / en zyme / and means "in yeast". The term enzyme is used as a synonym in the Bulgarian language. As it turned out, enzymes are very important for the processes in living organisms. Improper functioning of even one of the existing 2000 enzymes can lead to disease. An example of a disease caused by enzyme disorders is phenylketonuria.

Types of enzymes in food products

Digestive enzymes - Plant foods contain many of the enzymes that humans need for metabolic metabolism. Proteases and peptidases that help process proteins; lipases, which help process fats, and cellulases and saccharidases, which help process starches and sugars, are examples of digestive enzymes that are generally secreted in the digestive tract or near organs such as the pancreas and liver. However, these same digestive enzymes can be found in the plant foods we consume.

Antioxidant enzymes - Like humans, plants need to protect themselves from oxygen-related damage and depend on enzymes that help them do so. Glutathione peroxidase is an example of important oxidative enzymes that are found in the human body and in the plants we consume.

Digestive enzymes play an essential role in the breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, as they catabolize the macronutrients into smaller molecules that can be absorbed by the gut. Our optimal physiological functioning depends on proper digestion and absorption of these nutrients.

Some enzymes, such as bromelain, which is found in pineapple, have anti-inflammatory properties.

Enzymes also support the immune system in several different ways, as they can process substrates, and some of their targets include molecules other than just macronutrients. For example, proteases can break down proteins found in unwanted bacteria and reduce the risk of infection. In addition, the enzyme bromelain has been found to increase the production of many different immune warning molecules.

Cooking food at almost all standard cooking temperatures changes the properties of enzymes, disrupts their functioning. Most of the processing techniques used by food manufacturers destroy natural ones enzymes in food. The effects of preserving the integrity of enzymes vary considerably depending on temperature and duration. The higher the temperature and the duration of storage, the greater the likelihood that the enzymes will lose their properties.

The factors that affect the functioning of enzymes are related to the fact that they are different enzymes have an optimal pH in the range in which the reaction they catalyze will occur most rapidly.

Temperature can affect the level of enzyme activity. Elevated temperature increases the rate of the enzyme that will catalyze the reaction, but only up to a certain point, as very high temperatures will cause a change in the properties of the enzyme. Some heavy metals, such as barium, lead and mercury, inhibit the activity of enzymes by interrupting the reactions in which they participate.

The enzyme bromelain, which is contained in pineapple, helps to increase the absorption of some antibiotics, namely amoxicillin and tetracycline. Because bromelain and papain (an enzyme contained in papaya) act as blood thinners, it has been suggested that they may increase the effects of warfarin, aspirin and other anticoagulant drugs.

High food intake enzymes, may play an important role in the prevention and / or treatment of the following diseases: pancreatic insufficiency, steatorrhea, lactose intolerance, thrombotic disease, acute sinusitis, postoperative recovery, sports injuries, food side effects.

Food enzymes can be found as food additives or as individual ingredients, or in combined products that combine more than one type of enzyme. Some enzyme supplements are made from animal sources, while others are from non-animal sources. A popular and effective non-animal source of enzymes is Aspergillus oryzae - a type of fungus. Bromelain and papain, in turn, are two examples of enzymes derived from plants, namely pineapple and papaya.

Virtually all fresh, organically grown, raw plant foods are a source of enzymes.

Enzyme deficiency

Enzyme deficiency is a very serious problem. When an organism suffers from a lack of enzymes, it is much more difficult to recover from illness, exhaustion, injury. Rapid recovery is closely related to the number of enzymes in the body and their activity. External factors such as old age, diet, illness, stress, genetic and digestive problems can have a serious negative impact on enzyme activity.

For example, some people cannot take aspartame (a sweetener) because their body is deficient in the enzyme phenylanine hydrolase. As a result of this deficiency, phenylanine (a component of aspartame) cannot be broken down and accumulates in the blood, which in turn can cause severe and even irreversible consequences.

The case of those suffering from lactose intolerance is similar. They lack the enzyme lactase, which is why they fail to process lactose in milk. As a result, it passes untreated from the small intestine into the large intestine, where the inhabitants break it down by releasing very unpleasant-smelling gases.

To find out if you are deficient, first pay attention to your digestion. Stomach pain, indigestion, flatulence and other stomach upsets are all symptoms that may indicate a deficiency of an enzyme. Foods like beans are harder to digest than others. When they cannot be broken down, they remain in the intestines and begin to rot. Sometimes enzyme deficiency can be changed by taking specific enzyme supplements, and in other cases, unfortunately, it cannot be changed.