Have you ever had a sore throat, been stung by a bee, or twisted your ankle? Do you want to reduce pain because you have arthritis, back pain, or headaches? Whenever you’re in pain, even post-surgical pain, your body makes compounds in response to the injury which cause temporary redness, heat, swelling, and pain. Then naturally produced enzymes in your body eat up these inflammatory compounds, and that is when you notice the swelling goes down, the pain is relieved, and the redness or stiffness recedes.
The Power of Proteolytic Enzymes
One second ago, an enzyme in your body called superoxide dismutase (SOD) just chased out a cancer-causing toxin that your cell accidentally spawned. Genetically speaking, all 5 of my genes for SOD are double homozygous (so they are inactive) so I’m very cautious about what I do and what I eat since I don’t want to spawn too many free radicals. I have cramped pathways to clear the oxidative damage. This is highly unusual, most of you have a nicely working SOD pathway. (I take SOD supplements, sometimes this brand, sometimes this one).
Enzymes as Dietary Supplements
Anyway, we make all sorts of enzymes, and what’s cool is that you can also buy certain enzymes as a dietary supplement, including SOD. Lactase is an enzyme that chews up milk sugars, helping some people to tolerate milk.
Bromelain, derived from pineapples, helps with allergies and helps people post-surgically. It might even reduce scarring if taken soon enough.
If you take acid blockers could benefit from papain, an enzyme derived from papaya fruit that works nicely with your stomach’s pH range.
Pac-Man Effect: Enzymes Reduce Pain
Proteolytic enzymes are another type of enzyme. They chew up proteins and help with digestion. I think they’re great for chronic pain syndromes. They help dissolve fibrin deposits which help bruising.
As a teenager (way back in the 1980s) we played a game called Pac-Man. Remember? (Please tell me you remember). This popular arcade game included a Pac-Man which traveled a maze and gobbled up ghosts.
I was a monster at Pac-Man in my heyday! Proteolytic enzymes work in the same way, they just gobble up debris, as opposed to ghosts.
With less debris, there is improved circulation all over your body. Less debris also translates to more oxygen and healing nutrients delivered to the site of injury. As a pharmacist, I recommend you reach for proteolytic enzymes before you NSAIDs such as acetaminophen, naproxen or ibuprofen.
Avoiding Medication Side Effects
Why? Because they are temporary and they have side effects. It’s the equivalent of applying a bandage, and while most of you fair out well, the unlucky few experience diarrhea, nausea, headaches, dizziness, bleeding ulcers or heaven forbid, kidney damage. Besides, if you mask your pain with medicine, but continue to operate as normal, you increase your risk of permanent damage.
You may be interested in reading, The Dark Side Of Medicine: 10 Outrageous And Horrific Medical Treatments.
The Surprising Benefits of Enzymes in Sports
A German scientific paper studied proteolytic enzymes in 100 athletes. The results were kind of shocking. More than 75 percent said the enzyme treatment produced favorable results. Even better no side effects were reported! So incredible were the results that the German government sent millions of enzyme capsules to the Olympics to help their athletes heal quicker and reduce pain.
2023 Update: Environmental Impact on Thyroid Health
Combatting Thyroid Disruptors:
As we continue to understand the relationship between our environment and thyroid health, it’s crucial to highlight how common pollutants like “The Pill” and plastics impact our thyroid function. These substances introduce synthetic estrogens into our bodies, mimicking natural hormone functions and potentially leading to hypothyroidism.
You may want to take 5 minutes to read my other article, 5 Ways The Pill and Plastics Impact Your Thyroid Health.
Understanding the Estrogen-Thyroid Connection
Making Informed Choices in 2023
To mitigate these effects, consider alternatives to plastic containers and bottles, especially those containing BPA. Opt for glass or BPA-free products to reduce your exposure to these thyroid disruptors. For those on hormone replacement therapies, including “The Pill,” discuss with your healthcare provider about potential alternatives that might offer a better hormonal balance without compromising thyroid health.
Enzymes are a necessity to life, just like oxygen, food, clean water, and shelter. (Some may argue that chocolate should be included as well). Whether you’re dealing with digestive issues or chronic pain syndromes, understanding and utilizing the power of enzymes can significantly enhance your quality of life. Remember, taking proactive steps today can lead to a healthier tomorrow.
Summary – 5 Ways Enzymes Help
Here are five distinct ways how enzymes can help reduce inflammation naturally:
- Enhancing Injury Recovery: Enzymes like bromelain and papain help reduce swelling, pain, and redness associated with injuries, including post-surgical recovery. It will help reduce pain.
- Improving Circulation: Enzymes help clear out debris in the body, which enhances circulation, allowing more oxygen and nutrients to reach injury sites, thereby aiding the healing process.
- Digestive Health Support: Proteolytic enzymes break down proteins which aids in overall digestion, helping to alleviate issues like bloating and indigestion that can contribute to systemic inflammation.
- Pain Management without Side Effects: There’s a benefit of using proteolytic enzymes as an alternative to NSAIDs for pain management, emphasizing that enzymes can reduce pain without the side effects associated with conventional pain medications.
- Athletic Performance and Recovery: The use of enzymes will lead to benefits and favorable results in recovery and performance enhancement, demonstrating their effectiveness in reducing inflammation.
Suzy Cohen, has been a licensed pharmacist for over 30 years and believes the best approach to chronic illness is a combination of natural medicine and conventional. She founded her own dietary supplement company specializing in custom-formulas, some of which have patents. With a special focus on functional medicine, thyroid health and drug nutrient depletion, Suzy is the author of several related books including Thyroid Healthy, Drug Muggers, Diabetes Without Drugs, and a nationally syndicated column.
