Are Enzymes Nature’s Virus Fighters?
by www.SixWise.com

Enzymes are specialized proteins made by the cells in your body. Their purpose is complex and varied, as the 2,500 or more different enzymes in your body are responsible for causing biological reactions that sustain life as we know it.

More specifically, enzymes are “catalysts” of biochemical reactions, which increase the rate of a reaction. There are thousands of these reactions that occur in your body every second that could not occur without the help of proper enzymes.

Enzymes in your saliva, for instance, help break apart starches, while those in your stomach help break down protein. Enzymes in your intestines, meanwhile, are responsible for breaking apart all of your food, whether fat, protein or carb. These digestive enzymes are what allow your food to be broken down, and the nutrients absorbed by your bloodstream.

There are other types of enzymes as well, namely metabolic enzymes and food enzymes, which are responsible for initiating, speeding up, slowing down, or otherwise altering about 4,000 different biochemical reactions. Millions of these reactions take place in your body each day, helping you to not only digest food but also to:

• Assimilate and digest nutrients

• Breathe

• Detox certain organs

• Purify your blood

• Move your muscles

• Produce and regulate hormones

• Renew and repair your cells

Enzymes, research shows, may also be a natural treatment for viruses -- a type of infection that currently is not easily treated with pharmaceuticals or any other modern medical tool.

Enzymes as Virus Fighters

Viruses are particles made of proteins and DNA or RNA. When one enters your body, your immune system should be able to attack it and render it harmless. About 70 percent of your immune system is located in your digestive system, however, so if your gut is overrun with bad bacteria or your intestinal mucosa damaged or weakened in any way, there’s a good chance your immune system will not be functioning at its best.

The virus can then become reactivated and spread throughout your gut and to other areas of your body, causing a variety of direct symptoms and complications.

Enzymes, particularly protease, are an excellent defense against viruses, not only by improving the health of your digestive system and your immune system, but also by acting on the virus itself. Many viruses have a protective protein film, which a protease enzyme can break down, leaving the virus unprotected and easily destroyed.

Research Into Enzymes and Viruses Looks Promising

Dr. P. Billingmann pioneered a study in 1995 looking at natural treatments for the herpese zoster virus. In a controlled study of 190 people, Billingmann found that the use of enzymes had the same effect as the drug Acyclovir, and also provided pain relief.

Studies have also shown promise for enzyme therapy in limiting the progression of the early stages of HIV, and delaying the onset of symptoms. There is also evidence that people undergoing enzyme therapy contract fewer colds, flu, cold sores and other illnesses. Some people also say that after several months of enzyme therapy they had more energy, warts cleared up and they had improved mental focus.

A PhD at Nature’s Source’s says “Overall, the tricky nature of viral actions within the body seems to be best handled with enzymes. Further studies need to be conducted in order to determine the most effective course of treatment for certain viruses, yet, in general the continued use of enzymes can only improve the immune response. When adding more to the arsenal against viruses, one might also consider the powerful protection of probiotics.”

How Might Probiotics ALSO Help Fight Viruses?

Probiotics help restore healthy intestinal flora, which may have a beneficial effect on immune system health.

In fact, new research published in the journal Pediatrics has shown that probiotics may be useful for preventing cold and flu viruses.

The study, which involved nearly 250 kids between the ages of 3 and 5, involved one group of children who received a single strain of a probiotic called Lactobacillus acidophilus, one group who received a combination of L acidophilus and Bifidobacterium probiotics, and a final group who received a placebo.

The groups were given the supplements twice daily for six months and results showed that, compared to the placebo group:

• The single probiotic group had reduced fever incidence by 53 percent, decreased coughing by over 41 percent and reduced runny noses by 28 percent.

• The combination probiotics group had reduced fever incidence by nearly 73 percent, decreased coughing by 62 percent and reduced runny noses by nearly 59 percent.

• Both groups also used fewer antibiotics and missed fewer days of school or daycare due to the flu.

A Powerful Duo for General Health Support: “AbsorbAid Platinum” and “AbsorbAid Probiotics” (found at NutritionsFinest.com)

If you want to bolster your immune system and its response to a viral attack, supplementing your diet with a high-quality enzyme and probiotic formula may be a wise step.

There are numerous enzyme supplements available on the market to help increase your levels, but Sixiwse.com highly recommends the plant-based, acid-resistant digestive enzyme formulation, AbsorbAid Platinum from NutritionsFinest.com.

This vegetable-based digestive enzyme system combines its effective ratio of proteases, amylases, lipases and cellulases with two "acid-tolerant" bacteria or a probiotic combination, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum.

This product addresses not only the digestive enzyme system deficiencies recognized in most adults, but it combines two effectively beneficial bacterial strains that are metabolically complementary and help create a symbiosis with the digestive enzyme system complex and helps promote immune system excellence.

Why AbsorbAid “Platinum”?

Why should you choose “AbsorbAid® Platinum” versus original AbsorbAid®? What we found:

“Platinum” does everything that the original does plus IMPORTANTLY much more!

• “Platinum” has 12 enzymes (“AbsorbAid” doesn’t)

• 7 times (700% more) the amount of Lipase

• 4 times (400% more) the amount of Amylase + Amyloglucosidase for complete breakdown of starch groups

• More than 4 times (400% more) the amount of Protease (Plant protease, acid stable protease, bromelain and peptidase)

• 20 times (2,000% more) the Cellulase + Hemicellulase or breaking down xylan and beta glucan

• Includes Invertase for converting sucrose to flucose and fructose (“AbsorbAid” doesn’t)

• “Platinum” has alpha galatosidase for breaking down complex sugars in foods like beans and onions (“AbsorbAid” doesn’t)

• Two heat-stable probiotic blends (“AbsorbAid” doesn’t)

• “Platinum” is a better choice for those people who eat larger amounts of animal proteins

AbsorbAid “Platinum” is also an ideal choice for those who:

• Want the benefit of friendly bacteria to stabilize the gut

• More assurance that all protein molecules are broken down more completely…(allergy sufferers, those who consume protein drinks, etc)

• Have a more compromised immune system

• Younger people who have a more rigorous level of physical activity, and those who are consuming fattier foods

• Are attempting to rehabilitate from illness or injury

• Suffer with age-related conditions and joint concerns

• Metabolism has slowed due to age, illness, injury, lifestyle habits, etc.

• Are showing signs of toxicity (mental impairment, aches, pains, bowel problems, slow transit time, indigestion, etc.)

• Cannot chew their food (or do not chew their food) well enough due to dental problems

• Live a more stressful lifestyle in general

Remember that your digestive enzyme production drops with age; it also declines greatly during times of stress such as when you are too cold, too warm, too tired, ill, recovering from injuries, or suffering from life’s pressures physically, mentally or emotionally, making a high-quality digestive enzyme important for nearly everyone!

In choosing a probiotic supplement for yourself, Sixwise.com highly recommends NutritionsFinest.com AbsorbAid Probiotic -- a superlative probiotic supplement that provides clinical activities supporting systemic health and wellness through immune-system protection, allergy reduction and effective and enhanced nutrient absorption.

AbsorbAid Probiotic has 30 billion organisms per capsule, with two clinically effective and dominant genera Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus: L. acidophilus and L. salivarius in a 2:1 ratio and B. lactis and B. breve, also in a 2:1 ratio. Each bacterial genus-species has its own specific metabolic activities, which lead to their effective inter-species synergism.

Further, this proprietary probiotic blend contains a strain that survives with or without oxygen, unlike others -- one that doubles its population every 20 minutes so you need less of it, and one that binds to the intestinal mucosa to help reduce pathogenic bacteria.

For optimal protection this year, both AbsorbAid Platinum and AbsorbAid Probiotic from NutritionsFinest.com are each a wise choice. And even better together!

Recommended Reading

Six Ways to Avoid Getting Sick

A Secret Weapon for Fighting Off Cold and Flu Viruses

Sources

NutritionsFinest.com “Enzymes and the fight against viruses.” May 2009

EnzymeStuff.com