Why enzymes are essential to a healthy immune system

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Why enzymes are essential to a healthy immune system

by Dr. Ellen Cutler, Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients >

June, 2006

Those of us in medicine and health care recognize the importance of

maintaining a strong immune system to keep the body disease-free and

help all its systems and metabolic processes perform at top

efficiency. In my practice, I refer to immune function dozens of

times every day. Most people, however, do not realize the central

importance that enzymes play in maintaining healthy immune function.

Nor the vital role that enzyme therapy can play in reducing or

alleviating the painful and debilitating symptoms of chronic immune

disorders.

In my 20 years of working with enzyme therapy, I have found that

enzymes not only prevent disease but also heal chronic health

problems for which many doctors believe we have no medical

solutions. My experience has convinced me that no other supplements

can offer such dramatic improvements.

What Is an Enzyme?

The majority of us never even give a thought to enzymes, yet without

them our bodies could not carry out their most basic functions. In

their role as organic catalysts, enzymes make possible the millions

of biochemical reactions that take place within us daily. They are

the powerful engines that drive every bodily process, including

breathing and circulation. They digest food, transport nutrients,

carry away toxic wastes, purify the blood, deliver hormones, balance

cholesterol and triglycerides, nourish the brain, build protein into

muscle, and feed and fortify the endocrine system. On a larger

scale, enzymes slow the aging process and support wellness and

homeostasis (the body's ability to achieve balance among its many

functions).

Enzymes are especially important for healthy immune function. White

blood cells are especially rich in enzymes, which help them to

digest and destroy any foreign substances--such as viruses and

bacteria--that invade the body. Researchers have identified more

than 3,000 types of enzymes in the human body, with each one

performing a unique function. Every day literally millions of

enzymes help to renew, sustain, and protect us, and they themselves

renew and change at an incredible rate.

While the body uses its enzymes over and over again, the enzymes can

perform only a certain amount of work before they become exhausted

and must be replaced. Poor diet, digestive stress, illness, and

trauma also reduce them. Aging also reduces the number of enzymes

our body produces. This is why we must constantly replenish our

enzyme supplies. If we don't, our bodies suffer. When we do not have

sufficient enzymes, this takes a toll on virtually every system that

depends on enzyme support, especially digestion, immunity, and

tissue repair after injury or inflammation.

Enzymes Can Help Maintain a Healthy Immune System

Health practitioners and writers from many different disciplines

emphasize the importance and complexity of the immune system and its

inter-connectedness with other parts of the body. We all aspire to

have a healthy immune defense system. Enzyme therapy is one of the

most important tools you can use to achieve this goal.

The immune system does not have one central regulating organ like

other body systems. The circulatory system has the heart; the

respiratory system has the lungs; and the digestive system has the

stomach and intestines. But the immune system's components are

located throughout the body, communicating with one another through

the immune cells. For example, the bone marrow, thymus gland, and

spleen are all considered part of the immune system.

The primary function of the immune system is to stay alert for

invasions by disease-causing microorganisms and to distinguish them

from the body's own cells. By its standards, anything foreign to the

body (a.k.a., an antigen) is a potential enemy. Once the immune

system homes in on one of these invading substances, it sets in

motion a highly complex response.

The immune system is responsible for maintaining our health when

we're well and healing us when we're sick. It is overbuilt to ensure

its effectiveness, with hundreds of control mechanisms and backup

lines of defense, many of which we're still learning about. Much of

the immune system is not yet understood, but we know enough about it

to realize that it's essential to our very survival. For this

reason, everyone should do what they can to maintain healthy immune

function. Enzyme therapy is one important means to this end. Ever

since I began taking enzymes more than 25 years ago, I rarely get

sick--a sign of an efficient, well-regulated immune system--and my

patients who take enzymes report similar improvements in their

health and overall well-being.

Undigested Food Can Weaken the Immune System

There is no way that I can overemphasize the importance of good

digestion in maintaining a healthy immune system and protecting the

body against disease. In my clinical experience, the two primary

underlying causes of immune dysfunction are poor digestion and food

allergies, which occur when the body is so sensitive to a particular

food that it can't properly digest it. When this happens, the

undigested food finds its way into the bloodstream where the immune

system targets it as a foreign invader and attacks.

For a long time, doctors and researchers believed that the

intestinal wall blocked these food particles from getting into the

bloodstream. Now, we know that this isn't the case. Studies suggest

that people with food sensitivities have leakier intestinal walls

than those without sensitivities, which means that a greater-than-

average number of food particles can pass into the bloodstream. This

seems to create a vicious cycle because the inflammation that occurs

with the immune response can make the intestinal walls even leakier,

especially if there is a localized allergic response to the

undigested food. Over time, this cascade effect can overwhelm the

immune system.

While the exact method of detection isn't yet understood, we know

that the immune system senses these undigested food particles

(antigens), labels them as foreign invaders, and begins pumping out

antibodies, such as immunoglobulin G. These antibodies attack and

neutralize these antigens by joining with them to form circulating

immune complexes (CICs). The problem is, these immune complexes are

highly inflammatory. They can create damage within the body even if

they are present for only a brief period of time. Fortunately, the

body is aware of this fact and has an built-in defense mechanism, a

large number of cells known as macrophages that go into action to

extract the CICs from the bloodstream. If the CICs are small enough,

the macrophages are usually able to eat them up like Pac Men and

transport them to the liver or the spleen. Usually, after only one

pass through these organs of elimination, the blood can be largely

cleared of these immune complexes--at least in someone who is

healthy.

Problems arise when the macrophages become so saturated with CICs

that they are no longer able to remove them from the bloodstream.

When this happens, the circulating immune complexes tend to deposit

their contents into certain tissues and organs, such as the kidneys,

joints, and blood vessel walls, where they trigger inflammatory

conditions that eventually lead to illness.

Where the CICs settle depends largely upon two factors: (1) heredity

and (2) weakness in an organ, organ system, or joint caused by

injury or trauma. This is why symptoms of food sensitivities can

vary so greatly from one person to the next. While one person might

develop joint pain, another might experience migraine headaches.

Still others will experience kidney disease or even kidney failure

when the kidneys become so scarred that they can no longer function.

Autoimmune Disorders

At their worst, CICs confuse the immune system so it loses its

ability to distinguish between what belongs in the body and what

doesn't. It starts attacking perfectly healthy tissues and organs as

if they were antigens. This process sets the stage for serious

autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid

arthritis, lupus, thyroiditis, chronic pancreatitis, lung disease,

chronic inflammation of the kidney, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's

diseases. (1) And infection by various viruses and bacteria can lead

to auto-aggressive diseases, such as infectious hepatitis and

syphilis, which can cause heart muscle inflammation.

Enzymes therapy can be very effective in helping the body deal with

an overload of CICs. Enzyme preparations can prevent the autoimmune

attack by reducing inflammation, breaking down immune complexes, and

aiding the macrophages in disposing of them. (2) For example,

protease can help break down viruses and other infectants in the

body. (3)

Individuals with autoimmune disorders should always be screened for

poor digestive function, since good digestion and a healthy

digestive system are key to keeping the immune system functioning.

Using preparations containing enzymes can help repair the damage

done by CICs in the body and can strengthen the gut's ability to

digest the foods we eat.

A Healthy Gut Supports a Healthy Immune System

By now it should be clear that the integrity of the intestinal wall

and the coating of mucus that protects it are major factors in

determining whether food particles get into the bloodstream in the

first place. This mucus coating actually serves as an important

communication center for the immune system. When harmful substances,

such as bacteria, parasites, allergens, and toxins, find their way

into the gut, the mucus alerts the immune system to send in forces

to defend the rest of the body against damage.

If this coating sustains damage, however, then the intestinal wall

becomes too permeable to prevent food particles from passing through

it. As we have seen, this sets in motion the chain of events that

activates the immune system, prompting production of circulating

immune complexes. With this in mind, you can see that one of the

most important strategies for maintaining a healthy gut is enzyme

therapy to support proper digestion. As long as the food one eats is

thoroughly broken down, fewer food particles travel to the

intestinal wall (a.k.a., gut-associated lymphoid tissue or GALT)

and, from there, leak out into the bloodstream, triggering an immune

response.

Taking Probiotics Protects the Gut

There are two main reasons for taking probiotics such as

lactobacillus acidophilus to promote gut health. The first is that

they increase the production of a substance known as secretory

immunoglobulin A (IgA). This antibody binds with food particles in

the gut, keeping them from adhering to and passing through the

mucous coating. If IgA runs low--which can happen when the

intestinal wall is damaged--food particles are more likely to lodge

in the GALT. You can increase production of IgA via supplementation

with probiotics. (4) In treating my own patients, I have found that

taking probiotics, along with supplemental enzyme formulas with

deglycyrrhizinated licorice, seems to greatly increase IgA

production.

Another reason to take probiotics is to help to maintain a balanced

system of microflora in the gut. Several hundred species of bacteria-

-some two-and-a-half to three pounds of living microorganisms--

reside principally in the large intestine, colon, and, to a lesser

extent, in the small intestine. These micro-organisms can have a

tremendous impact on our health, for better or for worse.

Taking probiotics is the best strategy for maintaining an optimal

intestinal environment. Probiotics work with the bacteria present in

the gut to create less hospitable conditions for harmful

microorganisms and alien substances. When these helpful bacteria are

in short supply or are overworked by the fermentation of undigested

foods, the formation of toxic compounds leading to inflammation will

be the result.

Maintaining a balance in our intestinal microflora is vitally

important because any imbalance (a.k.a., dysbiosis) can have a

global effect on the body and its systems, causing all manner of

illnesses. On the other hand, a healthy gut supports a healthy body--

one that is less vulnerable to serious ailments such as heart

disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis. It is even believed that a

longer life span could be achieved by improving digestion and gut

flora health via probiotics.

Bowel Activity and Immune Health

Despite the central role of intestinal health in determining immune

health and general well-being, few people feel comfortable talking

about this particular area of human anatomy, even with their

physicians. Yet bowel problems affect a majority of Americans. And

if your bowels don't function properly, the rest of your body won't

either, and your immunity will be compromised.

When the intestine is functioning correctly, nutrients from food are

efficiently absorbed by the body and waste is collected for

excretion. When there's a problem, toxins--such as cellular debris,

biochemical waste, hormones, and bile--are released into the body to

damage tissue and inhibit the function of disease-fighting white

blood cells. Furthermore, nutrient absorption can suffer. The

overall result is a weakened immune system and increasing

susceptibility to a variety of health problems and diseases. So,

while irregular stools may just seem like an inconvenience, they can

actually signify bigger problems.

What is a " normal " bowel movement? According to Holt, MD,

author of Natural Ways to Digestive Health, (5) " Basically, you

should have a soft, well-formed stool that exits without much

straining. " He goes on to say that normal bowel excretion

encompasses a range of from three bowel movements a day to three

times a week. Stools that appear as small pellets usually mean

there's not enough fiber in the diet. This can be remedied by adding

more vegetables to meals.

Flatulence is another sign of intestinal distress that, while

embarrassing, may not seem to have major health implications. Every

day in my practice, at least one patient says to me, " Do you mean

passing gas isn't normal? " The most common cause of gas is

undigested foods in the small intestine. Usually the culprits are

carbohydrates--sugars and starches--that don't break down because of

insufficient enzymes. When this undigested food passes into the

large intestine, it turns into a feast for the bacteria that reside

there, which is what produces gas. Usually taking a full-spectrum

digestive enzyme will mitigate this.

What Is a Full Spectrum Digestive Enzyme?

A good-quality digestive enzyeme will contain a mix of enzymes in

the following dosages: amylase (3,000 to 9,000 DU), lipase (150 to

450 LU), cellulase (200 to 600 CU), lactase (75 to 225 ALU),

invertase (75 to 300 SU), peptidase (1,000 to 3,000 HUT+), alpha

galactosidase (10 to 30 GAIU or 25 to 75 AGSU), glucoamylase (2 to

12 AGU), and malt diastase (75 to 300 DP). Make sure the product

also contains pectinase, xylanase, hemicellulase, phytase, and/or

beta-glucanase. These enzymes also help process the nutrients from

foods.

Strategies for Creating a Healthy Immune System

I have developed several basic strategies over the years to help my

patients maintain a healthy digestive system and a strong immune

system. I will list some of the most important ones here.

Manage Your Carbohydrate Intake to Strengthen the Immune System

Blood sugar has a powerful influence on the immune system. It has

been reported that decreased levels of white blood cells have been

associated with the imbalances in blood sugar resulting from a diet

high in refined sugars and simple carbohydrates. (6) An overgrowth

of yeast and/or bacteria is another common result from eating too

many sugars and starches because these micro-organisms thrive on

fermented sugars and carbohydrates. (7)

We can avoid highs and lows in our energy and mood by choosing

carbohydrates that encourage stable blood sugar levels. I always

suggest to my clients that they avoid most grains, including wheat,

and refined sugars, such as candy and cakes. Good carbohydrates

include all fruits and vegetables, quinoa, buckwheat, wild rice, and

corn.

One of the keys to maintaining a balanced blood sugar level is to

digest the carbohydrates you eat, which can be accomplished through

the use of a good digestive enzyme. Digestive enzymes will also help

reduce the craving for sweets and other carbs that are not good for

you.

We do not have control over many health risks, but we do have

control over what we put into our mouths. I cannot say it enough:

avoiding sugar and reducing or eliminating refined carbohydrates and

grains improves one's health and immune function.

Improve Immune Function by Reducing Your Toxic Burden

Another important factor in creating and maintaining a healthy

immune system is to repair and minimize the toxic burden that

assaults our bodies every day in the modern industrialized world.

When toxins assault us or build up in the body, the immune system's

capacity to protect us can be overwhelmed. Food allergies are often

the result of these insults.

Changing one's diet and using digestive enzymes are two great

strategies to help detoxify the body and return it to a state of

balance, or homeostasis. If you want to have a healthy toxin-free

body, it is important to stay away from certain foods. I suggest

that readers avoid the following items:

* Refined sugars and other refined carbohydrates

* Caffeine--this addictive substance inhibits the body's natural

ability to detoxify.

* Alcohol is also addictive and causes degeneration of cells.

* Foods and beverages with a high sodium content--a high salt intake

can cause a deficiency of potassium, an important mineral for

maintaining healthy muscles, including the heart muscle.

* Artificial sweeteners

* Food additives

* Food coloring

* Genetically altered foods

Most commercial crops are sprayed multiple times with pesticides,

fungicides, and herbicides before they ever arrive on your

supermarket shelves. Since these toxins can put an extra burden on

your digestive processes and your immune system, eating as many

organic foods as possible will help your body to perform and

function to the best of its ability.

Detoxify from Trauma and Stress

In any discussion of toxins and their impact on immune function, we

mustn't overlook how emotional and psychological stress adds to the

toxic burden and how enzymes can help reduce our physical

vulnerability to these toxic effects. I see it every day in my

practice, in patients of all ages.

One place where we experience the physiological effects of stress is

in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. According to Holt, the

GI tract is a huge body of nervous tissue. In fact, the esophagus,

stomach, small intestine, and colon are lined with their own nervous

system. Scientists consider this system a single entity and even

refer to it as the body's " second brain. " It makes sense then that

emotions play a huge role in healthy digestion.

The medical literature has also explored at length how the

suppressed emotions that often accompany stress can contribute to

toxicity and set the stage for physical illness. The conscious mind

may be able to ignore stressors, but the subconscious mind--and our

cells--remember. These subliminal memories wear down the body,

specifically the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems. The

physical impact is very real.

Since suppressing your emotions can be so harmful, you need to find

appropriate venues for expressing them. Build opportunities for

release into your life. Here is a list of techniques I share with my

patients to help them reduce the toxic burden of stress:

* Practice relaxation techniques such a meditation and yoga. These

practices not only relieve stress and tension, they increase

circulation to organs and glands. Meditation does not always need to

be formally practiced, it can be done when you stop for a red light

or stand in line at the bank. For example, in his book, There's a

Spiritual Solution to Every Problem, Dr. Wayne Dyer suggests that

when you are stuck in traffic, instead of getting stressed out, use

the time to meditate. (8)

* Listen to music or learn to play a musical instrument.

* Laughter is another powerful tool for cleansing and healing, as

Norman Cousins discusses in Anatomy of an Illness. (9)

* Write about your life experiences in a journal, where you can say

what you like and be who you really are without fear or

embarrassment.

* Always seek therapy when it is appropriate. Counseling and

psychotherapy are helpful as tools for cleansing and de-stressing

both our minds and our bodies.

* I have also used homeopathic remedies and enzymes for emotional

health.

In my practice, I routinely recommend enzyme therapy and homeopathic

remedies to help restore a mind and body that are under stress. When

the toxic effects of negative emotions make us sick, enzyme therapy

can make us well again.

Good Nutrition: The Centerpiece of Immune Health

Literally thousands of studies have documented the beneficial

effects of lifestyle on immunity. But the centerpiece of a healthy

lifestyle is good nutrition, which depends on sensible food choices

and, of course, proper digestion and nutrient absorption. The body's

systems can't possibly work optimally if they aren't receiving

adequate nutritional support. With optimal immune function, your

body can defend itself against pretty much anything that comes its

way. Enzyme therapy is the key.

Dr. Ellen Cutler has both a chiropractic degree and a medical

degree. She is the author of four books including The Food Allergy

Cure and MicroMiracles: Discover the Healing Power of Enzymes. Dr.

Cutler is the founder of the BioSET[TM] Method which is taught at

the BioSET[TM] Institute in Mill Valley, California.