Are enzymes a protein?

Published Apr 2005 by Joan Toth Written by Joan A. Toth, Chartered Herbalist President, Nahanni River HerbsCopyright © 2004 - 2012

Natural Health Article 

CONTENTS  

• ABCs of Health - "E" is for Enzymes
• The Stress of Life
• Tip of the Month - Get rid of pet odor naturally
• The Herbalist - "P' is for Peppermint

 ABCs OF HEALTH

"E" is for enzyme. Enzymes are proteins composed of amino acids, the basic building blocks of life. They are arranged in chains that spontaneously fold into three-dimensional structures. These three-dimensional structures confer specificity of function.

ENZYMES - THE MISSING LINK TO HEALTH

Whereas all enzymes are proteins, not all proteins are enzymes. Enzymes are involved in nearly all metabolic and physiological processes in the body.

Your body gets enzymes from two sources - those it makes and those it gets from outside the body. Every cell in your body is an enzyme factory. Unfortunately the number of enzymes each cell can produce is limited. In addition, it is possible for some of us to either not be born with, or lose the ability to make certain enzymes. As we abuse our bodies with unhealthy lifestyles, it is very likely that deficiencies in enzymes and the loss of the ability to produce them will occur. To prevent a premature shortage of enzymes, you should include rich sources of enzymes in your diet whenever possible. Every bite of raw food provides your body with enzymes. Concentrated vegetable enzyme supplements taken with each meal also add to your body's enzyme supply.

ENZYMES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR:

•  Digesting and absorbing food 
•  Breathing - Smelling - Tasting
• Stimulating nerves
•  Regulating hormones
• Energy production - Metabolism
• Immunity - Defending the body, repair and rebuilding tissue
•  Reproduction

Not enough emphasis is placed on taking enzyme supplements or eating raw foods. If we do not replenish our enzyme level and only consider vitamins and minerals, it is self defeating. The body has to replace enzymes from within itself, stealing enzymes from all parts of the body, which, eventually causes exhaustion, premature aging, and a low energy system.

 

Your immunity, vitality, and longevity depend on keeping your body's enzymes at optimum levels. We are born with a limited (metabolic) enzyme energy potential, similar to a bank account that has to last a lifetime. The faster we use up this enzyme potential, the shorter our lives are. In order for us to enjoy a long and healthy life, we must make regular deposits to our enzyme bank account.

Want more information on enzymes?

TIP OF THE MONTH

Peppermint Oil:
Apply a few drops of mint oil into the rinsing water when washing towels. Use it
to give rooms a minty aroma, or get rid of pet odor.
Apply sparingly, when participating in sports such as golf, the mint can be used to refresh yourself.
Note: only use natural mint, some mint oils on the market are diluted with alcohol.

Peppermint symbolically represents: Virtue

THE STRESS OF LIFE

Too much to do and not enough time. This seems to be a major complaint lately. We are always on the run, whether it be working shift work, or ferrying the children to their activities. One parent families or living a distance from the extended family can bring on tension headaches, and a sudden, suffocating panic as a daily occurrence. We don't smile anymore.

Some stress however, can be positive, but too much can compromise our quality of life and psycho-social functioning. Stress helps us to work at an optimum level, confirms Dr. Patrick J. White, regional program director of psychiatry with Capital Health. However, there is a point where it affects our well-being, our mood, our concentration and our level of performance. Many major life events can be stress-provoking. Moving, changing jobs and the death of a loved one are some examples. As well daily hassles are events that routinely occur that can also contribute to our level of stress. These hassles include: being stuck in traffic, deadlines, conflict with family members and dealing with busy city life. Our attitude toward these situations determines our response.

WHEN CHRONIC STRESS BEGINS TO IMPACT
YOUR HEALTH, IT'S TIME TO SEEK HELP

Many individuals, especially women, experience heart palpitations, inability to relax, being ill-at-ease, and having a sense of foreboding. This type of anxiety can lead to more serious health issues. Chronic anxiety can lead to depression. The sooner you seek appropriate help, the better.

Start with leading a healthier lifestyle. Eating a moderate, balanced diet goes hand in hand with adequate exercise. Learn how to manage your stress. Don't
take on too much, learn relaxation techniques.

First you have to discover just what your thought process is! Keep accurate records for your own personal review.

Suggestions and solutions can be found at our bookstore.

THE HERBALIST

I promised I would give you some information on a specific herb, its origin and its uses. I really enjoy this part of our newsletter, as I always learn something new and exciting. This month we will discuss:

Peppermint

Latin Name: Mentha piperita (Lamiaceae [mint]family)

Other Common Name: mint

General Description: Peppermint is a hybrid of watermint and spearmint that was first cultivated near London in 1750 and as early as the seventh century, when Japan imported mints from China. It grows almost everywhere and is a square-stemmed annual that yields the popular flavoring agent. It grows from thirty-two to thirty-six inches high and has aromatic serrated leaves. The two main cultivated forms are the black mint, which has violet-colored leaves and stems and a relatively high essential oil content, and the white mint, which has pure green leaves and a milder taste. The finest quality peppermint is grown in the northwestern United States. Peppermint leaves contain a volatile (essential oil) that is 50 to 75% menthol. This oil is the basis of most medicinal preparations.

Excellent For: Peppermint is a general stimulant. A strong cup of peppermint tea circulates quickly and acts more powerfully than any liquor stimulant. Peppermint teas are used around the world to calm queasy stomachs and to quell indigestion.

The herb has a long history, not only as a digestion aid but as a treatment for the symptoms of cough, colds and fever. It kills micro-organisms that cause food poisoning, relieves pain of sprains and strains and helps freshen lingering bad breath. It is good for nausea and vomiting.

Benefits of Peppermint for specific health conditions include some of the following:

Colic, food allergies, indigestion, and motion sickness: If queasiness, nausea, a feeling of fullness, or severe vomiting is a problem, a single cup of peppermint tea will often bring relief. Because of the herb's antispasmodic effects, it eases gas pain and heartburn.
Crohns disease and hepatitis: Peppermint helps to relieve digestive disturbances caused by chronic hepatitis and stimulates the release of bile, which helps to ease Crohns disease.
Food poisoning - It has an amazing effect as it stops the growth of Salmonella bacteria. Japanese experiments with a number of foods stored at 86F (30C) for two days showed that peppermint oil stopped the growth of Salmonella and slowed the growth of Listeria,another harmful type of microbe.
Gallstones - During an acute attack, peppermint relieves mild spasms of the bile duct. It also helps to dissolve gallstones and increase bile flow.
Headache and Stress - When applied topically, peppermint oil can relieve headache. Researchers at Christian-Albrechts University in Germany found that peppermint oil, applied to the forehead, has the same pain-relieving effect as 1000mg. of acetaminophen, or two 500mg. of Tylenol tablets. In most subjects, regardless of age, sex or the duration of the headache, peppermint was just as effective at relieving pain as acetaminophen. Applying peppermint oil to the temples can also relax muscles and decrease tension.

CONTRAINDICATONS: Peppermint is available in menthol lozenges, oil, enteric-coated capsules, and teas. It can also be used in aromatherapy.

You should never ingest pure peppermint leaves, which contain substances that can be toxic. Pure peppermint may cause cardiac arrhythmia, and even small doses can be life threatening. DO NOT EXCEED THE RECOMMENDED DOSAGE.

If you drink peppermint tea on a regular basis, take a break after a week or two for a couple of days.

People with chronic heartburn should AVOID this herb. People with a gallstone disorder should follow strict instructions for its use.

CAUTION: Pregnant women with morning sickness should use diluted peppermint tea rather than the more potent forms of this herb. AVOID altogether, if there is a history of miscarriage.

This concludes another exciting issue of  Natural Health.  REMEMBER YOU HAVE TO READ TO WIN!

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